Elements and Performance Criteria
- Observe and record animal behaviour
- Behaviour of individual animals and groups of animals is observed and recorded in accordance with organisation policies and procedures.
- Observed behaviour is compared with known normal behavioural patterns for a range of species.
- Strategies to encourage natural behaviour are identified and implemented.
- Signs of stress are recognised, recorded and possible stressors are determined.
- Abnormal behaviour indicating less than optimum physical and behavioural wellbeing is reported to supervisor.
- Assist with managing undesirable animal behaviour
- Participation in the development and implementation of a long-term strategy to manage undesirable behaviour is undertaken.
- Short-term management of animals exhibiting undesirable behaviour is conducted.
- Animal welfare and occupational health and safety (OHS) requirements are complied with during behavioural management processes.
- Implement enrichment programs
- Physical, social and food-related enrichment strategies appropriate to the species are determined, applied and evaluated in accordance with organisation policies and procedures.
- Adverse consequences to an enrichment strategy are researched and assessed.
- Used enrichment items are cleaned, decontaminated, disposed of or replaced according to organisation policies and procedures.
- Responses to implementation of enrichment strategy are documented and reported.
- Enrichment program modification suggestions are reviewed in consultation with supervisor, implemented, where appropriate, and documented.
- Observe and record animal behaviour
- Behaviour of individual animals and groups of animals is observed and recorded in accordance with organisation policies and procedures.
- Observed behaviour is compared with known normal behavioural patterns for a range of species.
- Strategies to encourage natural behaviour are identified and implemented.
- Signs of stress are recognised, recorded and possible stressors are determined.
- Abnormal behaviour indicating less than optimum physical and behavioural wellbeing is reported to supervisor.
- Assist with managing undesirable animal behaviour
- Participation in the development and implementation of a long-term strategy to manage undesirable behaviour is undertaken.
- Short-term management of animals exhibiting undesirable behaviour is conducted.
- Animal welfare and occupational health and safety (OHS) requirements are complied with during behavioural management processes.
- Implement enrichment programs
- Physical, social and food-related enrichment strategies appropriate to the species are determined, applied and evaluated in accordance with organisation policies and procedures.
- Adverse consequences to an enrichment strategy are researched and assessed.
- Used enrichment items are cleaned, decontaminated, disposed of or replaced according to organisation policies and procedures.
- Responses to implementation of enrichment strategy are documented and reported.
- Enrichment program modification suggestions are reviewed in consultation with supervisor, implemented, where appropriate, and documented.