Required skills

complete relevant workrelated documents

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

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

respond to emergencies in line with practised actions

literacy skills to read and follow organisational policies and procedures including OHS follow sequenced written instructions and record the information accurately and legible

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

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

use personal protective clothing and equipment correctly

problemsolving skills to use available resources and determine who to contact for assistance

use safe manual handling techniques andor equipment

Required knowledge

animal emergency network

animal temperaments and behaviours related to the associated hazards and risks to animals and staff during animal capture restraint inspection and treatment

basic animal care and hygiene principles

basic first aid techniques

first aid casualty management principles

first aid sources for assistance

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

examination techniques for health status

methods used to capture restrain and examine animals

organisation policies and procedures including OHS and emergency procedures

physical conditions and vital signs of animals

physiological features of animals

relevant OHS and animal welfare legislative requirements and codes of practice

safe animal handling techniques and procedures

safe work practices

zoonotic diseases

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

assess an emergency situation

determine hazards and minimise risk to self bystanders the public and the animal

apply basic first aid and care to animals

seek assistance during the application of first aid

communicate effectively with others and follow instructions

The skills and knowledge required to provide basic first aid for 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 be most appropriately 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 animal shelters zoos mobile animal facilities and veterinary practices

There must be access to a range of animals as well as relevant information equipment andor resources to enable one to demonstrate competenceAssessment must cover a minimum of one species from at least two of the six major animal groups mammals birds reptiles amphibians fish and invertebrates

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

Emergency situations may include:

Hazards may include:

Risks may include:

Animals may include:

Physical condition and vital signs may include:

Basic first aid care may include:

First aidassistance may include:

OHS procedures may include:

Personal protective equipment may include: