The unit is applicable to senior or more experienced keepers with extensive zoo keeping or related experience.

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. Supervise enclosure and exhibit staff

1.1. Personnel, material and equipment required to manage and maintain enclosures and exhibits are identified.

1.2. Recruitment and induction of personnel is arranged in accordance with facility policies and procedures as appropriate.

1.3. Rosters are developed and coordinated to balance job requirements, responsibility levels and skill development opportunities.

1.4. Safe work practices are communicated and enforced for all staff members.

1.5. Effective communication procedures are established and maintained with staff to review work operations and improve operational efficiency.

1.6. Staff skills and knowledge gaps are identified and appropriate training is arranged.

2. Supervise animal care and housing operations

2.1. Enclosure and exhibit security and safety are regularly monitored in accordance with occupational health and safety (OHS) and animal welfarerequirements, and recommendations for improvements are prepared.

2.2. Animal care strategies are regularly assessed and evaluated in consultation with animal handlers and other relevant personnel.

2.3. Enclosure and exhibit maintenance works are regularly monitored to ensure compliance with OHS, animal welfare and hygiene standards requirements and facility policies and procedures.

2.4. Environmentally safe and effective pest control procedures are implemented as required.

2.5. Identified urgent maintenance works are initiated in a timely manner.

2.6. Animal housing maintenance records are updated as required.

3. Implement plans for new or renovated enclosures and exhibits

3.1. Current exhibit status is reviewed in consultation with facility staff.

3.2. Enclosure and exhibit development and renovation proposals are submitted to management for consideration as required.

3.3. Factors that may impact on the commissioning of new or renovated enclosures and exhibits are identified and assessed.

3.4. Operating procedures for new or renovated exhibits are developed/reviewed and evaluated in consultation with relevant departments and colleagues.

3.5. Animal handling and other operations staff are briefed on revised operating procedures.

3.6. Facility master plan is updated.

Required skills

develop/review operating procedures

evaluate enclosure or exhibit status, including security

identify animal housing behavioural and physical requirements

implement facility policies and procedures and advise on animal care strategies

implement environmentally safe and effective pest control procedures

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

maintain records and complete workplace documents

manage staff effectively

monitor enclosure and exhibit security and safety

literacy skills to read and follow institutional policies and procedures, including OHS and waste management; develop 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 staff, other departments, relevant experts and management

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

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 schedule workplace activities.

Required knowledge

animal biology and husbandry requirements relevant to enclosures and exhibits

animal husbandry manuals and other recordkeeping requirements

educational and interpretive functions of enclosures

environmental enrichment related to exhibit species

exhibit maintenance and security requirements

institution master plan and collection management policy

pest identification and management techniques

principles of animal welfare and ethics

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 naturalistic landscaping for enclosures and exhibits

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

relevant federal and state or territory legislation and codes of practice

safe work practices

security control principles

specialist enclosures for different animals

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

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:

manage the operations of enclosures and exhibits

supervise enclosure and exhibit staff

submit development or renovations proposals to management

implement plans for the commissioning of new or renovated enclosures or exhibits

maintain accurate records.

The skills and knowledge required to manage enclosures and exhibits 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. Workplaces may include small or large captive animal facilities, traditional or open-range type facilities and mobile or theme park environments.

There must be access 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

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.

Enclosures and exhibits may include:

defined spaces where animals are kept and includes both:

exhibit public viewing areas

off-exhibit holding spaces

enclosures and exhibits may be for:

existing species

new single species

multi-species.

Safe work practices include:

applying appropriate manual handling techniques when packaging and handling loads, including animals and equipment

hazard identification and risk minimisation:

handling, use, storage, transport and disposal of chemicals

handling and disposal of biological wastes

following personal and workplace hygiene procedures

using infection control procedures to minimise risks associated with:

zoonoses

release of infective agents (both animal and human)

chemical spillage

gas leakages

using machinery and equipment in accordance with manufacturers' instructions

using personal protective equipment and clothing:

animal handling gauntlets

appropriate footwear

ear muffs/plugs

protective masks

safety gloves

safety goggles and glasses

sun hat and sunscreen lotion.

Enclosure and exhibit security may include:

checking for pests within animal housing or enclosures

checking there are no unauthorised people in animal enclosures

checking that locks and slides are in good working order

ensuring animals are safe and secure in their housing

identifying any animal housing faults that may result in escape

maintaining structures in good order.

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

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.

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.

Animal care strategies may include:

artificial rearing

breeding

enrichment

handling, restraining and transporting.

Pests may include:

cockroaches, spiders, ants and flying insects

predators and parasites

rats and mice.

Development and renovation proposals may include:

availability of animals

cover requirements

enjoyment and education

environmental and social enrichment

immersion techniques

institution conservation policy and collection plan

keeper access and safety

safety and security

solitary and social animals

space allocation between public and non-public areas

sound and touch

visitor intrusion.

Unit sector

Captive animals

This unit contains employability skills.