Elements and Performance Criteria

The Range of Variables explains the range of contexts within which the performance and knowledge requirements of this unit may be assessed. The scope of variables chosen in training and assessment may depend on the work contexts.

What information is included in animal data profiles?
Animal data profiles may include information on behavioural characteristics, feeding and socialisation patterns, interaction with humans and sexual and reproductive activity.

What is included in behavioural management strategies?
Behavioural management strategies may include appropriate exhibit design and husbandry, social groupings and enrichment activities.

What animal welfare considerations may there be?
Animal welfare considerations may include bearing in mind the best interests of the animal and ensuring that animals are able to carry out their normal behaviour and are free from thirst, hunger, malnutrition, pain, injury, discomfort, fear and distress.

What OHS requirements may have to be considered?
Animal care for captive animals has a range of associated risks from bites, envenomation, kicks or scratches. All duties should reflect an awareness of and a respect for these risks.
The handling of chemicals requires extra care to ensure safe work practices are maintained.
Safe work practices are used in packaging and handling loads, including animals. Appropriate safe handling techniques are used to reduce muscle load on exertion.
Some captive animal facilities may expose personnel to risks such as zoonoses, release of infective agents (both animal and human) and chemical spillage. Procedures to reduce the spread of disease may include incident reporting, cleaning, the removal of waste and spillage, the containment or elimination of risk, the use of personal protective equipment and clothing and seeking advice from supervisors.

What are the critical aspects of evidence required for this unit of competency as a whole?
The critical requirements that are valuable for this unit of competency as a whole are listed below.

Assessment must confirm one's ability to:

create and analyse animal profiles prior to developing behavioural management strategies
handle and treat animals humanely
communicate and work effectively over a period of time with a wide range of people in respect to the strategies
be patient and flexible in the implementation of strategies
provide support and advice to others on behavioural management issues
maintain records and prepare reports as required.

What specific knowledge is needed to achieve the performance criteria?

Knowledge and understanding are essential to apply this unit in the workplace, to transfer the skills to other contexts and to deal with unplanned events. The knowledge requirements for this unit of competency are listed below and include:

institutional policies and procedures, including OHS
relevant legislation
anatomy and physiology of animals
normal and abnormal animal behaviour and behaviour patterns
behavioural needs such as housing, feeding, enclosure maintenance and breeding
principles of behaviour and environmental enrichment.

What specific skills are needed to achieve the performance criteria?

To achieve the performance criteria, some complementary skills are required. These skills include:

ability to implement institutional policies and procedures
ability to comply with relevant animal welfare legislation
ability to apply behavioural management and enrichment techniques
ability to use accepted safe handling methods
keen observation skills
report writing skills
literacy skills to read and implement institutional policies and procedures, including OHS; develop sequenced written instructions; record accurately and legibly information collected; and select and apply procedures to a range of defined tasks
oral communication skills / language competence to fulfil the job role as specified by the institution, including questioning techniques, active listening, training others and consulting with supervisors
numeracy skills to complete arithmetic calculations relating to resources for behavioural enrichment programs
interpersonal skills to work with and relate to people from a range of cultural, social and religious backgrounds
problem-solving skills to use available resources and develop animal enrichment programs.

What are the specific resource implications for this unit of competency?
For valid assessment, one
an appropriate captive animal workplace
equipment and / or resources normally used in the workplace to manage animal behaviour
relevant legislation and institutional policies and procedures
animal behaviour data and profiles
behavioural management strategies, including action plans
animals held in a captive animal facility that is suitable for behavioural management programs.

What considerations should there be for consistency in performance?
To ensure consistency in one's performance, competency should be demonstrated on more than one occasion over a period of time in order to cover a variety of circumstances, cases and responsibilities and, where possible, over a number of assessment activities.
The skills and knowledge required to

What considerations should there be for context of assessment?
Assessment for this unit of competency is to be largely practical in nature and will be most appropriately assessed in a captive animal workplace.
There must be access in this situation to the appropriate equipment and / or resources to enable one to demonstrate competency.

Are there other units of competency that could be assessed with this one?
This unit of competency

There are a number of processes that are learnt throughout work and life which are required in all jobs. They are fundamental processes and generally transferable to other work functions. Some of these are covered by the key competencies, although others may be added. The questions below highlight how these processes are applied in this unit of competency. Following each question a number in brackets indicates the level to which the key competency needs to be demonstrated where 0 = not required, 1 = perform the process, 2 = perform and administer the process and 3 = perform, administer and design the process.
Communicating ideas and information
Through discussion with supervisors and team members on animal behaviour issues. (2)

Collecting analysing and organising information
By observing, recording and organising animal behaviour in accordance with institutional needs. (2)

Planning and organising activities
By developing animal behavioural management strategies. (3)

Working with others and in teams
By working with others on agreed tasks. (2)

Using mathematical ideas and techniques
By calculating resource requirements for specific animal behaviour programs. (2)

Solving problems
By examining animal behaviour and designing appropriate behavioural management and enrichment programs. (3)

Using technology
By using electronic databases to maintain animal profiles and by accessing the Internet for information. (2)