Required skills

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

measure interpret and record animal weight length and other relevant objective indicators of change in physiological status

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

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

problemsolving skills to use available resources and prioritise daily tasks

use personal protective clothing and equipment correctly

use safe manual handling techniques andor equipment

use safe waste handling and disposal procedures

Required knowledge

anatomical structures and features affecting feeding and nutrition

animal classifications that influence dietary needs and styles of eating

behavioural features related to feeding styles and unsuitable responses to diets

feedstuffs available and approved in Australia for animals their availability cost shelf life method of storage preparation and presentation to animals

methods used to calculate rations estimate weight of animals calculate dry feed weight of food stuffs and other relevant measurements and calculations used for diet planning and food preparation

nutrition related diseases

organisational policies and procedures including OHS and emergency procedures

protein carbohydrate vitamin and mineral supplement and fibre needs for a range of animal groups

physiological features affecting dietary needs

potential causes of poor response to diets and tests used to investigate dietary problems

principles of animal welfare and ethics

relevant federal and state or territory OHS and animal welfare legislative requirements and codes of practice

safe work practices

sources of nutrients for particular animal classes and groups

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

develop diets for animals in consultation with others

prepare store and distribute food according to animal needs workplace protocols and procedures whilst maintaining quality control and hygiene practices

monitor response to feeding program and modify diets as required in consultation with supervisor

The skills and knowledge required to plan for and provide nutritional requirements 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 industry sector workplace in which candidates are working 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 wildlife parks mobile animal facilities and animal technology facilities

There must be access in either situation to a range of animals as well as relevant information equipment andor resources to enable one to demonstrate competenceAssessment must be relevant to the industry sector in which candidates are working andmust cover a minimum of one species from at least two of the six major animal groups OR at least three breeds from within one of the six major animal groups mammals fish birds amphibians reptiles 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 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

Nutritional requirements may include:

Animals may include:

Nutrient sources may include:

Feeding strategies and methods may include:

Methods used to monitor nutritional uptake may include:

Hazards to animal and human health from food sources may include:

Animal profiles may include:

Species requirements may include:

Abnormal feed intake or feeding behaviour may include:

Reasons for poor response to diet may include: