Required skills

calculate dosage and administer drugs including anaesthetic and monitor response in accordance with project protocols and workplace standards

check animals physical conditions and vital signs and monitor for signs of progress or deterioration in condition or health of animals pre during and postsurgery

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

identify and locate animal structures tissues and organs relevant to performance and monitoring of basic surgical procedures and induction of anaesthesia

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

measure interpret and record animal weight and other relevant data required in the procedures associated with the administration of anaesthesia and related medications

interpret and apply relevant legislation regulations codes of conduct AEC procedures and standard operating procedures

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

use chemicals and cleaning agents in accordance with state or territory legislation and organisational policies and procedures

use equipment and materials correctly and in accordance with manufacturers specifications

literacy skills to read interpret and apply facility 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

use personal protective clothing and equipment correctly

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 and physiological terminology and glossary of terms and nomenclature related to the species being examined

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

aseptic techniques

biosecurity issues for animals and humans relating to conducting surgical procedures

characteristics of healthy sick or distressed animals including indicators of normal and undesirable responses to anaesthetic and related medications

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

methods and equipment used to monitor animals during anaesthesia and surgical procedures

information that should be documented regarding the administration of anaesthetic and related substances and application of surgical procedures

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

physiological features of animals related to the application of anaesthesia and related medications and the response to surgical procedures

principles of animal welfare and ethics

principles of managing an anaesthetic overdose

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 waste disposal animal welfare and research

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

surgical procedures and techniques used in animal technology facilities

safe animal handling techniques including approved handling methods during the administration of substances and surgical procedures

terminology used to describe anaesthetic processes equipment materials and physiological responses

types of information that has to be reported and recorded in relation to anaesthesia and surgical procedures

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 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

prepare facilities personnel and equipment including anaesthetic equipment anaesthetic agents and surgical instruments and equipment

prepare animal and carry out preanaesthetic and preoperative evaluation

comply with institutional protocols policies and procedures AEC and relevant legislative requirements

induce monitor and maintain an animal in anaesthesia

perform aseptic and basic surgical procedures

recognise and respond to emergencies during and after anaesthesia and surgery

provide postanaesthetic and postoperative care

maintain appropriate and accurate records

The skills and knowledge required to administer anaesthesia and perform surgery on animals for scientific purposes 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 be assessed in an animal research facility or an environment that reproduces normal work conditions that has a scientific establishment licence and access to an approved AEC

There must also be access to the relevant information materials and documentation to enable one to demonstrate competence This would include access to research animals anaesthetic equipment anaesthetic agents surgical instruments and equipment as required for the anaesthetic and surgical procedures

Method of assessment

To ensure consistency in ones performance competency should be demonstrated to industry defined standards on more than two occasions over a period of time in order to cover a variety of circumstances and over a number of assessment activities

The assessment strategy 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

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 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:

Anaesthetic agents, equipment and supplies may include:

Surgical instruments and equipment may include:

Maintaining an aseptic environment includes:

OHS risks associated with animal technician procedures include:

Relative legislative requirements include:

Subject to research requirements animals may include:

Preparing an animal may include:

Pre-anaesthetic and pre-operative medication may include:

Pre-anaesthetic and pre-operative evaluations may include:

Methods used to induce an animal in anaesthesia may include:

Possible anaesthetic emergencies may include:

Basic surgical procedures that may be performed on common laboratory animals include:

Post-operative anaesthesia procedures may include:

Post-operative abnormalities that may be encountered include: