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Elements and Performance Criteria

  1. Monitor the health status of laboratory animals
  2. Investigate and recognise disease processes in research animals
  3. Treat, prevent and control disease in laboratory animals
  4. Identify the way in which disease processes may influence the design and outcome of experiments in laboratory animals

Required Skills

Required skills

apply Animal Ethics Committee AEC classification system to determine procedures that require approval

collect and perform basic tests on urine blood and faeces

collect antemortem and postmortem samples

comply with animal welfare and ethical standards in the humane handling of animals administration of substances collection of samples and documenting of activities

ensure correct usage of equipment materials and machinery in accordance with manufacturers specifications

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

monitor compliance with animal welfare and ethics regulations and workplace safe operating procedures

observe document and report findings on animal health status and behaviour traits using workplace protocols and procedures

organise and participate in regular team meetings with other staff researchers and veterinarians

prepare and maintain appropriate records including animal care and ethics register using relevant institutional electronic andor manual systems

research develop and communicate the institutions standard operating procedures to monitor the health of laboratory animals recognise diseases and implement treatment prevention or control strategies

use bibliographic databases to locate relevant scientific and technical material

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

oral communication skillslanguage to fulfil the job role as specified by the organisation including questioning active listening asking for clarification and consulting with or seeking advice from research group team members senior or more experienced staff or other relevant persons

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

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

problemsolving skills to use available information and resources and prioritise daily tasks

verify precautions in application or administration of treatments or services

Required knowledge

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

antemortem and postmortem changes in animals

biohazards in the workplace of significance to animals and humans

industry terminology used to describe administration of substances and sampling techniques and other animal technology workplace practices

industry terminology used to identify animals describe their behaviour and diseases

methodology and format of the institutions standard operating procedures

microbiology

nutritional and behavioural disorders

organisational policies and safe work procedures including OHS and emergency procedures

parameters of normal and abnormal behaviour in animals including signs of a healthy animal signs of an animal in pain or distress in commonly held species

protocols legal and ethical considerations in establishing animal care procedures and policies and gaining ethics committee approval

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 and animal welfare and research

relevant state or territory legislation covering the use of therapeutic and controlled substances

safe animal handling techniques including approved handling methods during the administration of substances and collection of samples

sources of relevant scientific and technical literature

tissue and fluid sample types and methods

types of disease vectors

types of infectious and noninfectious diseases

types of infectious agents eg bacteria virus protozoa and parasites and noninfectious agents eg cancer environmental accident or diet

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

Evidence Required

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

develop and implement standard operating procedures to manage and maintain the health of research animals

work independently and as part of a team to observe animals monitor their health sickness behaviours and pain and to report abnormalities

assist in the investigation of disease processes and act to treat prevent control and monitor disease

identify and document the impact of disease processes on a research program

The skills and knowledge required to manage and maintain the health of research 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 be most appropriately assessed in an animal technology research facility or an environment that reproduces normal work conditions and has a scientific establishment licence and access to an approved AEC

There must be access to a range of research animals and the relevant information materials and documentation 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

case study analysis

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


Range Statement

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.

Standard operating procedures for monitoring research animal health may be developed:

in conjunction with other staff, in particular veterinarians and staff involved in research programs

in some institutions the responsibly to develop safe operating procedures lies with the veterinarian with other staff assisting

as a team task with all involved being consulted.

Subject to facility requirements animals may include:

on most occasions the animal species will be common laboratory animals:

guinea pigs

mice

rabbits

rats

on some occasions animal species may include:

amphibians, fish and reptiles

dogs and cats

fish

invertebrates

livestock (e.g. sheep, cattle and pigs)

native wildlife (e.g. marsupials and birds)

primates

poultry.

OHS risks associated with animal technician procedures include:

animal bites, 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)

zoonoses.

Diseases that may occur in research animals include:

common infectious diseases:

bacterial

fungal

parasitic

prions

protozoa

viral

common non-infectious diseases:

congenital

degenerative

dietary

genetic

neoplastic

toxic

traumatic.

Signs that may indicate that an animal is unwell may include:

clinical signs:

aggression

change in normal appearance

changes in temperature

changes to skin, fur or hair

decreased fertility

depression

increased or decreased mobility

isolation from others

lack of grooming

loss of appetite

signs of injury:

blood

diarrhoea

pus

vomitus.

Classifying organisms found in biological samples may require:

investigation using:

clinical advice

the internet

reference texts.

Requirements for treating animals may include:

relevant medication:

parasite treatment

prescription drugs

vaccinations

seeking veterinary assistance when developing a health-monitoring program.

Strategies might be developed:

in consultation with other staff, including veterinarians and researchers

to include minimising the adverse effects that interactions of host and pathogenic agents and the environment may have on animal health

using scientific literature.

Experimental techniques may include:

carcinogenic agents

radiation

radioisotopes

surgical procedures.