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.

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 the specific industry sector and workplace operations and satisfy all of the requirements of the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge and the range statement of this unit and include evidence of the following:

knowledge of the requirements, procedures and instructions that are to apply when providing emergency animal assistance

implementation of procedures and timely techniques for safe, effective and efficient provision of emergency animal assistance

working with others to undertake and complete emergency animal assistance procedures that meet required outcomes.

Evidence should be collected over a period of time in a range of workplace-relevant contexts and include dealings with an appropriate range of situations.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Competency must be assessed in a racing workplace that provides access to the required resources or simulated environment approved by the relevant State Principal Racing Authority. Assessment is to occur under standard and authorised work practices, safety requirements and environmental constraints. It is to comply with relevant regulatory requirements or Australian Standards requirements.

Assessment of the practical components of this unit will be by observation of relevant skills.

The following resources must be available:

greyhound or horse vehicle for transporting animals

materials and equipment relevant to assessing candidate's ability to provide emergency animal assistance

relevant racing track sites, such as training tracks and racecourses

work instructions and related documentation.

Method of assessment

Assessment methods must satisfy the endorsed Assessment Guidelines of the Racing Training Package.

The suggested strategies for the assessment of 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 conducted in a State Principal Racing Authority approved simulated environment.

Evidence is required to be demonstrated over a period of time, therefore where performance is not directly observed any evidence should be authenticated by supervisors or other appropriate persons.

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

adhering to safe handling and work practices when dealing with greyhounds or horses

assessing greyhound or horse behaviour status

allocating duties to staff based on incident or situation requirements, staff experience, level of responsibility and complexity of job task

communicating with stewards, veterinarians, racing officials, personnel and others using assertive communication techniques to gather, interpret and relay information related to providing emergency animal assistance

completing duties in accordance with safe operating procedures in a timely manner

complying with OHS, environmental and animal welfare legislation

complying with organisational policies and procedures

driving vehicle safely

evaluating risks associated with emergency animal assistance

making effective decisions to resolve presenting problems

operating a range of equipment and machinery

recognising faulty equipment, machinery and infrastructure

reading and interpreting workplace documentation, including rules of racing

relating to people from a range of social, cultural and ethnic backgrounds and with varying physical and mental abilities

supervising staff

teamwork skills to ensure completion of job tasks

written communication skills to complete workplace documentation and reports.

Required knowledge

avenues and procedures for personnel to access grief counselling

greyhound or horse behaviour and communication traits

hazards and potential hazards in the workplace and risk control procedures

OHS and environmental legislative requirements

organisational policies and procedures

principles of effective communication

protocols and procedures for communicating with stewards, veterinarians, racing officials and other relevant people

protocols and procedures for emergency animal care

race meeting track management operations and staff roles

racing industry safety requirements, including safe operating procedures

reasonable understanding of national and state codes of practice; federal, state and territory legislation; and local government regulations covering animal welfare related to handling and transporting injured greyhounds or horses

relevant rules of racing

types of equipment and procedures for their operation and maintenance.

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 in the performance criteria is detailed below.

The range statement provides details of how this competency can be used in the workplaces of the racing industry to provide emergency animal assistance. Workplaces include greyhound, harness and thoroughbred racecourses, training tracks, administration buildings and public areas.

Other specialists may include:

Department of Agriculture personnel

Department of Primary Industries personnel

injured animal's insurance company representative

local and state government emergency animal disease (EAD) contacts.

Animal emergency may include:

critical race meeting or training track injury requiring euthanasia, such as limb, neck and spinal injuries

suspected EAD outbreak.

Assistance provided to supervising personnel may include:

assisting with crowd control

assisting stewards or veterinarians, but not administering to animals

following prescribed protocols

providing details of animal ownership and insurance

recording any information relevant to situation

restraining animals

stopping animals leaving premises, in the case of an EAD

stopping entry of animals to premises, in the case of an EAD.

OHS hazards may include:

greyhounds or horses

hazardous substances and chemicals

machinery or equipment

other people, including:

contractors

employees

visitors

physical environment

unsafe work practices

zoonotic diseases.

Risks assessment may include:

conducting workplace site inspection audits

consulting with employees or specialists

monitoring safe work practices

using a risk assessment matrix.

Procedures to avoid injury to personnel and animals may include:

applying OHS hierarchy of control model:

eliminate

substitute

engineer

administrative

personal protective equipment

ensuring safe use and operation of equipment, including:

first aid

safety

personal protective clothing and equipment

following accident and injury procedures

following safe operating procedures

using correct manual handling techniques, including:

carrying

lifting

shifting.

Basic methods of restraints used on animals may include:

chemical

physical.

Considerations made in the management of incident may include:

positioning screens to block public view of incident site

providing information about where to obtain advice regarding access to counselling

taking care with language and making comments about prognosis

taking care with where people stand in order to block public view.

Factors considered when vehicle and equipment are prepared:

ensuring vehicle and equipment, for example slide, are in good working order

positioning vehicle for ease of access for loading animal to avoid public view and provide ease of departure.

Animal-loading techniques may include:

applying safe manual handling and lifting methods

using ropes and winches.

Designated disposal area may include:

confirming area agreed to by stewards

existing arrangement with local waste disposal area.