Required skills

Ability to

comply with relevant AustralianNew Zealand Standards

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

introduce additional precautions when standard precautions are not sufficient tailored to the specific infection agent involved and its mode of transmission

identify common indicators of the presence of disease injury compromised health or distress in animals and respond in compliance with animal welfare and workplace project protocols

identify emergency situations and respond according to workplace protocols in order to minimise the risk of injuryinfection to self others and animals

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

prepare and maintain appropriate records and reports relevant to infection control procedures

use literacy skills to read interpret and apply facility policies and procedures including workplace health and safety infection control containment and exclusion and waste management follow sequenced written instructions record accurately and legibly information collected and select and apply procedures to a range of defined tasks

use oral communication skillslanguage to fulfil the job role as specified by the organisation including questioning active listening asking for clarification and consulting with or seeking advice from team members senior or more experienced staff or other relevant persons

use numeracy skills to estimate calculate and record routine workplace measures

use 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 problemsolving skills to use available information and resources including recording information and prioritise daily tasks

Required knowledge

Knowledge of

standard precautions for the care and treatment of all animals regardless of their perceived or confirmed infectious status for animal care

additional precautions when standard precautions are not sufficient tailored to the specific infection agent involved and its mode of transmission

aseptic techniques

aspects of infectious diseases including

pathogens

opportunistic organisms

AustralianNew Zealand Standards that are relevant including

ASNZS Management of clinical and related wastes

ASNZS Cleaning disinfecting and sterilising reusable medical and surgical instruments and equipment and maintenance of associated environments in health care facilities

ASNZS and Amendment Reusable containers for the collection of sharp items used in human and animal medical applications

ASNZS Officebased health care facilities Reprocessing of reusable medical and surgical instruments and equipment and maintenance of the associated environment

basic microbiology including

bacteria and bacterial spores

fungi

viruses

common diseases ailments injuries and other impacts on animal health and wellbeing and characteristics of healthy sick or distressed animals

disease transmission including

sources of infection microorganisms including persons who are carriers in the incubation phase of the disease or are acutely ill

paths of transmission including direct contact aerosols and penetrating injuries

risk of acquisition

Environmental Protection Waste Management legislation and regulations

immunisationvaccination requirements for animal care workers where applicable

manufacturers specifications for relevant equipment and materials

Australian Guidelines for the Prevention and control of Infection in Healthcare

organisation infection control policies and procedures including animal movement tracking

rodent and vector control procedures

relevant state or territory legislation and regulations relating to workplace health and safety animal welfare biosecurity procedures and waste disposal

safe animal handling techniques

susceptible hosts including persons who are immune suppressed have chronic diseases such as diabetes and the very young and very old

terminology used to describe and document animal health and behavioural signs and symptoms

the purpose and use of containment facilities

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

comply with effective infection control guidelines to ensure the prevention of transmission of infections from animal to person animal to animal andor person to animal

identify and respond to infection risks

maintain personal protection

limit contamination and contribute towards incursion readiness processes

report suspicions of a notifiable disease or unusual disease signs

maintain documentation

The skills and knowledge required to comply with infection control policies and procedures in animal work 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 the industry sector in which candidates are working or in a situation that reproduces normal work conditions Industry sectors can include veterinary practices pet shops breeding or boarding kennels and catteries aviaries companion animal training or grooming establishments animal shelters zoos wildlife parks mobile animal facilities animal technology facilities or similar workplaces

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 competence

Method of assessment

To ensure consistency of 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

Standard precautions may include:

Additional precautions may include:

Reporting and documentation may include:

Infection risks may include:

Current notifiable diseases information may be accessed from:

Indicators of potential infectious disease signs may include:

Clean and contaminated zones may include:

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

Rodent and vector control procedures may include:

Disposal of waste requirements may include:

Infectious Disease Control Kit may include: