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

RGRROP404A Mapping and Delivery Guide
Perform duties of veterinarian at race meetings or trials

Version 1.0
Issue Date: April 2024


Qualification -
Unit of Competency RGRROP404A - Perform duties of veterinarian at race meetings or trials
Description This unit relates to the competencies required to provide race meeting veterinary advice to stewards on the health, welfare and fitness to race greyhounds or horses. It requires knowledge of relevant rules of racing, the ability to prepare for race meetings, make pre and post-race assessments of greyhounds or horses, provide advice to stewards, provide emergency care to animals and should it be required, euthanase animals and ensure proper arrangements are made for the disposal of the deceased animal.This unit has restricted access to veterinarians licensed to practise veterinary medicine through relevant state registration and who have evidence of experience in the treatment and management of greyhounds for greyhound race meetings or horses for harness and thoroughbred race meetings.This unit of competency operates in work environments of racing stables, paddocks, yards, racecourses and public areas.Licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements may apply to this unit. Check with your State Principal Racing Authority for current license or registration requirements.
Employability Skills This unit contains employability skills.
Learning Outcomes and Application This unit of competency supports veterinarians who are licensed to practise veterinary medicine through relevant state registration and are required to effectively perform required veterinarian duties at race meetings.Competencies attained in this unit apply to the greyhound or harness or thoroughbred code of the industry. Consequently when performance criteria are applied they will relate to the greyhound code or the harness code or the thoroughbred code, and statements of attainment for this unit will reflect this distinction.
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: Prepare for race meeting.
  • Date, times and duties are confirmed with race club.
  • Billing system is confirmed.
  • Rules of racing are reviewed.
  • Supplies of first aid and emergency medications and equipment are prepared.
  • Stewards are advised of veterinarian's presence on course.
       
Element: Monitor greyhounds or horses during race meetings.
  • Pre-race assessment of greyhounds or horses is carried out at the request of stewards and/or trainer or after observation of signs of distress,illness,injury or abnormal behaviour .
  • Pre and post-race blood and/or other samples are collected as directed by stewards.
  • Advice on the impact of inclement weather conditions on the health, welfare and management of greyhounds or horses is provided to stewards and/or trainers.
  • Race and post-race activities are observed and greyhounds or horses of concern are examined, treated if required and results reported to stewards.
       
Element: Provide emergency care to greyhounds or horses.
  • Extent of injuries or illness of greyhound or horse is assessed and reported to stewards.
  • Restraints are applied to prevent further injury to greyhound or horse if required.
  • First aid is administered.
  • Safety of staff and greyhound or horse is reviewed.
  • Assistance from racecourse staff is coordinated to remove greyhound or horse from the scene if possible.
  • Prognosis is determined and reported to stewards and connections of greyhound or horse.
  • Greyhound or horse is referred for further treatment if required.
  • Suspected notifiable disease outbreak is reported to stewards and Animal Health Australia.
       
Element: Comply with euthanasia procedures.
  • Reasons for decision to euthanase greyhound or horse are reported to stewards and connections of the animal.
  • Greyhound or horse is moved to private location if possible or area screened from public view.
  • Animal's identification is verified and recorded.
  • Euthanasia method is selected and administered with consideration to staff safety, greyhound or horse welfare and the rules of racing.
  • Death of greyhound or horse is confirmed.
  • Samples are taken for testing or post-mortem performed.
  • Arrangements are coordinated with stewards, race club staff and greyhound or horse connections for removal of deceased animal .
  • Written report on incident, including reasons for decision to euthanase and outcomes of post-mortem tests, is provided to stewards.
       


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.

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 the requirements, procedures and instructions that are to apply performing the duties of veterinarian at race meetings or trials

implementation of procedures and timely techniques for the safe, effective and efficient application of veterinarian duties

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 workplace-relevant 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:

a range of greyhounds, and harness or thoroughbred horses

materials and equipment relevant to assessing candidate's ability to perform veterinarian duties at race meetings or trials

race meetings and related facilities, including swabbing

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 and/or oral assessment of candidate's required knowledge

observed, documented and firsthand testimonial evidence of candidate's 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 (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

applying safe handling and work practices when dealing with greyhounds or horses

assessing animal health and illness or injury status

communicating with stewards, racing officials, licensed and registered personnel and others using assertive communication techniques to gather, interpret and relay information related to race day veterinarian duties

completing duties in accordance with safe operating procedures and nominated time frame

demonstrating common greyhound or horse handling skills

identifying and reporting swabbing irregularities

identifying animal by colour, brand, sex, and leg and face markings

judging situations and taking appropriate action to prevent problems arising or to overcome problems before they develop further

maintaining racing code requirements for confidentiality

participating safely in sample collection processes

providing prompt and succinct information to stewards and others as required

reading and interpreting workplace documentation and rules of racing

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

responding quickly to requests from stewards or other racing officials

teamwork skills to ensure completion of job tasks

written communication skills to complete workplace documentation and reports.

Required knowledge

communication procedures within the race meeting environment and wider racing industry

emergency animal care

euthanasia practices and animal removal processes

greyhound or horse behaviour, senses and communication traits

industry terminology related to race meeting procedures

impacts on animals of adverse or extreme weather conditions

hazard identification and risk management

medications and treatments for injured or unhealthy animals

protocols and procedures for communicating with stewards, and licensed and other racing industry personnel

racing industry animal welfare requirements

racing industry safety requirements, including safe operating procedures

reporting requirements for irregularities and problems, including difficulties in obtaining samples

sample collection standard operating procedures

signs of animal health, ill health, injury and diseases

swabbing protocols and associated rules of racing.

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.

Rules of racing cover:

constitutional

interpretation

licensing

local rules

offences

penalties

race meetings

registration

stewards

syndicates.

Signs of distress, illness, injury or abnormal behaviour may include:

greyhound or horse race meeting behaviour, including:

attempting to bite

becoming agitated and sweaty

charging forward

pulling back or sideways

rearing

turning in circles

signs of unhealthy greyhounds or horses, include:

discharge

dull coat

dull eyes

elevated temperature

listlessness

skin disease

swollen joints

symptoms of injuries may include:

abrasions

cuts

fractures

heat in limbs

lameness

sprains

strains.

Samples are collected by:

checking identification

escorting animal and handler to swab area

following chain of evidence protocols

identifying greyhounds or horses to be swabbed

preparing swab kit and swab area

recording details

securing swabs and swab area.

Practices observed when samples are collected will include:

adhering to racing industry animal welfare requirements

following safe operating procedures

handling of animals in enclosed spaces

monitoring greyhound or horse behaviour

using restraints.

Weather conditions may include:

altitude

cold

fog

heat

high humidity

prevailing air pollution level, which may exacerbate climatic conditions

wind and wind chill.

Race and post-race activities observed may include:

action in enclosure or mounting yard

action or bleeding occurrence upon return to scale or catching pen

action or performance during racing

barrier loading (thoroughbred)

warm-up or score-up (harness)

stir-up or box loading (greyhound).

Restraints may be:

chemical

physical.

Safety of staff and greyhound or horse may include:

adhering to responsibilities under OHS legislation and workplace practices

adhering to responsibilities under national and state codes of practice; federal, state and territory legislation; and local government regulations covering animal welfare

adhering to rules of racing and rules of the race venue

considering variables that influence behaviour of greyhounds or horses, such as:

fences and equipment

other persons or animals

vehicles

wind and noise

contributing to development of risk control measures

following safe work practices

following accident and injury procedures

identifying and reporting unsafe work practices

identifying emergency situations

monitoring animal behaviour

using approved and well-maintained gear

wearing approved personal protective equipment.

Suspected notifiable diseases include:

African horse sickness

anthrax

contagious equine metritis

equine flu

hendra virus

Japanese encephalitis

rabies

surra.

Identification is verified by:

identifying colours, brands, markings or gender

viewing registration papers

reading microchip information.

Arrangements for removal of deceased animal will include:

considering owner, trainer and other witnesses

determining disposal area, which may include local waste management centre or other area agreed by stewards

removal processes.

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
Date, times and duties are confirmed with race club. 
Billing system is confirmed. 
Rules of racing are reviewed. 
Supplies of first aid and emergency medications and equipment are prepared. 
Stewards are advised of veterinarian's presence on course. 
Pre-race assessment of greyhounds or horses is carried out at the request of stewards and/or trainer or after observation of signs of distress,illness,injury or abnormal behaviour . 
Pre and post-race blood and/or other samples are collected as directed by stewards. 
Advice on the impact of inclement weather conditions on the health, welfare and management of greyhounds or horses is provided to stewards and/or trainers. 
Race and post-race activities are observed and greyhounds or horses of concern are examined, treated if required and results reported to stewards. 
Extent of injuries or illness of greyhound or horse is assessed and reported to stewards. 
Restraints are applied to prevent further injury to greyhound or horse if required. 
First aid is administered. 
Safety of staff and greyhound or horse is reviewed. 
Assistance from racecourse staff is coordinated to remove greyhound or horse from the scene if possible. 
Prognosis is determined and reported to stewards and connections of greyhound or horse. 
Greyhound or horse is referred for further treatment if required. 
Suspected notifiable disease outbreak is reported to stewards and Animal Health Australia. 
Reasons for decision to euthanase greyhound or horse are reported to stewards and connections of the animal. 
Greyhound or horse is moved to private location if possible or area screened from public view. 
Animal's identification is verified and recorded. 
Euthanasia method is selected and administered with consideration to staff safety, greyhound or horse welfare and the rules of racing. 
Death of greyhound or horse is confirmed. 
Samples are taken for testing or post-mortem performed. 
Arrangements are coordinated with stewards, race club staff and greyhound or horse connections for removal of deceased animal . 
Written report on incident, including reasons for decision to euthanase and outcomes of post-mortem tests, is provided to stewards. 

Forms

Assessment Cover Sheet

RGRROP404A - Perform duties of veterinarian at race meetings or trials
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

RGRROP404A - Perform duties of veterinarian at race meetings or trials

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: