ACMGAS208A
Source information for animal care needs

This unit of competency covers the processes required to gather information on medications and services for animals and relate these to individual animal requirements and audience needs.No licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.

Application

This unit is applicable to new entrants to the animal care and management industry where it may be necessary to investigate or clarify information on treatments, services or other animal care items for self, colleagues or clients. Candidates are not required to provide advice to clients at this level but rather to develop the skills required to find information that is current, relevant, accurate and appropriate for the audience and activity needs from a range of credible services.

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. Read and interpret product labels

1.1. Medication classes and product contents are identified and general use defined.

1.2. Safety precautions are identified and interpreted.

1.3. Dose or application rates are identified.

1.4. Dose or application is prepared for nominated animals as directed.

2. Gather information on products and services

2.1. Information sources for animal care products and services are identified and evaluated.

2.2. Company advisors are contacted for specific information.

2.3. Inquiries are made on animal care services for a range of animal care needs.

3. Profile nominated animal physiological features relevant to health and application of treatments

3.1. Animal metabolic processes relevant to health, nutritional needs and medication are identified.

3.2. Substances and medications known to produce allergic or toxic reactions in nominated animals are determined.

3.3. Methods of administration of treatments and medications are evaluated.

4. Take an animal history

4.1. Phone information is documented and information relayed to relevant staff.

4.2. Effective listening and research skills are used to verify information on animals.

4.3. Animal history is completed using workplace documentation.

Required Skills

Required skills

calculate and prepare doses or applications rates for treatments and verify with supervisor

complete relevant work-related documents

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

gather and provide information in response to workplace requirements

identify the potential impact of over or under dosing of medications or treatments

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

literacy skills to read and follow organisational policies and procedures, including occupational health and safety (OHS), follow sequenced written instructions; and record the information accurately and legibly

numeracy skills to estimate, calculate and record routine workplace measures

oral communication skills/language to fulfill the job role as specified by the organisation, including questioning, active listening, asking for clarification and seeking advice from supervisor

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 prioritise daily tasks

use personal protective clothing and equipment

use safe manual handling techniques and/or equipment

use safe waste handling and disposal procedures

verify precautions in application or administration of treatments or services.

Required knowledge

animal metabolic processes relevant to health, nutritional needs and medication

animal temperaments and behaviours related to the associated hazards and risks to animals and staff during the administration or application of treatments

common diseases, ailments, injuries and other impacts on animal health and wellbeing

communication procedures, systems and technology relevant to the organisation and individual job responsibilities

housing, exercise, social and activity needs of animals related to products and services provided

organisation policies and procedures, including OHS requirements

physical conditions and vital signs of animals

protocols, legal and ethical considerations in consulting with veterinarians and other specialists; documenting observations, measurements, treatments and decisions on animal care; and in the storage and relay of information to others

relevant state or territory legislation and regulations relating to the practice of veterinary science, OHS and animal welfare

relevant state or territory legislation covering the use of therapeutic and controlled substances

safe work practices

terminology and language variations used by workplace staff and the public to describe animals, their behaviour, status, health and treatments

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

terminology used to describe treatments, dose rates, application methods and precautions

terminology used to identify animals and describe their behaviour

types and sources of information available for treatments, medications and other animal services

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

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:

differentiate between credible and unreliable information sources

identify precautions, active ingredients and other information that may be relevant to hazards and risk management issues in the care and treatment of animals and OHS considerations for staff

interpret medication and other items directions, dose rates and method of administration

prepare medication and treatment doses

take an animal history and document information using industry protocols and procedures.

The skills and knowledge required to source information for animal care needs 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 an animal care workplace or in a situation that reproduces normal work conditions. Workplaces can include pet shops, aquariums, breeding or boarding kennels and catteries, aviaries, companion animal training or grooming establishments or veterinary practices.

There must be access to a range of products and types of services as well as relevant information, 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.

Medication classes relate to:

the national Standard for the Uniform Scheduling of Drugs and Poisons (SUSDP), a document which aims to standardise the scheduling and packaging/labelling of substances throughout Australia.

Note: Differences do exist in the regulation of drugs and poisons between Australian states and territories.

Safety precautions may include:

hazard identification, risk minimisation and workplace procedures for:

animal bites, kicks and scratches

biological hazardous waste and sharps disposal

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

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

transmission of zoonotic diseases

use of relevant personal protective equipment.

Products and services may include:

dietary needs:

feeding and watering frequency and rates

supplements that may be required according to current animal status

types and quantities of commonly available feedstuffs, their preparation and presentation

grooming and cleaning requirements

handling procedures and equipment

health check-up frequency and procedures

diseases of animals that will require medication:

bacterial, viral and fungal infections

parasite and pest control

potential hazards to specific animal species

techniques used to minimise trauma during rehousing and socialising with other animals where relevant and humans

temperature, climate and habitat needs of specific animal species

animal handling equipment

animal housing and furniture

boarding and holiday care services

books, DVDs and other information sources

feeding equipment, implements and products

filtration systems

parasite control products

transportation equipment and services

veterinary and other products and services.

Information sources may include:

company representatives and advice service

industry associations

library resources

Medical Information Management System (MIMS) and other veterinary medication reference sources

product brochures and material safety data sheets (MSDS)

supervisor and other workplace staff

validated internet sites.

Metabolic processes may include:

activity features of nominated animals, related energy needs and processes

food ingestion, digestion processes and nutritional needs

integument features and effect of topical applications

respiration methods

temperature regulation.

Methods of administration may include:

oral :

nutritional supplements

pain medications

parasite control

eye and ear medications

topical applications:

external parasite washes

skin condition medications

wound treatments

water treatment and medications for birds, amphibians and fish.

Animal history information may include:

age

behaviour issues (if any)

breed

diet

exercise routine

housing type and location

injuries

known allergies

known health problems

parasite and other health condition control and prevention treatments

reason for consultation or inquiry

sex

vaccination status.

Effective listening and research skills may include:

listening skills:

asking both open ended and closed questions

clarifying what has been said

focusing on the issue at hand by drawing speaker's attention back to the information needed

prioritising information for significance and urgency of issue

recognising possible stress and anxiety being experienced by speaker and responding to their concerns whilst still following workplace protocols and priorities

separating emotional responses from facts

summarising what has been said and verifying understanding of information

research skills:

developing networks

identifying valid sources of information

recognising the importance of currency of information for particular issues

using animal care industry recognised sources of information.


Sectors

Unit sector

General animal studies


Employability Skills

This unit contains employability skills.


Licensing Information

Not applicable.