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

RGRTRK302A Mapping and Delivery Guide
Maintain specialised non-turf track surfaces for racing

Version 1.0
Issue Date: March 2024


Qualification -
Unit of Competency RGRTRK302A - Maintain specialised non-turf track surfaces for racing
Description This unit of competency specifies the outcomes required to maintain specialised non-turf track surfaces for greyhound, harness or thoroughbred racing. It includes knowledge and skills associated with comparing specialised track materials, managing specialised track surfaces and renovating specialised track surfaces for greyhound, harness or thoroughbred training and racing. The unit requires knowledge of track materials, machinery and equipment, and regular care requirements, including repairs and renovation. The ability to plan and prepare budgets, liaise with staff and contractors regarding work requirements, and comply with workplace OHS standards is necessary.This unit of competency operates in workplace environments of racing administration, kennels, stables, 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 race club personnel in maintaining specialised non-turf track surfaces.Competencies attained in this unit apply to the greyhound, 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.This unit can be contextualised for other industries while also maintaining the integrity of the unit.
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: Compare specialised track materials.
  • Features of track construction are identified.
  • Track materials are evaluated for subsoil compatibility, as well as climatic, drainage and durability management considerations.
  • Specialised track materials are assessed for environmental sustainability .
  • Specialised track materials are assessed for economic viability .
  • Strategies for managing a range of common track problems are compared for specialised track surfaces.
       
Element: Manage specialised track surfaces.
  • Machinery and equipment are selected and prepared for track maintenance operations in accordance with manufacturer or supplier directions, OHS requirements and workplace procedures.
  • Track camber, fall and surface depth for racing are evaluated.
  • Daily, weekly and race meeting care requirements are planned and carried out for nominated specialised track surfaces to comply with manufacturer or supplier specifications and directions.
  • Track density and current moisture content are measured and track rating is declared.
  • Minor repairs to nominated specialised track surfaces are planned and carried out according to manufacturer or supplier and supervisor's directions.
       
Element: Renovate specialised track surfaces.
  • Renovation is planned and budget presented to supervisor for approval.
  • Materials and equipment are selected, ordered and prepared for track renovation.
  • Contractor is engaged or staff instructed in maintenance procedures in accordance with manufacturer specifications and directions, OHS requirements and workplace 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.

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 the specific industry sector and 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 when maintaining specialised non-turf track surfaces for racing

implementation of procedures and timely techniques for the safe, effective and efficient application of specialised non-turf track surface maintenance requirements

working with others to undertake and complete maintenance 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 or simulated environment approved by the relevant State Principal Racing Authority. 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 relevant training and racetracks

materials and equipment relevant to assessing candidate's ability to maintain specialised non-turf track surfaces for racing

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

simulation exercises conducted in a State Principal Racing Authority approved simulated environment.

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

allocating duties to staff based on a range of operational requirements, staff experience, level of responsibility and complexity of job task

assessing requirements of track maintenance operation, including safety and welfare of staff and contractors

assessing track materials for durability, environmental sustainability and economic viability

communicating with racing officials, contractors and other personnel using assertive communication techniques to gather, interpret and relay information related to maintaining specialised non-turf track surfaces

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

complying with OHS and environmental legislation

complying with organisational policies and procedures

evaluating risks associated with track maintenance activities

making effective decisions to resolve routine problems

operating a range of equipment and machinery

recognising faulty equipment, machinery and infrastructure

reading and interpreting workplace documentation, including rules of racing

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

supervising staff and contractor operations and procedures

teamwork skills to ensure completion of job tasks

written communication skills to complete workplace documentation and reports.

Required knowledge

common horse gait abnormalities

hazards and potential hazards in the workplace and risk control procedures

OHS and environmental legislative requirements

organisational policies and procedures

principles of effective communication

protocols and procedures for communicating with racing officials and other relevant people

purpose and comprehension of procedures related to track maintenance and renovation

racetrack management operations and staff roles

racing industry animal welfare requirements

racing industry safety requirements, including safe operating procedures

reasonable understanding of applicable federal, state or territory legislation and regulations, and national standards and codes of practice relevant to full range of processes relating to own work role and responsibilities

relevant rules of racing

track construction and materials

types of equipment and procedures for their operation and maintenance

workplace specific and OHS requirements for engaging contractors.

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 in the performance criteria is detailed below.

The range statement provides details of how this competency can be used in the workplaces of the racing industry to maintain specialised non-turf track surfaces for racing. Workplaces include greyhound, harness and thoroughbred racecourses, training tracks, administration buildings and public areas.

Features of track construction may include:

base course layer

compressive strength

general principles of road construction

grading or profiling of subgrade

materials, including:

fine crushed rock

road base or similar material

preparation of subgrade layer

proof rolling

recycling capability of materials

surface layer type and particle size

surface layer depth

subgrade compaction

specialised surfaces, including Pro-Ride

stability of materials

thickness of base course.

Specialised track materials may include:

sands, soils and other track base and surface materials suitable for greyhound, harness or thoroughbred training and racing.

Environmental sustainability may include:

recycling capability of materials

toxicity of materials.

Economic viability may include:

cost of establishment of specialised track

ease of access to materials

estimated racing days on nominated surface

estimated training days on nominated surface

expected life span of materials

maintenance requirements.

OHS requirements will include:

adhering to responsibilities under OHS legislation and workplace practices

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

considering variables that influence behaviour of horses, such as:

fences and equipment

other persons or animals

vehicles

wind and noise

eliminating hazardous substances and materials

ensuring accident and emergency equipment is available and in good working order, including:

fire safety equipment

first aid equipment for humans and animals

safety signage

ensuring equipment, machinery and vehicles are safe and in proper working order

following accident and injury procedures

following safe operating procedures

identifying hazards and applying risk control measures

reporting unsafe work practices

using correct manual handling techniques, including:

carrying

lifting

shifting

wearing personal protective equipment.

Confines of track camber, fall and surface depth may include:

animal injuries

animal gait abnormalities

centripetal force

circumference of track

greyhound and harness specific:

banking

cushion

increases in degrees of banking

minimum safe banking

transition turns

underbanked semi-circular curves

length of straight

minimum turn radius

sand and cinders depth (thoroughbred)

track drainage.

Daily, weekly and race meeting care requirements may include:

checking by visual inspection of defined surface layer

checking drainage pipes

checking running rails and pegs, including visibility and structural integrity

deep rip to remove deep-seated compaction as required

dragging daily to ensure even surface

ensuring satisfactory depth of surface layer

harrowing daily on sand tracks and as needed on cinders tracks

filling of hoof prints (harness and thoroughbred)

irrigation to bind surface material

power harrow to remove subsurface compaction as required

renovation

ripping as needed on cinders tracks

rolling daily on sand tracks

replacing materials

screening (greyhound and harness).

Considerations for when renovation is planned and budget presented will include:

identifying defects, deterioration or deficiencies and establishing effect on asset performance

determining renovation or remediation required

determining club's funding arrangements for track renovation, for example asset management plans

appropriating necessary maintenance resources, for example:

labour

monetary

selecting appropriate renovation or rectification procedures

estimating expected completion of execution of work

developing maintenance and renovation programming, for example:

annual

five year

long-term.

Engaging contractors or instructing staff in maintenance procedures will include:

arranging safe systems of work:

how work is organised

management of occupational stress and violence

pace and procedures to prevent fatigue

work arrangements

work processes and safe operating procedures

contractor-specific issues:

casual or fixed-term basis

control overwork and how services are to be performed

delegation

hours worked

legal risk

payment to contractor upon results achieved or completion of work

services and equipment provided

implementing procedures for safe use, handling, storage and transport of plant and substances

providing adequate facilities for welfare of employees and contractors:

drinking water

eating areas

shade

toilets.

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
Features of track construction are identified. 
Track materials are evaluated for subsoil compatibility, as well as climatic, drainage and durability management considerations. 
Specialised track materials are assessed for environmental sustainability . 
Specialised track materials are assessed for economic viability . 
Strategies for managing a range of common track problems are compared for specialised track surfaces. 
Machinery and equipment are selected and prepared for track maintenance operations in accordance with manufacturer or supplier directions, OHS requirements and workplace procedures. 
Track camber, fall and surface depth for racing are evaluated. 
Daily, weekly and race meeting care requirements are planned and carried out for nominated specialised track surfaces to comply with manufacturer or supplier specifications and directions. 
Track density and current moisture content are measured and track rating is declared. 
Minor repairs to nominated specialised track surfaces are planned and carried out according to manufacturer or supplier and supervisor's directions. 
Renovation is planned and budget presented to supervisor for approval. 
Materials and equipment are selected, ordered and prepared for track renovation. 
Contractor is engaged or staff instructed in maintenance procedures in accordance with manufacturer specifications and directions, OHS requirements and workplace procedures. 

Forms

Assessment Cover Sheet

RGRTRK302A - Maintain specialised non-turf track surfaces for racing
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

RGRTRK302A - Maintain specialised non-turf track surfaces for racing

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: