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Elements and Performance Criteria

  1. Plan the capture and restraint of companion animals
  2. Capture animals
  3. Prepare animals for movement

Required Skills

Required skills

complete relevant workrelated documents

employ safe humane and environmentally responsible organisational systems and procedures when capturing restraining and handling animals

implement organisation policies procedures and requirements

identify transport containers appropriate to animals requirements

maintain tools equipment and transport containers in accordance with manufacturers specifications

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 OHS 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

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

use safe manual handling techniques andor equipment

Required knowledge

appropriate relocation procedures for a range of animals

behaviour and physiology of typical companion animals

dietary requirements before during and after transport

general maintenance and cleaning of animal transport housing capture and restraint equipment

organisation policies procedures and requirements including OHS and emergency procedures

principles of animal welfare and ethics

relevant recordkeeping systems

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

safe and humane animal capture handling and restraint techniques and procedures for a range of animals

safe work practices

species compatibility

transport housing requirements

workplace hygiene standards disinfectants cleaning agents cleaning techniques and cleaning equipment and materials

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

handle animals in a safe humane and ethical manner at all times

select and use appropriate techniques and equipment to capture and restrain a range of companion animals

prepare correct type of transport container

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

build relationships and communicate effectively with clients in respect to animals transportation and initial settling in requirements

maintain records and documentation

The skills and knowledge required to capture handle and transport companion animals 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 most appropriately be assessed in a companion animal workplace or in a situation that reproduces normal work conditions Workplaces can 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


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.

Companion animals may include:

aquaria, reptiles and amphibians

birds

dogs and cats

invertebrates (e.g. stick insects, spiders and beetles)

small animals (e.g. rabbits, rodents, ferrets and guinea pigs).

Risks in capture, handling and transport of animals may include

aggressive animal behaviour

escape of animals and subsequent threat to safety of humans and other animals

potential injuries to humans during capture, handling and transport processes

potential stress and injury to animals during capture and transport.

Capture techniques and equipment may include:

equipment:

chemical controls (e.g. sedatives)

hoods or other sight restriction devices

leads, collars and halters

lassoes, ropes, chains, catching poles, nets and harnesses

traps

visual barriers

techniques and devices used to:

entice or attract animals

herd stock

separate animals.

Transport housing may include:

bags, cages, pouches, padded containers

containers suitable for holding water

climate controlled containers

trailers or other stock vehicle

transfer or crush equipment.

Transport housing preparation factors may include:

animals' metabolic and other health features

challenges involved in loading captured animal into transport

location of capture and distance to destination

risk of injury to animal within transport container

size, age, health status and number of animals to be transported.

Safe and humane manner considerations may include:

allocating sufficient time to the process

appropriate use of restraints for animals

considering animals' welfare at all times

correct use of personal protective equipment

observing if the animal is becoming distressed.

OHS risks when handling animals 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.

Emergency procedures may relate to:

potential escape of an animal

injury to target animals, other animals, staff and potentially the public.

Indicators of stress may include:

aggressive behaviour

inappetence

subdued behaviour

trembling

vocalisation.

Relocation procedure considerations may include:

future dietary requirements

housing at destination

immediate food and water requirements on arrival

indicators of travel stress and other health emergencies

introduction process to people and other animals.