Required skills

develop and implement short and longerterm enrichment strategies including behaviour enrichment activities materials and equipment suitable for animal species and stage of development

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

identify common indicators of the presence of disease injury compromised health or distress in animals

identify the signs behaviour and objective measures of development in young animals

maintain records and write workplace documents

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

modify behaviour enrichment programs to improve animal comfort and learning opportunities

observe animals document and report behaviour and feeding patterns

literacy skills to read and follow organisational policies and procedures including OHS and animal welfare follow sequenced written instructions and record information accurately and legibly

oral communication skillslanguage to fulfil the job role as specified by the organisation including questioning active listening asking for clarification and consulting with staff

numeracy skills to estimate calculate and record routine and more complex workplace measures and 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 assess appropriate strategies and prioritise daily tasks

use safe manual handling techniques andor equipment

Required knowledge

anatomical and physiological structures and functions related to the care and wellbeing of commonly held animals

companion animal husbandry regimes

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

housing exercise social and activity needs of animals

indicators of stress and wellbeing in animals

methods of rectifying and modifying animal behaviour patterns

natural animal behaviour relating to the characteristics of the species age health status and social needs

normal and abnormal behaviour patterns and traits of commonly held animals

organisational policies and procedures including OHS and emergency procedures and animal welfare requirements

physical social and foodrelated enrichment activities

principles of animal welfare and ethics

relevant OHS and animal welfare legislative requirements and codes of practice

safe animal handling techniques

safe work practices

species compatibility

terminology used to describe and document health and behavioural signs and patterns including desirable and undesirable features

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 competency 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

develop and implement appropriate enrichment strategies for common species or breeds including appropriate physical social and foodrelated enrichment

comply with animal welfare and OHS requirements and organisational policies and procedures

communicate enrichment strategies to staff provide training as necessary and supervise implementation

monitor responses to implementation and review strategies in consultation with others

monitor organisation budget allocation and maintain accurate records

The skills and knowledge required to develop enrichment strategies for companion animalsmust 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 and the relevant information materials and documentation

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 cases and responsibilities and over a number of assessment activities

The assessment strategies 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

Enrichment strategies may include:

Research may involve:

Animals may include:

Animal welfarerequirements may include:

OHSrequirements may include:

Adverse consequences may include: