Unit of Competency Mapping – Information for Teachers/Assessors – Information for Learners

ACMATE301A Mapping and Delivery Guide
Work within an animal technology facility

Version 1.0
Issue Date: March 2024


Qualification -
Unit of Competency ACMATE301A - Work within an animal technology facility
Description This unit of competency covers the process of working effectively within an animal technology facility.No licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.
Employability Skills This unit contains employability skills.
Learning Outcomes and Application This unit is applicable to junior or assistant level animal technicians working under strict supervision. Animal technicians operate under and must comply with legislative requirements as well as protocols, policies and procedures set down by the institution's Animal Ethics Committee (AEC).In addition to legal and ethical responsibilities, all units of competency in the ACM10 Animal Care and Management Training Package have the requirement for animals to be handled gently and calmly. The individual is required to exhibit appropriate care for animals so that stress and discomfort is minimised.
Duration and Setting X weeks, nominally xx hours, delivered in a classroom/online/blended learning setting.
Prerequisites/co-requisites
Competency Field
Development and validation strategy and guide for assessors and learners Student Learning Resources Handouts
Activities
Slides
PPT
Assessment 1 Assessment 2 Assessment 3 Assessment 4
Elements of Competency Performance Criteria              
Element: Work effectively within an animal technology facility
  • Role of the animal technology facility is identified within the context of relevant legislative requirements.
  • Roles and relationships between departments and/or individuals are determined.
  • Relationships with other bodies and agencies are identified.
  • Industry terminology related to work procedures, equipment and animal management is interpreted and used in work activities.
  • Daily routines are completed in accordance with occupational health and safety (OHS) requirements and environmentally sensitive work practices.
       
Element: Work ethically with animals
  • Personal work practices are performed to comply with organisational policies, procedures and guidelines.
  • Relevant codes of practice, regulations and legislation related to the ethical treatment of animals in animal technology workplaces are interpreted and complied with.
  • Biosecurity protocols are complied with to ensure the safety of animals and staff.
       
Element: Identify animals
  • Common and scientific names are used to identify animals in accordance with facility requirements.
  • Distinguishing characteristics are used to identify specific animals within a group or section.
  • Assistance is provided, in accordance with OHS requirements, in applying identification methods to specific animals within a group.
  • Details of animal identification are recorded in accordance with facility policies and procedures.
       
Element: Anticipate, recognise and respond to signs of distress or grief in self
  • Situations or incidents that may result in distress or grief are identified and documented.
  • Personal stressors and grief responses are identified and documented.
  • Strategies for coping with distress or grief responses are identified and used.
       
Element: Comply with industry specific OHS requirements
  • Job-specific work practices are performed to comply with OHS guidelines, environmental processes and industry best practice.
  • Workplace security procedures are complied with.
  • The need for assistance to improve performance is communicated clearly to the appropriate person.
  • Breaches in biological control barriers are identified and reported.
       


Evidence Required

List the assessment methods to be used and the context and resources required for assessment. Copy and paste the relevant sections from the evidence guide below and then re-write these in plain English.

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 relevant legislation and regulations

complete work tasks with due consideration to workplace and individual obligations to the welfare of self, others and animals

apply ethical work practices to all activities and tasks

identify animals, relevant to the workplace, using common and scientific names and distinguishing characteristics

identify, recognise and respond to personal grief or distress

maintain accurate records using relevant organisational electronic and/or manual systems.

The skills and knowledge required to work in an animal technology facility 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 technology research facility or in a situation that reproduces normal work conditions.

There must be accessto a range of research animals as well as relevant information, equipment and/or resources to enable one to demonstrate competence.

Method of assessment

To ensure consistency in one's 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, cases and responsibilities, and over a number of assessment activities.

The assessment strategies must include practical skills assessment. Suggested strategies for this unit are:

written and/or oral assessment of candidate's required knowledge

observed, documented and first-hand testimonial evidence of candidate's application of practical tasks

simulation exercises that reproduce normal work conditions

third-party evidence

workplace documentation.

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 (e.g. literacy and numeracy demands) and the needs of particular target groups (e.g. 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).


