Application
This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to carry out animal care, maintenance and treatment programs in a permaculture system and to accurately evaluate the type and scope of animal needs, administer appropriate treatments and work with the legislative requirements associated with animal care.
All work is carried out to comply with workplace procedures.
This unit applies to individuals who work under broad direction and take responsibility for their own work including limited responsibility for the work of others. They use discretion and judgement in the selection and use of available resources and complete routine activities.
No occupational licensing, legislative or certification requirements are known to apply to this unit at the time of publication.
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. Prepare for care, maintenance and treatment of animals | 1.1 Identify the appropriate system required for the care, maintenance or treatment of animals 1.2 Determine the type and scope of care 1.3 Identify, prepare and maintain equipment and materials required for the appropriate care, maintenance and treatment of animals 1.4 Identify hazards, assess risks, implement controls and take appropriate action |
2. Carry out animal care, maintenance and treatment programs | 2.1 Adjust animal care, maintenance and treatment programs appropriately and where needed 2.2 Identify and treat sick or injured animals, if any are found, according to permaculture practices 2.3 Safely handle and restrain animals 2.4 Administer treatment 2.5 Observe withholding periods and isolate animals if treatment requires it |
3. Complete animal care, maintenance and treatment program | 3.1 Monitor animal health and condition post-treatment and report any abnormalities 3.2 Identify, address and control environmental implications associated with the care, maintenance and treatment of animals 3.3 Maintain a clean and safe work area 3.4 Remove or dispose of waste material appropriately 3.5 Store health treatments according to label instructions 3.6 Document animal care, maintenance and treatment information |
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:
monitor animal housing, enclosures and fencing and act to ensure good care and hygiene
assess and provide appropriate animal nutrition and watering provision
manage and reuse manures and other animal ‘wastes’ safely and hygienically
diagnose parasitic infestations, diseases and injuries
select and apply appropriate means to treat parasites, diseases and injuries
Evidence of Knowledge
The candidate must demonstrate knowledge of:
permaculture principles
animal care, maintenance and treatment programs, such as:
maintenance of animal housing, enclosures and fencing, covering hygiene and welfare
ensuring availability of suitable forage, fodder and supplementary feedstuffs, and adjusting stocking rates, ranging and rotation schedules to suit
coordinating integration of animal ranging and maintenance with plant production systems (ranging in orchard to manure trees, reduce weeds, pests, eat windfall fruit, tractoring systems, compost manures and housing litter, maintain firebreaks)
researching, assessing, sourcing and preparing supplementary stock feed requirements, feeding quantities and schedules
researching and applying organic alternatives for treating stock in compliance with organic certification authorities, which may include herbal and homoeopathic treatments, mineral and vitamin supplements and permitted medications
developing appropriate handling procedures to reduce stress
harvesting, sourcing and handling useable products (such as milking and collecting eggs)
requirements for animal housing, enclosures and fencing
animal health and nutrition requirements
information documented in animal care, maintenance and treatment records, such as
stocking rates
rotation schedules
pasture condition
feeding details
harvest records
details of equipment and materials used
the performance of equipment, faults and malfunctions
number of treated livestock and details of treatment, including spur docking for roosters, hoof trimming and other mechanical, non-chemical treatments
any testing carried out and results
expiry of withholding periods
evaluation of treatment effectiveness
observed abnormalities or behaviour in livestock
methods for harvesting, sourcing and handling useable products (e.g. milking, collecting eggs)
types of parasite infestation, their symptoms and seasonal incidence
types of health promotion practices, including allowable organic methods
assessing the requirements of the particular animals for shelter, enclosure, rotation, food and medicinal plants
dosage and rates of treatments appropriate to the identified type of animal, its body weight and severity of infestation, infection or injury
relevant Codes of Practice with regard to the safe use and handling of hazardous substances
withholding periods for treated animals
Assessment Conditions
Assessors must satisfy current standards for RTOs. Assessors must also hold a nationally accredited Certificate III (or higher) in Permaculture. Completion of a Permaculture Design Course (PDC) is not sufficient at this level.
Foundation Skills
Foundation Skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit of competency.
Range Statement
Sectors
Permaculture (PER)