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

ACMCAS304A Mapping and Delivery Guide
Capture, handle and transport companion animals

Version 1.0
Issue Date: March 2024


Qualification -
Unit of Competency ACMCAS304A - Capture, handle and transport companion animals
Description This unit of competency covers the process of capturing, handling and transporting companion animals.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 where it may be necessary to transport companion animals. Transportation may be required to and from pet shops, boarding kennels and catteries or companion animal training, groomer and breeding establishments, mobile animal facilities, client residences or veterinary practices.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: Plan the capture and restraint of companion animals
  • Animals are identified and risks are assessed in accordance with organisational policies and procedures.
  • Appropriate capture techniques and equipment are selected and prepared for use.
  • Transport housing is prepared as appropriate.
       
Element: Capture animals
  • Animals are captured in a safe and humane manner and in accordance with occupational health and safety (OHS) and emergency procedures.
  • Animals are handled correctly and monitored carefully for stress or injury.
  • Animals are placed in transport housing and housing is secured correctly.
       
Element: Prepare animals for movement
  • Advice is provided to client on appropriate transport and relocation procedures.
  • Documentation is completed, as required, in accordance with legislative and organisational requirements.
       


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:

handle animals in a safe, humane and ethical manner at all times

select and use appropriate techniques and equipment to capture and restrain a range of companion animals

prepare correct type of transport container

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

build relationships and communicate effectively with clients in respect to animals' transportation and initial settling in requirements

maintain records and documentation.

The skills and knowledge required to capture, handle and transport companion animals 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 in a companion animal workplace or in a situation that reproduces normal work conditions. Workplaces can include pet shops, boarding kennels and catteries, companion animal training, grooming and/or breeding establishments and mobile animal facilities.

There must be access to a range of companion animal breeds and species as well as 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, humane and environmentally responsible organisational systems and procedures when capturing, restraining and handling animals

implement organisation policies, procedures and requirements

identify transport containers appropriate to animals' requirements

maintain tools, equipment and transport containers in accordance with manufacturers' specifications

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

literacy skills to read and follow organisation policies and procedures, including OHS 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 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

use safe manual handling techniques and/or equipment.

Required knowledge

appropriate relocation procedures for a range of animals

behaviour and physiology of typical companion animals

dietary requirements before, during and after transport

general maintenance and cleaning of animal transport housing, capture and restraint equipment

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

principles of animal welfare and ethics

relevant recordkeeping systems

relevant OHS and animal welfare legislative requirements and codes of practice, including transportation of companion animals

safe and humane animal capture, handling and restraint techniques and procedures for a range of animals

safe work practices

species compatibility

transport housing requirements

workplace hygiene standards, disinfectants, cleaning agents, cleaning techniques and cleaning equipment and materials.

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.

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).

Risks in capture, handling and transport of animals may include

aggressive animal behaviour

escape of animals and subsequent threat to safety of humans and other animals

potential injuries to humans during capture, handling and transport processes

potential stress and injury to animals during capture and transport.

Capture techniques and equipment may include:

equipment:

chemical controls (e.g. sedatives)

hoods or other sight restriction devices

leads, collars and halters

lassoes, ropes, chains, catching poles, nets and harnesses

traps

visual barriers

techniques and devices used to:

entice or attract animals

herd stock

separate animals.

Transport housing may include:

bags, cages, pouches, padded containers

containers suitable for holding water

climate controlled containers

trailers or other stock vehicle

transfer or crush equipment.

Transport housing preparation factors may include:

animals' metabolic and other health features

challenges involved in loading captured animal into transport

location of capture and distance to destination

risk of injury to animal within transport container

size, age, health status and number of animals to be transported.

Safe and humane manner considerations may include:

allocating sufficient time to the process

appropriate use of restraints for animals

considering animals' welfare at all times

correct use of personal protective equipment

observing if the animal is becoming distressed.

OHS risks when handling animals may include:

animal bites, envenomation, 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)

slippery or uneven work surfaces

zoonoses.

Emergency procedures may relate to:

potential escape of an animal

injury to target animals, other animals, staff and potentially the public.

Indicators of stress may include:

aggressive behaviour

inappetence

subdued behaviour

trembling

vocalisation.

Relocation procedure considerations may include:

future dietary requirements

housing at destination

immediate food and water requirements on arrival

indicators of travel stress and other health emergencies

introduction process to people and other animals.

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
Animals are identified and risks are assessed in accordance with organisational policies and procedures. 
Appropriate capture techniques and equipment are selected and prepared for use. 
Transport housing is prepared as appropriate. 
Animals are captured in a safe and humane manner and in accordance with occupational health and safety (OHS) and emergency procedures. 
Animals are handled correctly and monitored carefully for stress or injury. 
Animals are placed in transport housing and housing is secured correctly. 
Advice is provided to client on appropriate transport and relocation procedures. 
Documentation is completed, as required, in accordance with legislative and organisational requirements. 

Forms

Assessment Cover Sheet

ACMCAS304A - Capture, handle and transport companion animals
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

ACMCAS304A - Capture, handle and transport companion animals

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: