Required skills

complete relevant workrelated documents and maintain accurate animal records

comply with OHS animal care ethics and industry codes of conduct regulations and legislations

employ safe and environmentally responsible organisational systems and procedures when working with restraining and handling nonvenomous reptiles

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

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

monitor reptile health condition and behaviour and recognise normal and abnormal signs

monitor water quality parameters using physical and chemical assessments and tests

prepare doses for treatments as directed and verified by supervisor

provide basic first aid to reptiles as required under supervision

use equipment and materials correctly and in accordance with manufacturers specifications

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

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

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 assess appropriate practices and prioritise daily tasks

use safe manual handling techniques andor equipment

use safe waste handling and disposal procedures

Required knowledge

anatomical and physiological terminology and glossary of terms

anatomical structures and physiological features related to basic care requirements for reptiles

awareness of natural reptile behaviour relating to the characteristics of the species age health and reproductive status behavioural and social needs and the signs of distress illness and undesirable behaviours

basic reptile care and hygiene principles

basic reptile first aid techniques

basic water chemistry parameters and physical indicators of water quality relevant to care and husbandry of reptiles

common aeration and filtration systems

housing social and activity needs of reptiles and environmental impacts on health and wellbeing

methods of transmission of disease and infection

organisational policies and procedures regarding the care and health maintenance of reptiles

personal protective clothing and equipment and when and how it should be used

physical conditions and vital signs of reptiles

potential hazards and risks to animals and staff during feeding and cleaning of housing

relevant legislation regulations and codes of practice including OHS animal welfare and ethics

safe reptile handling techniques and procedures potential hazards and control measures

terminology and language variations used by workplace staff and the public to describe reptiles their behaviour status health and treatments

terminology used to describe and document health and behavioural signs including desirable and undesirable features

types of food and food supplements and their role in reptile diets including natural dietary requirements for specific species

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

identify the specific characteristics and needs of reptiles and apply these to the best practice industry standard of housing socialising feeding and health management

classify and identify reptiles by age sex reproductive status condition colours markings and other identifying features using industry terminology

safely and humanely catch handle and restrain nonvenomous reptiles

assess water quality for suitability for maintained species

report and document treatments behaviours and other information on individual animals in accordance with animal welfare regulations industry standards and workplace protocols and procedures

The skills and knowledge required to provide basic care of nonvenomous reptiles 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 against the types of processes required in the industry sector in which candidates are working or in a situation that reproduces normal work conditions Workplaces can include animal shelters or rehabilitation organisations zoos and wildlife parks or similar workplaces

There must be access to a range of nonvenomous reptiles as well as relevant information equipment andor resources to enable one to demonstrate competence Assessment must cover a minimum of three commonly available nonvenomous reptile species

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 responsibilities 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

Commonly available non-venomous reptiles may include:

Behavioural characteristics may include:

Colours, markings and other identifying features may include:

Indicators of poor water quality may include:

Water quality adjustments may involve:

Indicators of animal comfort and normal behaviour may be identified through:

Housing design and environmental factors may include:

Enrichment needs may include:

Welfare of animals requirements may include:

OHS risks when working with animals may include:

Equipment used to catch, handle and restrain non-venomous reptiles may include:

Methods used to approach and catch reptiles may include:

Common health issues may include:

General health maintenance and preventative treatment may include:

Digestive system features may include:

Food source considerations include:

Feeding hazards may include:

Documentation on the care and management of reptiles may include: