Required skills

applying OHS and environmental work procedures

assessing an individual animals general health status

communicating with stewards racing officials and licensed and registered personnel using assertive communication techniques to gather interpret and relay information relating to track and environmental conditions and animal welfare

conducting continuous improvement processes

consulting concisely and effectively with colleagues and team members

evaluating advantages or disadvantages of a variety of potential solutions to problems

identifying racing animal behaviour patterns

operating a range of equipment and technology

reading and interpreting workplace documentation including rules of racing

researching information

relating to people from a range of social cultural and ethnic backgrounds and with varying physical and mental abilities

using measuring devices

Required knowledge

common racing animal behaviour traits

communication procedures including reporting lines within the workplace and wider racing industry

climatic conditions

clinical signs related to gastric respiratory and nervous conditions in racing animals

clinical signs of lameness in racing animals

factors that affect hydration status of racing animals

hazards and potential hazards in the workplace and risk control procedures

mathematical procedures for estimating measuring and calculating

OHS and environmental legislative requirements

race meeting protocols and reporting requirements

racing industry animal welfare requirements

rules of racing

track construction and design

track ratings and condition

types of equipment and procedures for their operation and maintenance

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

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 and include evidence of the following

knowledge of requirements procedures and instructions that are to apply when relating animal welfare to track and environmental conditions

demonstration of determination of track ratings and condition using basic technology

implementation of procedures and timely techniques for the safe effective and efficient application of judgement and skills associated with identifying a range of animal welfare issues related to race meeting operations and rules of racing

working with others to undertake and complete procedures that meet required outcomes

Evidence should be collected over a period of time in a range of workplacerelevant contexts and include dealings with an appropriate range of situations

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Competency must be assessed in a racing workplace that provides access to the required resources Assessment is to occur under standard and authorised work practices safety requirements and environmental constraints It is to comply with relevant regulatory requirements or Australian Standards requirements

Assessment of the practical components of this unit will be by observation of relevant skills

The following resources must be available

industrysupervised access to a range of racetracks race meetings trackwork and kennels or stables relevant to the applicable racing code

supervised access to racing or raceretired animals with illnesses and injuries outlined in the range statement

materials and equipment relevant to assessing candidates ability to relate animal welfare to track and environment conditions including

DVDs or videos of animal locomotion

standard industry tools

veterinary reports scans and xrays

work instructions and related documentation

Method of assessment

Assessment methods must satisfy the endorsed Assessment Guidelines of the Racing Training Package

The suggested strategies for the assessment of this unit are

written andor oral assessment of candidates required knowledge

observed documented and firsthand testimonial evidence of candidates application of practical tasks

Evidence is required to be demonstrated over a period of time therefore where performance is not directly observed any evidence should be authenticated by supervisors or other appropriate persons

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

The range statement provides details of how this competency can be used in the workplaces of the racing industry to relate animal welfare to track and environmental conditions. Workplaces include greyhound kennels, harness and thoroughbred stables as well as greyhound, harness and thoroughbred racecourses, training tracks, administration buildings and public areas.

Aspects of animal cooling mechanisms that may affect performance include:

Climatic conditions may include:

Digestive distress may include:

Respiratory distress may be evidenced by:

Nervous distress may be indicated by:

Impact from track camber and tightness of turns on performance injuries may include:

Impact from track density and track materials on performance injuries may include:

Grading, mowing and watering techniques relate to animal performance by:

Standard industry tools may include:

Considerations when evaluating options for improving track conditions may include:

Track conditions for optimal greyhound or horse performance are defined as:

Weather conditions evaluation as set down in:

Areas to be considered when presenting justification for adjusting or not adjusting track or environmental conditions will include: