Required skills

employ safe and environmentally responsible organisational systems and procedures when handling animals

follow facility policies and procedures

follow verbal instructions and assist safely with tasks

identify specified species following organisational policy and procedures

identify animals within the workplace to family level using distinguishing characteristics

maintain records in accordance with organisational policies and procedures

literacy skills to read and follow facility policies and procedures including OHS 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 facility including questioning techniques active listening and consulting with supervisors

numeracy skills to estimate calculate and record routine 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 resources and prioritise daily tasks

Required knowledge

animal taxonomy to family level

basic animal behaviour and the potential effects of captivity

basic working knowledge of relevant international agreements and conventions

captive animal facilitys policies and procedures including captive animal interaction OHS and emergency procedures

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

principles of animal welfare and ethics

relevant international federal and state or territory legislation and codes of practice

relevant OHS and animal welfare legislative requirements and codes of practice

safe animal handling techniques and procedures

safe work practices

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

identify the facilitys structure and role within the context of legislative requirements and zoological agreements

comply with captive animal interaction policies and procedures

identify and handle animals in accordance with facility and animal welfare requirements

The skills and knowledge required to work within a captive animal facility 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 a captive animal workplace with access to a range of captive animals and the appropriate 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 and where possible 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

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

Captive animal facilities may include:

Function and structure of the facility may include:

Legislative requirements may include:

International agreements may include:

Other bodies and agencies may include:

Daily routines may include:

OHS risks when working in a captive animal facility may include:

Environmentally sensitive work practices may include:

Animal interaction policies and procedures will include:

Distinguishing characteristics that may be used to identify captive animals include:

Animal welfare requirements include:

Identification techniques may include:

Communication may be conducted by:

Animal keeping information systems and software examples include: