Required skills

apply first aid techniques and provide basic animal care

complete relevant workrelated documents

calculate dose rates of anaesthetic and other medications and verify with supervisor

comply with project protocols or report problems or concerns to workplace supervisor or project manager in accordance with workplace protocols and procedures

confirm the identity of animals and procedures to be undertaken

employ safe humane and environmentally responsible organisational systems and procedures when handling and working with animals

evaluate behaviour vital signs symptoms and other objective measures that may indicate animal health is at risk

identify and locate animal structures tissues and organs relevant to administration and monitoring of induction of anaesthesia

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

use equipment and materials correctly and in accordance with manufacturers specifications

literacy skills to read interpret and follow institutional policies and procedures including OHS infection control and waste management follow sequenced written instructions record accurately and legible information collected and select and apply procedures for a range of tasks

oral communication skillslanguage to fulfill the job role as specified by the organisation including questioning active listening asking for clarification and seeking advice from supervisor

numeracy skills to estimate calculate and record routine workplace measures

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

problemsolving skills to address emergency situations or other issues within scope of responsibilities

use safe manual handling techniques andor equipment

use safe waste handling and disposal procedures

verify dose rates and identify precautions in application or administration of anaesthetic and other medications

Required knowledge

anatomical terminology

anatomical structures tissues and organs relevant to the induction and monitoring of animals under anaesthetic

animal anaesthetic emergencies and appropriate responses

animal first aid techniques

biohazards in the workplace of significance to animals and humans

characteristics of healthy sick or distressed animals

communication procedures and systems and technology relevant to the organisation and the individuals work responsibilities

indicators of normal and undesirable responses to anaesthetic and related medications

information that should be documented for the administration of anaesthetic and related substances

methods and equipment used to monitor animals during anaesthesia

methods used to anaesthetise animals in animal technology workplaces

methods used to measure interpret and record objective measure of animal health

organisational policies and safe work procedures including OHS and emergency procedures

physiological features of animals related to the application of anaesthesia and related medications

relevant codes of practice including the Australian Code of Practice for the Care and Use of Animals for Scientific Purposes

relevant state or territory legislation and regulations relating to the practice of veterinary science OHS animal welfare research and waste disposal

safe animal handling techniques and procedures

terminology used to describe anaesthetic processes equipment materials and physiological responses

types of nonsurgical or tissue collection procedures used in animal technology facilities that require the use of anaesthetics and related medications

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

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

prepare facilities personnel and equipment including anaesthetic equipment and anaesthetic agents in accordance with institutional policies and procedures and OHS requirements

prepare animals and carry out preanaesthetic evaluations

monitor and maintain animals in anaesthesia and provide postanaesthetic care

recognise and respond to anaesthetic and postanaesthetic emergencies

maintain facilities and record treatments

The skills and knowledge required to prepare for and monitor anaesthesia in 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

All activities and procedures must be performed in accordance with animal welfare legislation ethical and approved project protocols under supervision of a senior or more experienced staff member

Assessment of this unit is to be practical in nature and will be most appropriately assessed in an animal technology research facility

There must be access to a range of research animals as well as relevant information equipment andor resources to enable one to demonstrate competence

Method of assessment

To ensure consistency in ones 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 andor oral assessment of candidates required knowledge

observed documented and firsthand testimonial evidence of candidates application of practical tasks

simulation exercises that reproduce normal work conditions

thirdparty evidence

workplace documentation

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 eg literacy and numeracy demands and the needs of particular target groups eg 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

Anaesthesia refers to:

Equipment may include:

Anaesthetic and monitoring equipment may include:

Pre-anaestheticevaluation may involve:

Preparing animals for anaesthesia will involve:

OHS risks associated with administering anaesthesia and monitoring animals may include:

Methods used to induce an animal in anaesthesia may include:

Institute protocols may include:

Possible anaesthetic emergencies may include:

Post-anaesthetic monitoring of animals may include: