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Elements and Performance Criteria

  1. Write institutional husbandry guidelines
  2. Review and maintain husbandry guidelines

Required Skills

Required skills

research and analyse information

follow institutional policies and procedures

operate appropriate species management databases

use wordprocessing software

literacy skills to read and implement institutional policies and procedures including OHS and waste management interpret data record accurately and legibly information collected and select and apply procedures to a range of defined tasks

communication skillslanguage to fulfil the job role as specified by the institution including questioning techniques active listening asking for clarification from supervisors and consulting with supervisors and other staff

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

problemsolving skills to use available resources and prioritise daily tasks

write husbandry guidelines following institutional standard format and citation procedures

Required knowledge

animal husbandry guidelines requirements

biology and husbandry of animals in a captive animal environment

database programs for recordkeeping and data analysis

genetic principles for the management of captive animal populations

institutional policies and procedures including OHS

principles of animal welfare and ethics

regional and institutional collection plans and policies

relevant federal state or territory legislation and codes of practice

report formats for husbandry guidelines

research methods and facilities

species stocking policies

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 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

research collate and analyse information relating to a particular species

discuss and collaborate with team members on the development and maintenance of the guidelines

The skills and knowledge required to develop institutional husbandry guidelines 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 or in a situation that reproduces normal work conditions

There must be access in either situation to 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 eg research and guidelines 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


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.

Husbandry guidelines:

may be documents, usually at an institutional level, that provide information on species management including:

maintaining, displaying and breeding a species in captivity

should encourage readers to access additional information by referencing published data

husbandry guidelines differ from Husbandry Manuals in that they refer to the specific management of the species within the said institution rather than all institutions in a region/program.

Information that may be researched includes:

artificial incubation and/or rearing of the animal group

behaviour

feeding requirements

general husbandry

health requirements

housing, handling and transport requirements

taxonomy and natural history

relevant references.

OHS risks to consider when developing guidelines may include:

animal bites, envenomation, 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)

slippery or uneven work surfaces

zoonoses.