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:

confirm industry terminology used to describe daily work routines and to report observations and activities to supervisor

clean work areas and animal housing in accordance with OHS and organisation policies and procedures

assist in the preparation and distribution of food under supervision

relate basic animal behaviour to animal categories and report observations of live animal behaviour and health status to supervisor.

The skills and knowledge required to assist in the care of 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 most appropriately be assessed in an animal care workplace or in a situation that reproduces normal work conditions. Workplaces can include pet shops, breeding or boarding kennels and catteries, aviaries, companion animal training, grooming establishments, domestic animal zoos, mobile animal facilities and veterinary practices.

There must be accessto a range of quiet, well-handled domestic animals as well as relevant information, equipment and/or resources to enable one to demonstrate competence.

Method of assessment

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 and where possible, over a number of assessment activities.

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

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

employ safe and environmentally responsible organisational systems and procedures when handling animals and feed

document and report basic workplace information related to the daily care of animals

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

participate in arrangements for maintaining the health and safety of all people and animals in the workplace

undertake work with animals as directed under supervision

use equipment and materials correctly and in accordance with manufacturers' specifications

numeracy skills to estimate, calculate and record routine workplace measures

oral communication skills/language to fulfil the job role as specified by the organisation, including questioning, active listening, asking for clarification and seeking advice from supervisor

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

problem-solving skills to select required materials and equipment and prioritise tasks

use safe manual handling techniques and/or equipment

use safe waste handling and disposal procedures.

Required knowledge

animal temperaments and behaviours related to the associated hazards and risks to animals and staff during animal feeding and cleaning of housing

basic awareness of natural animal behaviour relating to the characteristics of the species, age, health status and social needs

basic nutritional requirements for animals, including water

cleaning techniques and related safety issues for general workplace and animal housing

principles of animal welfare and ethics

processes that support environment and resource efficiencies

relevant organisational policies and procedures, including OHS and emergency procedures, animal welfare and waste disposal requirements

safe work practices

storage, preparation and presentation requirements for food

types of food and food supplements and their basic role in animal diets

types of information that has to be reported and recorded in animal care workplaces

workplace hygiene standards, disinfectants, cleaning agents, cleaning techniques and cleaning equipment and materials.

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.

Animal care workplace tasks may include:

assisting in heath care of animals

enclosure and bed cleaning and bedding replacement

equipment and consumables stocktake and ordering

exercising animals

feeding and watering animals

following environmentally sustainable work practices

grooming and animal cleaning

information collection, record and resource update

observing animal behaviour and reporting

taking messages and relaying information to appropriate person

cleaning workplace and equipment.

OHS risks when working with animals may include:

animal bites, envenomation, kicks, scratches and crush injuries

biological hazardous waste and sharps disposal

handling of chemicals and medicines

gas leakage

inhalation of aerosol particles

intraocular contamination

manual handling, including carrying, lifting and shifting

needle pricks and cuts from other sharps

release of infective agents (animal and human)

slippery or uneven work surfaces

zoonoses.

Daily workplace information and documentation may include:

accident and incident records

animal feeding, health and treatment records

animal identification and history

OHS and emergency procedures and contact information

equipment inventory, damage and repairs registers

provisions records of current stock and items used and items required

staff work roster.

Characteristics of animal behaviour may include:

indicators of stress:

aggressive behaviour

subdued behaviour

trembling

vocalisation

confidence and willingness to be approached gestures:

relaxed body tone and tail wagging

standing still or remaining sitting or laying down when approached

defensive gestures:

defending territory, other animals or food

growling, barking, hissing and spitting

hair on topline being raised

lunging forward

pecking

striking out with paws

submissive gestures:

lowering body

rolling onto back

tail between legs

turning away from handler.