Required skills

calculate and evaluate dietary needs for a range of animals

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

implement institutional policies and procedures

maintain records and write workplace documents including reports to management

provide advice on animal food requirements

research plantation requirements for specific animals

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

oral communication skillslanguage to communicate effectively with team members supervisors contractors and consultants and to fulfil job role as specified by the institution including questioning techniques active listening training others asking for clarification from supervisors and consulting with supervisors

numeracy skills to complete arithmetic calculations and weigh and measure feed

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 care and management strategies

basic anatomy and physiology relating to nutrition and digestive processes for specific animal species

animal groups and their natural diets

animal husbandry manuals and other recordkeeping requirements

animal nutrition requirements

basic physiology of required plant species

pest identification and management techniques

principles of animal welfare and ethics

OHS and animal welfare legislative requirements and codes of practice

objectives of a plantation program

relevant institutional policies and procedures including OHS animal welfare ethics hygiene standards and other industry guidelines

relevant federal and state or territory legislation and codes of practice

safe work practices

toxic plants and substances including control factors affecting toxicity andprotocols for suspected animal poisoning

zoological horticulture principles and 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

work with others including horticulturists to establish and maintain a plantation in accordance with OHS and organisation requirements

correctly calculate and harvest food requirements

maintain plantation records

The skills and knowledge required to assist in establishing and maintaining a plantation 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 Workplaces may include small or large captive animal facilities traditional or openrange type facilities and mobile or theme park environments

There must be access 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 plantation records

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

Zoological plantation requirements may include:

Plantation requirements may be sourced from:

Relevant personnel may include:

Plantation management strategies may include:

OHS risks associated with the plantation may include:

Daily plantation activities may include:

Sustainable horticulture practices may include:

Advice may relate to: