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

ACMGAS306A Mapping and Delivery Guide
Assist with conditioning animals

Version 1.0
Issue Date: March 2024


Qualification -
Unit of Competency ACMGAS306A - Assist with conditioning animals
Description This unit of competency covers the process of conditioning animals in order to modify their behaviour through assisting with formulating and demonstrating a conditioning plan based on operant conditioning techniques.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 animal keepers and carers who are expected to perform tasks under supervision.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: Develop a conditioning plan
  • Range of desirable and undesirable behaviours is identified for specific animals.
  • Behaviour to be trained is identified in consultation with supervisor.
  • Appropriate positive reinforcement to be used for conditioning is identified.
  • A conditioned reinforcer is identified in consultation with the supervisor.
  • Conditioning plan is compiled in consultation with the supervisor and presented in accordance with occupational health and safety (OHS), animal welfare and organisation policies and procedures.
       
Element: Condition a behaviour
  • A conditioned reinforcer is established with the animal under supervision.
  • Approximations are demonstrated under supervision, to condition animal.
  • Behaviour under stimulus control is demonstrated in accordance with animal welfare and ethics requirements.
  • Documentation of the behaviour being conditioned is recorded in accordance with organisation policies and procedures.
       
Element: Monitor and review a conditioning plan
  • Conditioning plan's short and long-term objectives are reviewed regularly in consultation with the supervisor and other relevant personnel.
  • Plan is regularly updated in accordance with organisation policies and procedures.
       


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:

formulating a conditioning plan in consultation with others that complies with OHS and animal welfare requirements

apply principles of learning in relation to operant conditioning techniques

apply positive reinforcement methods and use appropriate techniques and tools to condition behaviour

maintain accurate records.

The skills and knowledge required to assist with conditioning 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 be most appropriately assessed in an animal care industry sector workplace in which candidates are working or in a situation that reproduces normal work conditions. This can include work with native, exotic or domestic animals in large or small animal care facilities and/or situations.

There must be access to a range of animals relevant to the work role 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 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 workplace documentation including conditional plans

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

follow instructions and assist safely with tasks

implement organisation policies and procedures related to conditioning

monitor animal health and condition and recognise abnormalities

literacy skills to read and follow organisation policies and procedures, including OHS; 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 institution, including questioning techniques, active listening, training others and consulting with team members and 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

anatomy and physiology of animals as it relates to conditioning

behavioural needs, including housing, feeding, enclosure maintenance and breeding

normal and abnormal animal behaviour and behaviour patterns

principles of and reasons for animal learning and operant conditioning techniques

principles of animal ethics and welfare

principles of behaviour and environmental enrichment

organisation policies and procedures, including OHS and emergency procedures, hygiene standards and other industry guidelines

relevant federal and state or territory legislation, regulations and codes of practice including OHS and animal welfare

safe animal handling techniques and procedures

safe work practices

techniques and tools used to condition behaviour

terminology used in conditioning animals.

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.

Desirable and undesirable behaviours may include:

desirable behaviour:

appropriate nocturnal behaviour

normal appetite

normal activity levels

social interaction

visual and vocal interaction

undesirable behaviour:

biting or kicking

hissing

inappropriate aggression

poor appetite

repetitive or stereotypical behaviour patterns

restlessness

self-mutilation

vocalisation.

Positive reinforcement may include:

primary reinforcers (e.g. food)

secondary reinforcers:

play

touch

toys

verbal interaction.

Conditioned reinforcers may include:

something that the animal does not initially perceive as having reinforcing or rewarding value (e.g. a whistle or clicker) taking on a reinforcing value of its own when paired with a known reinforcer (e.g. food).

Conditioning plan may include:

the animal's profile

the behavioural goal and reasons for it

the number and type of sessions planned

the staff to be used

tools required (e.g. target poles, stations and props)

types of reinforcers to be used.

OHS risks when working with 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.

Approximations may include:

the successive steps that a trainer will go through in order to condition a behaviour.

Under stimulus control refers to:

a behavioural response from a verbal and/or visual cue.

Type of items recorded may include:

progress

problems encountered

solutions.

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
Range of desirable and undesirable behaviours is identified for specific animals. 
Behaviour to be trained is identified in consultation with supervisor. 
Appropriate positive reinforcement to be used for conditioning is identified. 
A conditioned reinforcer is identified in consultation with the supervisor. 
Conditioning plan is compiled in consultation with the supervisor and presented in accordance with occupational health and safety (OHS), animal welfare and organisation policies and procedures. 
A conditioned reinforcer is established with the animal under supervision. 
Approximations are demonstrated under supervision, to condition animal. 
Behaviour under stimulus control is demonstrated in accordance with animal welfare and ethics requirements. 
Documentation of the behaviour being conditioned is recorded in accordance with organisation policies and procedures. 
Conditioning plan's short and long-term objectives are reviewed regularly in consultation with the supervisor and other relevant personnel. 
Plan is regularly updated in accordance with organisation policies and procedures. 

Forms

Assessment Cover Sheet

ACMGAS306A - Assist with conditioning 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

ACMGAS306A - Assist with conditioning 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: