The unit is applicable to wildlife animal keepers or 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.

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

1. Assess exhibit status

1.1. Exhibit security for animals, staff and the public is reviewed.

1.2. Animal welfare in relation to exhibit structure and furnishings is evaluated.

1.3. Exhibit aesthetics and access are reviewed from the perspective of public perception, workplace image and animal needs.

1.4. Exhibit furnishings condition, functionality and safety are evaluated.

1.5. Recommendations for exhibit design or renovation upgrades are documented and reported to supervisor.

2. Contribute to exhibit design and renovation planning

2.1. Enclosure and exhibit development and renovation proposals are reviewed.

2.2. Contributions are made as required to facility concept briefs for the design or renovation of enclosures and exhibits.

Required skills

assist with preparation of basic technical drawings

identify animal housing behavioural and physical requirements

implement facility policies and procedures

maintain records and write workplace documents

literacy skills to read and follow institutional policies and procedures, including occupational health and safety (OHS), hygiene control and waste management; 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 facility, including questioning techniques, active listening, training others and consulting with supervisors

numeracy skills to complete mathematical calculations relating to enclosure and exhibit designs

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 access and use available resources.

Required knowledge

animal biology and husbandry requirements relevant to enclosures and exhibits

educational and interpretive functions of enclosures

environmental enrichment

principles of enclosure landscaping and horticulture, including basic working knowledge of exhibit plants and weeds

principles and protocols for enclosure or exhibit design, including aesthetics, function and effects of introduced fixtures and features

principles of animal welfare and ethics

principles of naturalistic landscaping for enclosures and exhibits

relevant facility policies and procedures, including OHS, animal welfare, ethics, hygiene standards and other industry guidelines

relevant federal and state or territory legislation and codes of practice

security control principles

specialist enclosures for different animals.

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:

assess exhibit status and submit upgrade recommendations

contribute to new or renovation concept briefs.

The skills and knowledge required to assist with exhibit design and renovation planning 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 captive animal workplace or in a situation that reproduces normal work conditions.

There must be access in this situation 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 (e.g. design and renovation planning)

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).

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.

Exhibit security considerations may include:

ensuring animals are safe and secure in their housing

locks and slides in good working order

maintaining structures in good order

presence of pests within animal housing or enclosures

prevention of escape by animals

restriction of access to authorised personnel

safe access and egress.

Animal welfare requirements include:

adequate housing, nutrition and stock levels

compliance to appropriate state or territory legislation and regulations and international conventions

enrichment opportunities

the absence of pests and vermin

the compatibility of species and breeds.

Exhibit aesthetics may include:

appropriate placement of exhibit furniture

appropriate use of materials (e.g. naturalistic or non-naturalistic) in line with institute's policies and procedures

lines of sight

maintaining the overall appearance of the exhibit and its features.

Exhibit furnishings may include:

branches and trees

logs

perches

rails

rocks or mock rocks

shelves.

Concept briefs may include:

basic technical drawings

costs for new or renovated enclosures or exhibits evaluation of exhibit performance

detailed work plans

research

theme of exhibit, in line with institute's mission and visions/values.

Unit sector

Captive animals

This unit contains employability skills.