Required skills

employ safe and environmentally responsible organisational systems and procedures when handling animals and feed

document and report basic workplace information related to the daily care of animals

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

participate in arrangements for maintaining the health and safety of all people and animals in the workplace

undertake work with animals as directed under supervision

use equipment and materials correctly and in accordance with manufacturers specifications

numeracy skills to estimate calculate and record routine workplace measures

oral communication skillslanguage to fulfil the job role as specified by the organisation including questioning active listening asking for clarification and seeking advice from supervisor

interpersonal skills to work with and relate to people from a range of cultural social and religious backgrounds

problemsolving skills to select required materials and equipment and prioritise tasks

use safe manual handling techniques andor equipment

use safe waste handling and disposal procedures

Required knowledge

animal temperaments and behaviours related to the associated hazards and risks to animals and staff during animal feeding and cleaning of housing

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

basic nutritional requirements for animals including water

cleaning techniques and related safety issues for general workplace and animal housing

principles of animal welfare and ethics

processes that support environment and resource efficiencies

relevant organisational policies and procedures including OHS and emergency procedures animal welfare and waste disposal requirements

safe work practices

storage preparation and presentation requirements for food

types of food and food supplements and their basic role in animal diets

types of information that has to be reported and recorded in animal care workplaces

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

confirm industry terminology used to describe daily work routines and to report observations and activities to supervisor

clean work areas and animal housing in accordance with OHS and organisation policies and procedures

assist in the preparation and distribution of food under supervision

relate basic animal behaviour to animal categories and report observations of live animal behaviour and health status to supervisor

The skills and knowledge required to assist in the care of 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 an animal care workplace or in a situation that reproduces normal work conditions Workplaces can include pet shops breeding or boarding kennels and catteries aviaries companion animal training grooming establishments domestic animal zoos mobile animal facilities and veterinary practices

There must be accessto a range of quiet wellhandled domestic animals as well as relevant information equipment andor resources to enable one to demonstrate competence

Method of assessment

To ensure consistency in ones performance competency should be demonstrated 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

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

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

Animal care workplace tasks may include:

OHS risks when working with animals may include:

Daily workplace information and documentation may include:

Characteristics of animal behaviour may include: