The unit is applicable to senior or more experienced keepers or animal carers 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. Analyse animal data profiles

1.1. Animal behaviour data is collated and analysed.

1.2. Individual animal profiles are created and compared against known normal behaviour patterns in captivity and in the wild.

2. Develop behaviouralmanagement strategies

2.1. Research and consultation are conducted to determine appropriate strategies for particular animals.

2.2. Strategies are developed incorporating animal welfare andoccupational health and safety (OHS) considerations.

2.3. Strategies are finalised and approved by supervisors and/or senior management.

3. Monitor and review strategies

3.1. Strategies are disseminated to relevant staff and action plans are implemented.

3.2. Short and long-term objectives are reviewed on a regular basis in accordance with institutional policies and procedures.

4. Communicate effectively with others on behavioural management strategies

4.1. Contribution is provided to institutional animal behavioural management policy.

4.2. Assistance is provided with training for keepers in animal behaviour strategies and enrichment programs.

4.3. Coordination of projects and communication with internal and external personnel are maintained.

4.4. Reports are prepared and presented to supervisors in accordance with institutional policies and procedures.

4.5. Animal husbandry manuals are updated in accordance with institutional policies and procedures.

Required skills

analyse animal behavioural data

apply behavioural management and enrichment techniques

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

implement institutional policies and procedures

maintain records and write workplace documents, including reports to management

provide advice to others on behavioural management issues

select behaviour enrichment activities, materials and equipment suitable for animal species and stage of development

suggest modifications to behaviour enrichment programs to improve animal comfort and learning opportunities

undertake research and consult to determine appropriate strategies for particular animals

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 institution, including questioning techniques, active listening, training others and consulting with supervisors, internal and external personnel and management

numeracy skills to estimate, calculate and record routine and more complex workplace measures and data related to behavioural enrichment programs

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 develop appropriate behavioural management strategies.

Required knowledge

animal care and management strategies

anatomy and physiology of animals

animal husbandry manuals and other recordkeeping requirements

behavioural needs such as housing, nutrition and feeding, enclosure maintenance and breeding

animal management software, such as Animal Record-Keeping System (ARKS) and Single Population Analysis and Records Keeping System (SPARKS)

institution master plan

normal and abnormal animal behaviour and behaviour patterns

principles of animal welfare and ethics

relevant institutional 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, including OHS and animal welfare

safe work practices

terminology used to describe and document health and behavioural signs and symptoms

terminology used to describe behaviour repertoires, including desirable and undesirable features.

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:

create and analyse animal profiles

develop behavioural management strategies in accordance with OHS and animal welfare requirements

communicate and work effectively over a period of time with a wide range of people in respect to the strategies

provide support and advice to others on behavioural management issues

maintain records and prepare reports as required.

The skills and knowledge required to develop, monitor and review behavioural management strategies 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, mobile or theme park environments, wildlife parks, zoos or rescue facilities.

There must be access to a range of animals suitable for behavioural management programs as well as 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.

Animal data profiles may include:

information on:

behavioural characteristics

feeding and socialisation patterns

interaction with humans

sexual and reproductive activities.

Behavioural management strategies may include:

animal husbandry practices

appropriate exhibit design

enrichment activities

social grouping.

Animal welfare and OHS requirements may include:

animal welfare requirements:

compliance to appropriate state or territory legislation and regulations

keeping health and behaviour records

providing adequate housing and stock levels

providing appropriate enrichment opportunities

the absence of pests and vermin

the compatibility of species and breeds

OHS requirements:

use of relevant personal protective equipment:

animal handling gauntlets

eye wear

hazard identification, risk minimisation and workplace procedures for:

animal bites, kicks, scratches and crush injuries

biological hazardous waste and sharps disposal

gas leakage

handling, use, storage, transport and disposal of chemicals and medicines

inhalation of aerosol particles

manual handling, including carrying, lifting and shifting

needle pricks and cuts from other sharps

to control the release of infective agents (animal and human)

transmission of zoonotic diseases.

Internal and external personnel may include:

internal:

curators

management

operations managers

records managers

staff within the section

staff in other sections

team leaders

veterinarians

external:

contractors

government bodies

members of the public

other captive animal facilities

professional associations

suppliers.

Reports may include:

verbal and written information on:

daily animal behaviour

strategies used to manage behaviour and the animal's response

suggestions on modification of current strategies.

Animal husbandry manuals may include:

information related to:

captive animal profile:

common behavioural issues

common health and nutrition issues

current thinking on adaptability to captive animal facilities

diets

enrichment strategies

exercise and housing needs

socialising needs

wild animal profile:

general daily activity

habitat, climatic region and common food sources

sexual behaviours and breeding cycle

social structure and classification as prey or predator

instructions on:

behaviour enrichment

health and nutrition

housing, socialising and exercise

individual animal needs

records of:

activity budget

animal health care and treatment

behaviour issues and management strategies

breeding records

diet

references to further reading, research and known specialists in behaviour relevant to particular species.

Unit sector

Captive animals

This unit contains employability skills.