Submission Requirements

List each assessment task's title, type (eg project, observation/demonstration, essay, assignment, checklist) and due date here

Assessment task 1: [title]      Due date:

(add new lines for each of the assessment tasks)


Assessment Tasks

Copy and paste from the following data to produce each assessment task. Write these in plain English and spell out how, when and where the task is to be carried out, under what conditions, and what resources are needed. Include guidelines about how well the candidate has to perform a task for it to be judged satisfactory.

Required skills

comply with project protocols or report problems or concerns to workplace supervisor or project manager in accordance with workplace protocols and procedures

complete relevant workplace documents

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

identify animals using industry terminology, species-specific features and workplace applied tagging systems

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

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

participate in arrangements for maintaining the health and safety of all people in the workplace

use equipment, materials and machinery correctly and in accordance with manufacturers' specifications

literacy skills to read and follow facility policies and procedures, including OHS and waste management; develop sequenced written instructions; record accurately and legibly information collected; and select and apply procedures to a range of defined tasks

oral communication skills/language to fulfill the job role as specified by the organisation, including questioning, active listening, asking for clarification and consulting with or 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

problem-solving skills to use available resources and prioritise daily tasks.

Required knowledge

biohazards in the workplace of significance to animals and humans

communication procedures and systems, and technology relevant to the organisation and the individual's work responsibilities

indicators of stress and wellbeing in people

industry expectations of conduct, presentation and work performance, including quality and productivity

identification features of animals

organisational policies and safe work procedures, including OHS and emergency procedures

principles of animal welfare and ethics

protocols, legal and ethical considerations in documenting observations, measurements, treatments and decisions on animal care

relevant animal technology regulations and codes of practice, including the Australian Code of Practice for the Care and Use of Animals for Scientific Purposes

relevant state or territory legislation and regulations relating to the practice of veterinary science, OHS, animal welfare and research

standards, guidelines and approaches to environmental sustainability relevant to the animal care industry

structure of the major animal technology sectors and associated external bodies and agencies

workplace departments and sections, staffing structures and protocols.

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.

Animal technology facilities may include:

animal research and breeding facilities

biomedical research and production environments including laboratory and field based.

Legislative requirements include:

federal, state and territory environmental legislation

the Australian Code of Practice for the Care and Use of Animals for Scientific Purposes

relevant state or territory legislation and regulations in respect to animal welfare and OHS, including:

the Federal Gene Technology Act

the Quarantine Act.

Daily routines may include:

approaching, catching and handling animals

cleaning animal housing and facilities

feeding and watering animals

collecting, collating and recording data

general animal husbandry tasks

maintaining and storing records

maintaining equipment.

OHS risks associated with animal technician procedures include:

animal bites, kicks, scratches and crush injuries

biological hazardous waste and sharps disposal

handling of chemicals and medicines

gas leakage

inhalation of aerosol particles

intraocular contamination

manual handling, including carrying, lifting and shifting

needle pricks and cuts from other sharps

release of infective agents (animal and human)

zoonoses.

Environmentally sensitive work practices may include:

implementing strategies and resources to:

minimise disturbance to animals and their living environment

practise environmentally friendly waste management

practise processes relevant to the individual's work area that support environment and resource efficiencies

reduce noise and odour.

Working ethically with animals requires:

adherence to all requirements of the Australian Code of Practice for the Care and Use of Animals for Scientific Purposes and any requirements of the organisation's Animal Ethics Committee (AEC)

applying the 3Rs principles:

replace animals in research with non-animal alternatives

reduce the number of animals used in experiments

refine scientific procedures and animal husbandry to minimise suffering

ensuring that the welfare of animals is always considered

ensuring pain or distress in animals is avoided

ensuring the use of animals in research is justified.

Relevant policies and procedures may include:

animal welfare, including ethical use of animals for scientific or teaching purposes

environmental sustainability practices

infection control plans

OHS policies and procedures:

accident and incident reports

standard work practices

quality assurance systems

standard operating procedures.

