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

ACMCAS301A Mapping and Delivery Guide
Work effectively in the companion animal industry

Version 1.0
Issue Date: March 2024


Qualification -
Unit of Competency ACMCAS301A - Work effectively in the companion animal industry
Description This unit of competency covers the process of working effectively on an individual basis and with others within the companion animal industry.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 those working in the companion animal industry sector. It may include pet shops, aquariums, boarding kennels and catteries, companion animal training, grooming and/or breeding establishments and mobile animal facilities.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: Organise and complete daily work activities
  • Own role and responsibilities are identified and confirmed with supervisor in accordance with organisational requirements.
  • Work tasks are identified, prioritised and completed within designated timeframes and in accordance with task requirements.
  • Factors affecting the achievement of task instructions are promptly identified and reported to supervisor.
  • Organisational equipment is used as required to complete work tasks within designated timeframes.
  • Daily routines are performed in accordance with safe work practices and occupational health and safety (OHS) requirements.
       
Element: Work ethically with companion animals
  • Companion animals in the workplace are identified using common names.
  • Animals are handled ethically in accordance with relevant legislative requirements.
  • Work with animals is performed in a humane manner that optimises animal health and welfare.
       
Element: Communicate effectively with clients
  • Clients' needs are identified and responded to in accordance with organisational policies and procedures.
  • Communication with clients is conducted in a professional and courteous manner.
  • Questioning and active listening techniques are used to determine client requirements.
       
Element: Maintain companion animal records
  • Data is gathered and documented in accordance with organisational policies and procedures and task requirements.
  • Data is recorded and maintained in the organisational recordkeeping system.
       


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 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:

organise, prioritise and complete work tasks in a timely manner

identify and handle animals in an ethical and humane manner

comply with relevant legislation, regulations and codes of practice,including animal welfare and OHS

communicate effectively with supervisor and follow task instructions to complete daily work activities

build relationships and communicate effectively with clients

gather, document, maintain and record companion animal records using organisational recordkeeping systems.

The skills and knowledge required to work effectively in the companion animal industry 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 a companion animal workplace or in a situation that reproduces normal work conditions. Workplaces may include pet shops, boarding kennels and catteries, companion animal training, grooming and/or breeding establishments and mobile animal facilities.

There must be access to the appropriate 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 and where possible, over a number of assessment activities.

The assessment strategy 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

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 (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

complete relevant work-related documents

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

follow instructions and assist safely with tasks

follow organisation policies, procedures and requirements

literacy skills to read and follow OHS and waste management procedures and other organisational policies and procedures; follow 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 fulfil the job role as specified by the organisation, including questioning techniques, active listening, asking for clarification and consulting with supervisors

numeracy skills to complete basic arithmetic calculations and measure volumes

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

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

OHS and animal welfare legislative requirements and codes of practice

organisation policies, procedures and requirements, including OHS and emergency procedures

principles of animal ethics and welfare

relevant recordkeeping systems

safe animal handling techniques and procedures

safe work practices.

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.

Organisation requirements may include:

animal care and management protocols and procedures

code of conduct and code of ethics

daily work roster

environmental sustainability practices

infection control plans

quality and continuous improvement standards

relevant legislation

workplace documentation and reporting protocols procedures, communication channels and records

workplace-specific OHS, emergency and environmental protocols and procedures.

Task requirements may include:

instructions from supervisor or manager

reporting and documentation

objectives and timeframes

specific client requirements

work tasks and procedures.

Factors affecting the achievement of task instructions may include:

budget constraints

competing work demands

environmental factors including time and weather

lack of resource and materials

own ability to complete work (competency and skill level)

technology or equipment breakdowns

unforeseen incidents

workplace hazards, risks and controls.

Organisation equipment may include:

cash registers

computers

fax machines

personal schedulers

photocopiers

printers.

Safe work practices and OHS requirements will include:

applying appropriate manual handling techniques when packaging and handling loads, including animals and equipment

hazard identification and risk minimisation:

handling, use, storage, transport and disposal of chemicals

handling and disposal of biological wastes

following personal and workplace hygiene procedures

using infection control procedures to minimise risks associated with:

zoonoses

release of infective agents (both animal and human)

chemical spillage

gas leakages

using machinery and equipment in accordance with manufacturers' instructions

using of personal protective equipment and clothing:

animal handling gauntlets

appropriate footwear

aprons

protective masks

safety gloves

safety goggles and glasses

sun hat and sunscreen lotion.

Companion animals may include:

aquaria, reptiles and amphibians

birds

dogs and cats

invertebrates (e.g. stick insects, spiders and beetles)

small animals (e.g. rabbits, rodents, ferrets and guinea pigs).

Ethical work with animals may include

completing work practices with due regard to animal health and safety

complying with relevant animal welfare, biosecurity and local government legislation and regulations

reporting animal illness, injury or distress to supervisor

reporting via workplace chain of command to animal health authorities if biosecurity hazard is suspected.

Legislative requirements may include:

Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council codes of practice

relevant companion animal legislation

local council regulations

microchipping

animal welfare legislation

National Parks and Wildlife Service legislation.

Effective communication with clients may include

clarifying and verifying information from and to clients

providing information to clients within the area of personal responsibility and expertise only

referring client to others where requests are beyond scope of personal responsibility

reporting client requests and interaction using workplace protocols and procedures

respecting client and workplace information confidentiality.

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
Own role and responsibilities are identified and confirmed with supervisor in accordance with organisational requirements. 
Work tasks are identified, prioritised and completed within designated timeframes and in accordance with task requirements. 
Factors affecting the achievement of task instructions are promptly identified and reported to supervisor. 
Organisational equipment is used as required to complete work tasks within designated timeframes. 
Daily routines are performed in accordance with safe work practices and occupational health and safety (OHS) requirements. 
Companion animals in the workplace are identified using common names. 
Animals are handled ethically in accordance with relevant legislative requirements. 
Work with animals is performed in a humane manner that optimises animal health and welfare. 
Clients' needs are identified and responded to in accordance with organisational policies and procedures. 
Communication with clients is conducted in a professional and courteous manner. 
Questioning and active listening techniques are used to determine client requirements. 
Data is gathered and documented in accordance with organisational policies and procedures and task requirements. 
Data is recorded and maintained in the organisational recordkeeping system. 

Forms

Assessment Cover Sheet

ACMCAS301A - Work effectively in the companion animal industry
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

ACMCAS301A - Work effectively in the companion animal industry

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: