Application
This unit of competency describes the outcomes required to use dogs in security situations such as:
detecting prohibited and illegal items
protecting property or people
tracking, searching and finding people
preventing escapes
preventing crime
patrolling areas
border protection
providing a presence
The unit supports the attainment of skills and knowledge for preparing dogs for deployment, managing dogs at the scene of the operation and participating in post operational activities.
The unit may be customised to suit the operational environment, which includes consideration of the:
geographical location
mode of transport
hours of operation
the humans present in the area (officer, suspects, civilians)
intelligence provided
The skills and knowledge described in this unit must be performed within the legislative, regulatory and policy environment in which they are carried out. Organisational policies and procedures must be consulted and adhered to, particularly those related to the deployment and care of dogs.
A person undertaking this unit would usually work autonomously using support from mostly familiar resources. The role requires complex task organisation and application of moderate analytical skills.
No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to the awarding of this unit at the time of publication.
Elements and Performance Criteria
ELEMENTS | PERFORMANCE CRITERIA |
Elements describe the essential outcomes | Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. Where bold italicised text is used, further information is detailed in the range of conditions section. |
1. Prepare for deployment of dogs | 1.1 Assess the operational environment where the dog will be deployed and prepare for contingencies. 1.2 Consult information on security situation and assignment details and prepare dog for deployment. 1.3 Transport the dog to the security situation according to the requirements of the assignment and animal welfare requirements. |
2. Manage dogs at the scene of operation | 2.1 Locate and deploy the dog according to its capabilities and the specifications of the assignment. 2.2 Deploy the dog in a manner that results in minimal risk of injury to other persons, the dog, handler and property. 2.3 Read and interpret the body language of the dog and take appropriate action. 2.4 Attend to injuries to the dog. 2.5 Secure detected prohibited and illegal items according to the chain of evidence. |
3. Participate in post-operational activities | 3.1 Take part in debriefing sessions to evaluate operation’s activities. 3.2 Review the ways in which the dog worked and plan for future training sessions and methods of deployment in similar situations. 3.3 Complete accurate and comprehensive dog records and reports in a timely manner and lodge. |
Foundation Skills
The foundation skills demands of this unit have been mapped for alignment with the Australian Core Skills Framework (ACSF). The following tables outline the performance levels indicated for successful attainment of the unit.
ACSF levels indicative of performance:
Further information on ACSF and the foundation skills underpinning this unit can be found in the
Competency Field
Dog handling