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 competency 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:

provide advice to customers and clients on a range of issues relating to companion animals

establish organisation policies and procedures to ensure the organisation complies with relevant legislation, regulations and codes of practice, including animal welfare and OHS

manage relationships and communicate effectively with a range of stakeholders, including veterinarians, suppliers and relevant industry associations

maintain records and workplace documentation.

The skills and knowledge required to manage compliance in the companion animal industrymust 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 companion animal workplace or in a situation that reproduces normal work conditions. Workplaces may include pet and aquarium shops, boarding kennels and catteries, companion animal training, grooming and/or breeding establishments and mobile animal facilities.

There must be access to a range of companion animal breeds and species and the relevant information, materials and documentation.

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 strategies must include practical skills assessment. Suggested strategies for this unit are:

written and/or oral assessment of candidate's required knowledge

observed, documented and firsthand testimonial evidence of candidate's application of practical tasks

simulation exercises that reproduce normal work conditions

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).

Required skills

communicate effectively with clients and other relevant stakeholders

develop, implement and monitor organisational policies and procedures, including safe operating systems

employ safe and environmentally responsible organisational systems and procedures when working with and handling animals and initiating behavioural management strategies

maintain the highest standards of hygiene and infection control at all times to reduce the risk of infection and cross-infection

maintain records and write workplace documents

literacy skills to read and follow organisation policies and procedures, including OHS, infection control and waste management; 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 organisation, including questioning techniques, active listening and asking for clarification

numeracy skills to estimate, calculate and record routine and more complex workplace measures and data

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 and prioritise daily tasks.

Required knowledge

anatomical and physiological structures and functions related to the care and wellbeing of commonly held animals

animal transportation methods

behavioural management for different species and breeds

companion animal diseases and treatment strategies

communication procedures and systems

general maintenance and cleaning of animal housing

organisation policies, procedures and requirements, including OHS and emergency procedures

physical, behavioural and social requirements of a range of species and breeds kept in captivity

principles of animal ethics and welfare

relevant codes of practice and regulatory controls, including Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council codes of practice, companion animal legislation, local council regulations, microchipping and National Parks and Wildlife Service legislation

relevant OHS and animal welfare legislative requirements and codes of practice

relevant recordkeeping systems

safe animal handling and restraint techniques and procedures

safe work practices

species and breed nutritional requirements and feeding techniques of commonly held animals

species compatibility

standards, guidelines and approaches to environmental sustainability relevant to the animal care industry

waste management strategies

workplace hygiene standards and infection control protocols.

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.

Companion animals may include:

aquaria, reptiles and amphibians

birds

dogs and cats

invertebrates (e.g. stick insects, spiders and beetles)

small animals (e.g. rabbits, rodents, ferrets and guinea pigs).

Dietary requirements of companion animals may include:

the type of food (e.g. packaged, seed mixes, fresh, raw, frozen or live)

food requirements in accordance with the species, breed, age, sex and activity level of the animal

appropriate quantities and temperature of food.

Codes of practice and legislative requirements that may apply include:

environmental sustainability practices

Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council codes of practice

relevant companion animal legislation

local council regulations

microchipping

animal welfare legislation

National Parks and Wildlife Service legislation.

Housing may include:

cages

kennels

enclosures

compounds

brooders

aquaria

aviaries and bird rooms.

Animal security arrangements may include:

safe access and egress

prevention of escape by animals

restriction of access to authorised personnel

compatibility of species and breeds within housing.

Environmentally sustainable work practices may include:

environmentally friendly waste management

processes relevant to the workplace that support environment and resource efficiencies.

Transportation may include:

airfreight boxes

pet carriers

plastic bags

restraints

transport fish boxes

trolleys.

Waste managementstrategies may include:

disposal of:

food waste

animal waste

used cleaning and disinfection products and containers

local government requirements and environmental or other legislative requirements.

Treatments may include:

topical and systemic parasite controls

dietary supplements

washing and grooming products.

Regulatory controls applicable when trading in animals may include:

federal and state or territory legislation, regulations and codes of practice.