Required skills

complete relevant workrelated documents

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

follow organisation policies procedures and requirements

identify animals using common names

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

literacy skills to read and follow organisation policies and procedures including occupational health and safety OHS and waste management procedures and other organisational policies and procedures 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 techniques active listening asking for clarification and consulting with supervisors

numeracy skills to estimate calculate and record routine workplace measures and sales data

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

basic animal biology

common companion animal diseases and treatment strategies

communication procedures and systems including sales techniques

feeding techniques for a range of species

general maintenance and cleaning of animal housing

OHS and animal welfare legislative requirements and codes of practice including transportation of companion animals

organisation policies procedures and requirements including OHS and emergency procedures

principles of animal ethics and welfare

relevant products and additional services

relevant recordkeeping systems

safe animal handling and restraint techniques and procedures

safe work practices

species and breed nutritional requirements

species compatibility

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

provide information and advice of the housing nutrition environmental and general maintenance requirements of a range of companion animals

comply with relevant legislation regulations and codes of practice including animal welfare OHS sale and transport of companion animals

build relationships and communicate effectively with clients to advise on the suitability of a particular companion animal breed or species to meet their needs

maintain records and followup with customers as required

The skills and knowledge required to provide advice on companion animal selection and general care 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 companion animal workplace or in a situation that reproduces normal work conditions Workplaces may include pet shops boarding kennels and catteries companion animal training grooming andor breeding establishments and mobile animal facilities

There must be access to a range of companion animal breeds and species as well as 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

Companion animals may include:

Interpersonal skills may include:

Client profile may include:

Characteristics of different breeds and species may include

Animal housing and environmental requirements may include:

Health and nutritional requirements may include:

Products and services may include:

Transportation requirements may include:

Legislative requirements may include: