ACMCAN502A
Develop and monitor collection management

This unit of competency covers the process of developing and monitoring the implementation of a collection plan, by ensuring extensive liaison with internal and external personnel and assisting in the development of institutional policies, manuals and records in the area of species management.No licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.

Application

The unit is applicable to senior or more experienced keepers, such as a keeper in charge, who operates as a specialist in collection management whilst demonstrating competence in other specialist areas including animal husbandry, interpretive and learning programs, nutrition and conservation and research.

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.


Elements and Performance Criteria

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

1. Assist with the development of the collection plan

1.1. Collection plan is prepared in accordance with institutional policies and procedures.

1.2. Liaison with internal and external personnel is conducted in respect to collection planning.

1.3. Recommendations of Taxon Advisory Groups (TAGs) are identified and considered when acquiring and disposing of animals.

1.4. Merits of each species included in the collection plan are evaluated.

1.5. Databases and other resources are accessed and utilised as required.

2. Contribute effectively to collection planning policy and practice

2.1. Assistance is provided with collection planning policy development as required.

2.2. Information or assistance is provided to regional and international studbooks and management plans as required.

2.3. Critical analysis and review of the collection plan are undertaken and recommendations are presented to management.

2.4. Reports are prepared and presented to management in accordance with institutional policies and procedures.

2.5. Section animal records are coordinated and maintained in accordance with institutional policies and procedures.

Required Skills

Required skills

access technical advice

analyse information, prepare and write proposals and reports

apply word processing, spreadsheet and database skills

develop, interpret and review studbooks and husbandry manuals

determine appropriate genetic pairings

determine appropriate demographic management

implement institutional policies and procedures

interpret studbook data and run basic analysis

operate appropriate species management databases

record data using approved animal keeping information systems and/or software

literacy skills to read and implement institutional policies and procedures, critically analyse material; and record accurately and legibly information collected

communication skills/language to fulfil the job role as specified by the institution, including questioning techniques, active listening and consulting with management

numeracy skills to complete mathematical calculations relating to species management

interpersonal skills to work with and relate to people from a range of cultural, social and religious backgrounds

problem-solving skills to use available resources and develop a species management plan.

Required knowledge

animal husbandry manual requirements

animal identification to the sup-species level

animal management software, such as Animal Record-Keeping System (ARKS), International Species Information System (ISI), Regional Animal Species Collection Plan (REGASP) and Single Population Analysis and Record Keeping System (SPARKS)

Australasian Species Management Program (ASMP) and ASMP Regional Census and Plan

ASMP guidelines and criteria for studbook keeping

biology and husbandry of animals in a captive animal environment

breeding control methods

collection planning requirements

concepts of inbreeding and out breeding

international agreements and conventions, including the World Zoo Conservation Strategy and the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources conservation status categories

database programs for recordkeeping and data analysis

genetic principles for the management of captive animal populations

importance of breeding coefficients

institutional collection planning policies and procedures, institutional master plan and other relevant policies and procedures

principles and constraints of wildlife conservation

principles of animal welfare and ethics

principles of taxonomy and relevance to population management

relevant international, federal and state or territory legislation and codes of practice

report formats for captive animal management plans

role of the Australasian Regional Association of Zoological Parks (ARAZP)

small population biology

species stocking policies.

Evidence Required

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:

initiate and undertake analyses of species management and collection planning

interpret and undertake analyses of studbooks

write and interpret a strategic plan for a regional population of a species

liaise extensively with internal and external personnel on behalf of the institution in respect to collection planning

manage animal records and provide reports to management as required.

The skills and knowledge required to develop and monitor collection management 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).


Range Statement

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.

Collection plans are:

developed at regional or institutional level and need to consider:

species management plans

regional captive management plans

interpretive plans

available facilities

conservation issues

education programs

visitors' experiences of particular captive animal facilities.

Considerations when preparing a collection plan must take into account:

institution's collection policy

collection management policy

master plan

interpretive plan

facilities (existing and proposed) within the institution

principles of species management and disposition policy.

Internal and external personnel liaison may include:

internal personnel:

conservation coordinators

curatorial unit staff

species coordinators

staff from across the institution

Taxon Advisory Group representatives (TAGs)

external personnel:

government departments and bodies

other zoological institutions

representatives of ARAZPA and TAGs

species coordinators

studbook keepers

wildlife authorities.

Factors to consider when evaluating the merits of each species may include:

conservation needs

display value

provenance and associated plans.

Databases and other resources that may be used include:

animal management software:

ISIS

ARKS

SPARKS

plans:

ASMP

ASMP Regional Census and Plan

management plans

studbooks

husbandry manuals.

Studbooks may include:

studbooks may include identifiers, such as:

sex

identities of both parents

birth and death dates

and may also include:

full transaction history

any information unique to the species, such as any data on the reproductive potential of living animals.


Sectors

Unit sector

Captive animals


Employability Skills

This unit contains employability skills.


Licensing Information

Not applicable.