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:

research and review enclosure and/or exhibit needs

work with others to prepare proposals and concept briefs for the design and development or renovation of exhibits and enclosures

contribute to project planning

monitor and advise on issues that arise during the implementation stages.

The skills and knowledge required to contribute to enclosure and exhibit design or renovation projects 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 a captive animal workplace. Workplaces may include small or large captive animal facilities, traditional or open-range type facilities and mobile or theme park environments.

There must be access to the appropriate equipment and/or resources to enable one to demonstrate competence.

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 and where possible, 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

third-party evidence

workplace documentation (e.g. reports and concept briefs)

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).

Required skills

evaluate enclosure or exhibit status, including security and safety

evaluate detailed costing and work plans

identify animal housing behavioural and physical requirements

implement facility policies and procedures

maintain records and write concept briefs and reports

read, interpret and prepare basic technical drawings in consultation with others

literacy skills to read and follow institutional policies and procedures, including OHS and waste management; 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 to fulfil the job role as specified by the facility, including questioning techniques, active listening, training others and consulting with staff, other departments, relevant experts and management

numeracy skills to complete mathematical calculations relating to enclosure and exhibit design and renovation

interpersonal skills to work with others and relate to people from a range of cultural, social and religious backgrounds and with a range of physical and mental abilities

problem-solving skills to use available resources when developing concept briefs and contributing to project management strategy development.

Required knowledge

animal care and management strategies

animal biology and husbandry requirements relevant to enclosures and exhibits

educational and interpretive functions of enclosures

environmental enrichment

exhibit maintenance and security requirements

institution master plan and collection policy

interaction between animal types and various habitats

internal decision making process leading to approval of new exhibits or renovation of existing ones

principles of animal welfare and ethics

principles of enclosure landscaping and horticulture, including basic working knowledge of exhibit plants and weeds

principles and protocols for enclosure or exhibit design, including aesthetics, function and effects of introduced fixtures and features

principles of naturalistic landscaping for enclosures and exhibits

principles of project management

recognition of animal, keeper, client and public requirements

relevant facility policies and procedures, including OHS and emergency procedures, animal welfare, ethics, hygiene standards and other industry guidelines

relevant federal and state or territory legislation and codes of practice

security control principles

specialist enclosures for different animals.

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.

Research may include:

exhibit theme and relationship to institutional master plan

other requirements:

animal behaviour

animal husbandry

current best practice examples

display and interpretative

habitat

horticultural and maintenance

OHS and other legislative requirements.

Enclosures and exhibits may include:

defined spaces where animals are kept and includes both:

exhibit public viewing areas

off-exhibit holding spaces

enclosures and exhibits may be for:

existing species

new single species

multi-species and multi-taxa.

Staff and animal security considerations may include:

animal housing faults that may result in escape

compatibility of species and breeds within housing

keeper access and safety

locks and slides are in good working order

restriction of access to authorised personnel

structures are maintained in good order.

Exhibit performance measures may include:

animal husbandry and behaviour

environmental constraints

feedback from the public and staff

hazard identification and risk management

interaction of animals with the public and their habitat

problems associated with a simulated environment

the durability and appropriateness of enclosure furniture.

OHS hazard considerations related to exhibit performance may include:

animal bites, envenomation, kicks, scratches and crush injuries

biological hazardous waste and sharps disposal

electrical when using water in close proximity to electrical outlets

handling of chemicals and medicines

inhalation of aerosol particles

intraocular contamination

manual handling, including carrying, lifting and shifting

moving parts of machinery or equipment

needle pricks and cuts from other sharps

noise, including machinery and some animals

release of infective agents (animal and human)

repetitive strain injury (e.g. raking and scrubbing)

slippery or uneven work surfaces

zoonoses.

Animal welfare requirements include:

adequate housing, nutrition and stock levels

compliance to appropriate state or territory legislation and regulations and international conventions

enrichment opportunities

the absence of pests and vermin

the compatibility of species and breeds.

Other staff and experts may include:

exhibit design advisory groups

keepers within the section, in other sections or keepers in charge

management

other institutions' staff

species experts

technical or architectural advisers/consultants.

Concept briefs may include:

graphical representation to illustrate overall concept supported by:

short introduction of the idea

background research and benchmarking

design and interpretive features, layout and materials

animal species habitat, husbandry and environmental enrichment suitability

resources required:

estimated funding

skills and technical resources.