Elements and Performance Criteria

RANGE STATEMENT
The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.
Identifiable characteristics may include:
age, sex and size
coat or skin colours and texture
eye colour
markings, patterns and permanent scars
toe nail colour
microchip, ear tags, tattoos and markings and leg bands.
Information and equipment may include:
information:
enclosure
habitat
photographs
species books
equipment:
animal trapping and catching paraphernalia
binoculars
cameras
protective gloves and clothing
video recorders
microchip detectors, devices and scanners.
Common names requires:
names sufficient to convey meaning
in Indigenous communities, language names can be used in lieu of common names.
Animal behaviour may consider:
normal versus abnormal behaviour
aggressive versus benign behaviour
confident versus timid or fearful behaviour.
Risks or hazards when working with animals may include:
animal bites, envenomation, kicks, scratches and crush injuries
biological hazardous waste
inhalation of aerosol particles
intraocular contamination
manual handling, including carrying, lifting and shifting
moving parts of machinery or equipment
release of infective agents (animal and human)
slippery or uneven work surfaces
zoonoses.
Risks or hazards to be assessed include:
assessment of breed/type potential to cause harm or difficulty
circumstances prevailing
degree of animal restraint and confinement
level of own experience, confidence and capability
level of owner/handler cooperation, competence and control
obvious signs of the animal's abnormal health and condition.
Constructive solutions may include:
looking at the owner-animal-environment triangle of effect in the expression of problem animal behaviour and offering remedial advice
considering different methods of handling and dealing with animals displaying specific behavioural traits (e.g. nervous or timid)
endeavouring to remedy the causes as well as the problem animal behaviour
for wandering animals the constructive solution may include:
restoring animal to correct owner property
capture and impoundment
offering advice regarding more adequate fencing
providing advice regarding:
a more enriched environment
improving obedience and responsiveness
using positive and negative reinforcement training.
Referral to specialists may include:
veterinarian, animal behaviourist or animal trainer.
Statutory response may include:
detail procedural requirements and explain timelines for outcomes
issue caution or infringement notice
recommend action plan
seize animal.

EVIDENCE GUIDE
The Evidence Guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.

Overview of assessment

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit
The evidence required to demonstrate competence in this unit must be relevant to workplace operations and satisfy all of the requirements of the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge and the range statement of this unit. Assessors should ensure that candidates can:
identify animals by breed, type and group
recognise animals by common name
interpret animal body language
determine behaviour and temperament of animals
assess specific types of animal behaviour and respond accordingly
refer unusual or dangerous behaviour to specialists or action a statutory response
access and use management systems to keep and maintain accurate records.

The skills and knowledge required to assess and impound animals must be transferable to a range of work environments and contexts and include the ability to deal with unplanned events.

Context of and specific resources for assessment
Assessment of this unit is to be practical in nature and will be most appropriately assessed in an animal control and regulation workplace or in a situation that reproduces normal work conditions.

There must be access to the appropriate equipment and/or resources to enable one to demonstrate competence. Assessment must include identifying top (most common) twenty breeds of dogs, top three breeds of cats and at least one species from each of livestock, wildlife and/or native animals and declared pest animals.

Method of assessment
To ensure consistency in one's performance, competency should be demonstrated, to industry defined standards, on more than one occasion over a period of time in order to cover a variety of circumstances, cases and responsibilities and over a number of assessment activities.

The assessment strategy must include practical skills assessment. Suggested strategies for this unit are:
written and/or oral assessment of candidate's required knowledge
observed, documented and first-hand testimonial evidence of candidate's application of practical tasks
simulation exercises that reproduce normal work conditions
case study analysis
third-party evidence
workplace documentation
portfolio.

This unit may be assessed in a holistic way with other units of competency relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role.

Guidance information for assessment
Assessment methods should reflect workplace demands (e.g. literacy and numeracy demands) and the needs of particular target groups (e.g. people with disabilities, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, women, people with a language background other than English, youth and people from low socioeconomic backgrounds).