Application
This unit provides the skills and knowledge to implement and monitor animal health and welfare programs for a permaculture system. It requires the ability to provide information to clients and animal owners about animal welfare, facilitate the participation of others in complying with animal health and welfare guidelines, implement and monitor enterprise programs for animal care, deal with animal emergencies and maintain animal health records.
All work is carried out to comply with workplace procedures.
This unit applies to individuals who analyse information and exercise judgement to complete a range of advanced skilled activities and demonstrate deep knowledge in a specific technical area. They have accountability for the work of others and analyse, design and communicate solutions to a range of complex problems.
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. Provide information about animal care in a permaculture system | 1.1 Accurately and clearly explain to the client relevant permaculture practices towards animal health and welfare 1.2 Provide readily accessible information on animal care and maintenance and accurately and clearly explain this to clients and animal owners 1.3 Regularly provide information about identified animal health and welfare requirements and accurately and clearly explain this to clients and animal owners |
2. Facilitate the participation of workers in animal care and maintenance in a permaculture system | 2.1 Follow the permaculture plan for animal care and maintenance 2.2 Monitor animal health and welfare compliance with workers and others 2.3 Ensure adequate resource allocation and monitor to ensure effective animal health and welfare programs continue |
3. Implement and monitor animal health and welfare procedures in a permaculture system | 3.1 Identify and report existing and potential hazards to animal health and welfare so that effective remedial measures are implemented 3.2 Carry out animal health and welfare induction and training for workers and others 3.3 Establish strategies to maintain routines for animal health and welfare in the permaculture system 3.4 Monitor the procedures for animal health and welfare implemented by workers and others, to ensure consistency and adherence to the permaculture plan |
4. Implement workplace procedures for dealing with animal health and welfare emergencies | 4.1 Implement workplace procedures for dealing with animal health and welfare emergencies where necessary to ensure that prompt and effective control action is taken 4.2 Report animal health and welfare emergencies in accordance with established procedures 4.3 Implement measures to prevent recurrence and minimise risk of animal health and welfare emergencies |
5. Implement and monitor enterprise procedures for maintaining animal health and welfare records | 5.1 Complete animal health and welfare records accurately and legibly in accordance with permaculture procedures and legislative requirements 5.2 Identify potential hazards to animal health and welfare by using aggregate information from animal health and welfare records 5.3 Provide regular training to workers and others so that records are understood and used for the health and welfare of animals in the permaculture system |
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:
provide information to clients, workers or animal owners about animal health and welfare
implement animal health and welfare procedures
monitor animal health and welfare procedures performed by others
maintain animal health and welfare records
provide training in understanding and using records for the health and welfare of animals in a permaculture system
Evidence of Knowledge
The candidate must demonstrate knowledge of:
permaculture principles, ethics and practices relating to integrated animal systems, such as:
minimising effort for maximum effect
multiple uses for each element in the system
using more than one way to provide important functions
re-using and valuing resources and energy
animal welfare and freedom from cruelty as part of care for the earth
encouraging productivity of the system
seeing solutions not problems
preventing waste and loss of resources from the system
animal health and welfare requirements, practices and procedures, 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 the following integration of animal ranging and maintenance with plant production systems: ranging in orchard to manure trees, reducing weeds, controlling pests, eating windfall fruit, tractoring systems, composting manures and housing litter and maintaining firebreaks
researching, assessing, implementing and monitoring 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 the following useable products: milking, collecting eggs
providing range areas for shade and shelter from climatic extremes through appropriate planting, including forage and fodder plants.
equipment, including feeders and waterers, and back-up systems and alarms in case of equipment failure.
lighting
ventilation including fresh air, dust filters, humidity, and noxious gases.
temperature, including cooling and heating, extreme weather conditions
protection from predators, vermin, fires and floods.
food with diet containing adequate nutrients
water, including sufficient drinkable water to meet livestock requirements and monitoring water quality.
health and distress, with signs of ill-health or distress in animals (as evidenced by behavioural changes) including reduced food and water intake, reduced production, changes in the nature and level of their activity, abnormal condition or changed physical features.
prevention of infectious disease and internal and external parasitism.
transport of growing and adult livestock
animal physiology
animal emergencies, such as:
injury
disease
failure of feeding or watering systems
poisoning
tick fever
birthing difficulties
escapement from housing or enclosures
predator attack
natural disasters such as bushfire, flooding, severe storm, other extreme weather event
relevant animal welfare legislation and codes of practice
animal health and welfare records, such as:
farm livestock records
daily harvest/yield records (eggs, milk)
feeding schedules and rosters
rotation schedules and successional grazing regimes
accident and emergency reports
entries into data base or other management software
worker records and reports
emergency reports
animal morbidity
work procedures and practices
seasonal factors and weather records
questioning client and/or workers
observations from inspecting animal systems
operational practices such as bedding change rotation, cell grazing, alternating flocks
industry animal health requirements
legislative requirements, such as:
compliance with council ordinances
planning approval
licence from government agency
animal welfare legislation
workplace legislation and awards
Assessment Conditions
Assessors must satisfy current standards for RTOs. Assessors must also have a nationally accredited Certificate IV or Diploma of Permaculture. Completion of a Permaculture Design Course (PDC) or non-accredited Permaculture Diploma 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)