Biosecurity protocols include:

standards precautions:

aseptic technique

personal hygiene practices especially washing and drying hands (e.g. before and after animal contact)

use of personal protective equipment

techniques to limit contamination

appropriate reprocessing of reusable equipment

surface cleaning and management of blood and body fluid spills

safe handling and disposal of sharps and other clinical, related and general waste

environmental controls (e.g. design and maintenance of premises and cleaning

additional precautions:

special ventilation requirements

additional use of personal protective equipment

dedicated equipment (e.g. to each animal or as appropriate to work function)

use of a special facility

isolation/cohorting

restricted movement of animal, staff and visitors.

Animals one would be expected to identify, subject to facility requirements, may include:

on most occasions the animal species will be common laboratory animals:

guinea pigs

mice

rabbits

rats

on some occasions animal species may include:

amphibians, fish and reptiles

dogs and cats

fish

invertebrates

livestock (e.g. sheep, cattle and pigs)

native wildlife (e.g. marsupials and birds)

primates

poultry.

Identification methods may include:

brands

ear tags or notches

enclosures

leg bands

microchips

photographs

tattoos.

Types of situations or incidents that may result in distress or grief include:

planned experimental endpoints:

single or colony euthanasia

unplanned animal deaths caused by disease

environmental failure

fire or other traumas or accidents

other causes of distress:

working with animals that are in distressing, but ethically approved, research experiments regarding severe and negative environmental impact

detrimental phenotypic abnormalities

adverse animal reactions to an experiment.

Grief and stress coping strategies may include:

advising workplace supervisor of the situation

seeking and accepting support from colleagues

seeking and accepting assistance from professional counsellors

practising stress management techniques

requesting and participating in formal or informal debriefing sessions.

Security procedure requirements may include:

checking for pests within animal housing or enclosures

checking that locks and slides are in good working order

ensuring animals are safe and secure in their housing

ensuring medications and treatments are stored in accordance with legislative requirements

identifying any animal housing faults that may result in escape

maintaining structures in good order

restricting access to authorised personnel.

Copy and paste from the following performance criteria to create an observation checklist for each task. When you have finished writing your assessment tool every one of these must have been addressed, preferably several times in a variety of contexts. To ensure this occurs download the assessment matrix for the unit; enter each assessment task as a column header and place check marks against each performance criteria that task addresses.

Observation Checklist

Tasks to be observed according to workplace/college/TAFE policy and procedures, relevant legislation and Codes of Practice Yes No Comments/feedback
Role of the animal technology facility is identified within the context of relevant legislative requirements. 
Roles and relationships between departments and/or individuals are determined. 
Relationships with other bodies and agencies are identified. 
Industry terminology related to work procedures, equipment and animal management is interpreted and used in work activities. 
Daily routines are completed in accordance with occupational health and safety (OHS) requirements and environmentally sensitive work practices. 
Personal work practices are performed to comply with organisational policies, procedures and guidelines. 
Relevant codes of practice, regulations and legislation related to the ethical treatment of animals in animal technology workplaces are interpreted and complied with. 
Biosecurity protocols are complied with to ensure the safety of animals and staff. 
Common and scientific names are used to identify animals in accordance with facility requirements. 
Distinguishing characteristics are used to identify specific animals within a group or section. 
Assistance is provided, in accordance with OHS requirements, in applying identification methods to specific animals within a group. 
Details of animal identification are recorded in accordance with facility policies and procedures. 
Situations or incidents that may result in distress or grief are identified and documented. 
Personal stressors and grief responses are identified and documented. 
Strategies for coping with distress or grief responses are identified and used. 
Job-specific work practices are performed to comply with OHS guidelines, environmental processes and industry best practice. 
Workplace security procedures are complied with. 
The need for assistance to improve performance is communicated clearly to the appropriate person. 
Breaches in biological control barriers are identified and reported. 

Forms

Assessment Cover Sheet

ACMATE301A - Work within an animal technology facility
Assessment task 1: [title]

Student name:

Student ID:

I declare that the assessment tasks submitted for this unit are my own work.

Student signature:

Result: Competent Not yet competent

Feedback to student

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assessor name:

Signature:

Date:


Assessment Record Sheet

ACMATE301A - Work within an animal technology facility

Student name:

Student ID:

Assessment task 1: [title] Result: Competent Not yet competent

(add lines for each task)

Feedback to student:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Overall assessment result: Competent Not yet competent

Assessor name:

Signature:

Date:

Student signature:

Date: