Application
This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to evaluate and coordinate a response to natural resource emergencies involving fauna.
This unit applies to working within own area of responsibility in a response to a wildlife emergency. These individuals are required to take responsibility for their own work and take limited responsibility for other workers and possibly volunteers.
No occupational licensing, legislative or certification requirements are known to apply to this unit at the time of publication.
In addition to legal responsibilities, all units of competency dealing with animals in the AHC Training Package have the requirements for animals to be handled humanely to minimise stress and discomfort.
Elements and Performance Criteria
Element | Performance criteria |
Elements describe the essential outcomes. | Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. |
1. Evaluate wildlife emergency | 1.1 Investigate nature of emergency from eyewitness reports or own inspection 1.2 Make assessment of key factors that may impact on an appropriate response, including public and personal health and safety, animal care, biosecurity and environmental factors 1.3 Notify authorities of incident according to enterprise procedures 1.4 Implement interim care of animals pending instructions from authorities 1.5 Delegate appropriate staff to provide interim care for animals 1.6 Ensure personnel assisting in interim care are equipped and briefed 1.7 Implement care instructions provided by authorities or veterinarians 1.8 Collect information to determine further action 1.9 Interview informants to obtain details of the situation |
2. Implement response to emergency | 2.1 Establish communications necessary to manage situation 2.2 Transport resources and personnel to site 2.3 Establish site procedures and implement emergency plans according to legislative requirements and enterprise procedures 2.4 Move live fauna 2.5 Remove dead fauna from site and dispose of biological matter in accordance with enterprise procedures and health and safety requirements 2.6 Clean site in accordance with enterprise procedures to maintain public and environmental health and safety 2.7 Implement measures that minimise risk to significant places, area, habitats, species and communities |
3. Coordinate response | 3.1 Inform general public and media of the nature of the incident and agency decisions 3.2 Brief volunteers and staff on workplace health and safety hazards, preventive measures and reporting requirements 3.3 Coordinate and deploy volunteers according to their skills and available personal protective equipment 3.4 Establish physical barriers to keep public away from animals to minimise their distress and to protect the public 3.5 Manage media until authorities provide instructions 3.6 Use media according to enterprise procedures |
4. Care for affected animals | 4.1 Assign teams to animals according to incident assessment, care instructions and skills within teams 4.2 Apply animal first aid 4.3 Perform role in wildlife operations team according to the command structure and procedures of the management plan 4.4 Care for animals using a range of skills and according to veterinary instructions and enterprise procedures |
5. Determine management options | 5.1 Seek veterinary advice where appropriate 5.2 Collect biological and incident data on animals 5.3 Evaluate management options according to advice, condition of animal and risk assessment 5.4 Band or tag released animals where required for scientific purposes 5.5 Source equipment and staff for returning animal to wild or temporary captive management |
6. Remove carcass | 6.1 Develop inter-agency agreement with local authority for removal of carcases 6.2 Dispose of carcases according to authority instructions 6.3 Source equipment and staff for disposal |
7. Complete debrief and report | 7.1 Follow incident management processes for debrief and wash-up 7.2 Provide report to management to determine what procedures should be implemented |
Evidence of Performance
The candidate must be assessed on their ability to integrate and apply the performance requirements of this unit in a workplace setting. Performance must be demonstrated consistently over time and in a suitable range of contexts.
The candidate must provide evidence that they can:
evaluate natural resource emergency
implement and coordinate response to emergency in accordance with enterprise procedures and health and safety requirements
follow enterprise procedures to ensure the safety of self, other personnel, the general public and the wildlife
determine management options including returning animal to wild or temporary captive management, according to authority and enterprise policies and procedures
follow instructions from veterinarians or authorities to care for animal
remove and dispose of animal carcases in accordance with authority instructions
complete debrief and prepare reports to enterprise standards
apply workplace health and safety policies and procedures when implementing emergency plans
apply appropriate animal welfare practices
Evidence of Knowledge
The candidate must demonstrate knowledge of:
health risks associated with animals
public relations and media management
incident management systems
State/Territory and local wildlife emergency authorities and organisations
local authorities for wildlife emergencies
potential biosecurity risks associated with wildlife rescue operations
basic requirements for ensuring the
Assessment Conditions
Assessors must satisfy current standards for RTOs.
Foundation Skills
Foundation Skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit of competency.
Range Statement
Sectors
Fauna (FAU)