What evidence is required to demonstrate competence for this standard as a whole?

Competence in this standard requires evidence of the ability to implement effective preventative health regimes for the control of parasites. It involves the ability to safely handle animals, determine the type and scope of treatment, observe withholding periods, and monitor animals for treatment effectiveness and abnormalities. Competence must be demonstrated in safe and positive environmental workplace practices.

The skills and knowledge required must be transferable to another environment. For example, if competence is evident in carrying out a parasite control program for sheep, it must also be evident that these skills may be adapted to a program for goats and beef cattle.

What specific knowledge is needed to achieve the performance criteria?

Knowledge and understanding are essential to apply this standard in the workplace, to transfer the skills to other contexts and to deal with unplanned events. The knowledge requirements for this competency standard are listed below:

application procedures and effects of veterinary chemicals

types of health preparation treatments

enterprise vaccination program and procedures

identification of and prescribed treatments for infections and infestations

livestock health and nutritional requirements

types of parasite infestation and their symptoms

grazing management strategies used in internal parasite control

requirements for the preparation and transportation of faecal samples

drenching equipment, drenches and their efficiency

relevant codes of practice with regard to the safe use and handling of hazardous substances

withholding periods for treated animals

animal handling and restraint techniques

OHS legislative requirements

relevant codes of practice with regard to environmental protection.

What specific skills are needed to achieve the performance criteria?

To achieve the performance criteria, appropriate literacy and numeracy levels as well as some complementary skills are required. These include the ability to:

select and apply chemicals appropriate to treat infections and infestations

collect faecal, tissue or blood samples for laboratory analysis samples

treat rectal prolapse

select and prepare livestock for culling

arrange and co-ordinate equipment and resources

weigh and drench livestock

assemble, check and calibrate drenching equipment

demonstrate safe and environmentally responsible workplace practices

provide due care and humanely handle animals

return animals to prepared and clean environments

identify the symptoms of parasite infestation

read and interpret chemical and veterinary health labels, manufacturers specifications and MSDS

communicate verbally with the work team and the manager

calculate animal numbers and measure treatment dosage and rates.

What processes should be applied to this competency standard?

There are a number of processes that are learnt throughout work and life which are required in all jobs. They are fundamental processes and generally transferable to other work functions. Some of these are covered by the key competencies, although others may be added. The questions below highlight how these processes are applied in this competency standard. Following each question a number in brackets indicates the level to which the key competency needs to be demonstrated where 0 = not required, 1 = perform the process, 2 = perform and administer the process and 3 = perform, administer and design the process.

1. How can communication of ideas and information (1) be applied?

Information with regard to evidence of parasitic infection may be discussed and confirmed with veterinary medicine suppliers and animal health personnel.

2. How can information be collected, analysed and organised (2)?

Information on animal testing may be collected and organised by reports for future analysis of parasite control and management.

3. How are activities planned and organised (2)?

The treatment process may be planned and co-ordinated with work schedules and timeframes or sequenced as required.

4. How can team work (1) be applied?

In the application of methods and procedures to complete the treatment program within timeframes and deadlines.

5. How can the use of mathematical ideas and techniques (1) be applied?

Mathematical techniques may be used to calculate treatment dosage and rates for the severity of the infection or infestation.

6. How can problem-solving skills (1) be applied?

Problems of large infestations or disease outbreaks may be resolved by isolation procedures.

7. How can the use of technology (2) be applied?

Technology may be used to communicate, source information and to estimate levels of infection or infestation.

Are there other competency standards that could be assessed with this one?

This competency standard could be assessed on its own or in combination with other competencies relevant to the job function.

There is essential information about assessing this competency standard for consistent performance and where and how it may be assessed, in the Assessment Guidelines for this Training Package. All users of these competency standards must have access to the Assessment Guidelines. Further advice may also be sought from the relevant sector booklet.

Range of Variables

The Range of Variables explains the range of contexts within which the performance and knowledge requirements of this standard may be assessed. The scope of variables chosen in training and assessment may depend on the work situations available

What types of animals may be covered by this standard?

This may include sheep, goats, pigs, dairy and beef cattle.

What types of infections or parasites does this unit cover?

This may include lice, biting lice, sucking lice, ticks, blowfly, itch mite, mange, worms, bacteria, viruses or fluke.

What factors may be considered in determining and preparing animal treatments?

This may include assessing the dosage and rates appropriate to the identified type and severity of infestation or infection, the selection of a chemical that doesn't cause fleece/fibre contamination and residues in milk. It may also involve checking the expiry dates on health preparations for validity.

What OHS requirements may be applicable to this standard?

Safe systems and procedures for:

operation of equipment

hazard and risk control

handling animals including zoonoses control

manual handling, including lifting and carrying

protection from hazardous noise and organic and other dusts

handling and storage of hazardous substances

outdoor work including protection from solar radiation

appropriate use of personal protective equipment.

What range of equipment and materials may be prepared for use?

This may include syringes, antibiotics and vaccinations, drench guns, overhead gantry, yards, drenches, scales, races, gates, backpacks, faeces collection plastic bags, plastic globes, sample jars, portable coolers, kits supplied by the Department of Agriculture, hand shears, jetting hand piece, water pump, temporary yards, portable plunge dips, sharpening stone, jetting race, tanks, spray dips/shower dips, plunge dips and portable crutching equipment. Preparation may include the calibration of equipment to check accuracy of dose rates.

What enterprise requirements may apply to this standard?

Standard operating procedures (SOPs), enterprise quality assurance manual, industry standards and quality assurance programs, Total Quality Management standards, product labels, manufacturers specifications, MSDS, operators manuals, enterprise policies and procedures (including waste disposal, recycling and re-use) and reporting requirements.

What may be involved in preparing the treatment site?

The place of treatment may include yards, plunge dips, jetting races, in paddock, in piggery, spray dips/shower dips. Preparation may involve cleaning and determining the method of site drainage.

What existing and potential hazards may be encountered in the workplace?

Animal movement and handling, exposure to hazardous noise, dust and solar radiation and veterinarian chemicals, and zoonotic diseases.

What personal protective equipment may be relevant to this standard?

This may include boots, hat/hard hat, overalls, gloves, protective eyewear, hearing protection, respirator or face mask, and sun protection.

What might be involved in animal restraint procedures?

Procedures may involve the use of industry accepted animal restraint equipment in conjunction with safe and humane handling techniques.

What may be involved in the preparation and movement of animals?

This may include giving animals time to settle post-treatment, conducting the move in a controlled and quiet manner to correct paddock or sickbay.

What environmental implications may be relevant to this standard?

Negative environmental impacts may result from the unsafe use and disposal of veterinarian chemicals (dipping, jetting, parasite control) and any consequent residual chemicals. Impacts may also result from high concentrations of animals on ground cover causing run-off flows, loss of ground cover, soil disturbance, pugging, dust problems, weed seeds in animal manure, contamination of ground and surface water supplies, and odours.

What type of animal residues may be disposed of?

This may include fly blown fleece, maggots and chemical residues.

What storage requirements may be observed?

Storage requirements may include safety, access, warning signs, temperature control, and security for spillage.

What relevant information might be recorded and reported?

This may include details of equipment and materials used, the performance of equipment, faults and malfunctions, number of treated livestock and details of treatment, any testing carried out and results, evaluation of treatment effectiveness and observed abnormalities or behaviour in livestock.

For more information on contexts, environment and variables for training and assessment, refer to the Sector Booklet.