Application
This unit applies to canine search specialists responsible for developing a canine search team for USAR incidents.
A canine search team consists of one disaster search canine and one canine search specialist.
Prerequisites
Not applicable.
Elements and Performance Criteria
ELEMENT | PERFORMANCE CRITERIA |
1. Assess canines for USAR work | 1.1 Criteria for canines to work in a USAR environment are determined. 1.2 Canines are observed and assessed in relation to determined criteria. 1.3 Canines assessed as meeting determined criteria are selected to be part of canine search team. |
2. Maintain search canine health | 2.1 Basic symptoms of ill health or injury in search canines are identified. 2.2 Local authorities who can be consulted about the establishment or maintenance of search canine health are identified. 2.3 Program of health maintenance to prevent common illnesses or parasites is implemented. 2.4 Treatment program for ill or injured search canine is followed as required. 2.5 Basic first aid for ill or injured search canines is administered. 2.6 Basic first aid kit suitable for treating injured search canines is maintained. |
3. Manage search canine hygiene and welfare | 3.1 Living environment, training areas and search canine transportation are maintained according to animal health and welfare requirements, standards and regulations. 3.2 Health, welfare and fitness of search canines is maintained for USAR operational and environmental conditions. 3.3 Healthy diet is maintained for search canines based upon individual animal's requirements. 3.4 Need to retire a search canine is assessed and recommended in accordance with specialist advice and/or animal health and welfare standards. |
4. Maintain records of search canine health and welfare | 4.1 Vaccination and other preventative health records for search canine are established and maintained accordance with the Australian Urban Search&Rescue Canine Capability Best Practice Guideline. 4.2 Health, treatment and injury records for search canines are established and maintained. 4.3 Decisions to retire search canines are recorded. 4.4 Organisational policies and procedures for recording and reporting incidents that result in injuries to search canines are followed. |
5. Develop and implement a training plan | 5.1 Training needs of canine search team are identified and assessed. 5.2 Training plan that addresses the needs, strengths, weakness of the canine search team is developed. 5.3 Training plan is reviewed and amended as necessary to reflect the changing needs of canine search team. 5.4 Training equipment is maintained. 5.5 Progress of canine search team is recorded and reported on. |
Required Skills
This describes the essential skills and knowledge and their level, required for this unit. |
Required Skills |
administer preventative or curative medicines and treatments to canines apply basic first aid techniques to canines collect, analyse and organise information to produce records and reports required by the organisation and animal welfare authorities interpret the actions and indications given by a canine maintain living environment, training areas and canines to the required standard of hygiene monitor diet and exercise regimes to maintain the health and welfare of canines recognise basic symptoms of ill health and injury in canines solve problems to deal with safety risks work independently and in teams to manage the hygiene and welfare of canines |
Required Knowledge |
anatomy and signs of health/ill health and injury of canines animal health and welfare requirements and regulations affecting working canines Australian Urban Search&Rescue Canine Capability Best Practice Guideline basic first aid techniques that can be used to treat injured canines canine anatomy canine developmental stages canine grooming requirements capabilities of canines working within a USAR environment common illnesses, diseases, parasites and other causes of ill-health or injury affecting working canines dietary and exercise requirements of working canines location of veterinarians and other authorities who can assist in the maintenance of the health and welfare of canines organisational policies and procedures regarding the health and welfare of canines within the organisation where applicable physiology of canines preventative measures for controlling illnesses and parasites that can affect canines procedures for acquiring canines psychology and behaviour of canines records and reports required by state, territory and local authorities, the organisation and animal welfare authorities restricted canine breeds typical characteristics and temperaments of various breeds of canines that are suited to working within the USAR environment work environment in which canines could be deployed and emergencies that could arise within those environments |
Evidence Required
The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the Performance Criteria, Required Skills and Knowledge, the Range Statement and the Assessment Guidelines for this Training Package. | |
Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit | Assessment must confirm the ability to: constantly observe and monitor search canines in relation to their continued ability to work in a USAR environment provide recommendations on the health and welfare of search canines deployed in USAR incidents Consistency in performance Competency should be demonstrated over time under a range of conditions that would be expected in the workplace. |
Context of and specific resources for assessment | Context of assessment Competency should be assessed in the workplace and/or in a simulated workplace environment. Specific resources for assessment Access is required to: Australian Urban Search&Rescue Canine Capability Best Practice Guideline canines training to work in a USAR environment search canines legislation, policy, procedures and guidelines relating to the health and welfare of canines |
Method of assessment | In a public safety environment assessment is usually conducted via direct observation in a training environment or in the workplace via subject matter supervision and/or mentoring, which is typically recorded in a competency workbook. Assessment is completed using appropriately qualified assessors who select the most appropriate method of assessment according to the workplace environment. Assessment may occur in an operational environment or in an industry-approved simulated work environment. Forms of assessment that are typically used include: direct observation interviewing the candidate journals and workplace documentation third party reports from supervisors written or oral questions |
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 in the Performance Criteria is detailed below. | |
Criteria must include: | desired characteristics desired habits desired physical attributes individual traits |
Desired characteristics should include: | adapting readily to new situations, canine search specialists and environment being alert and positively watchful of surroundings being bold and willing to accept new challenges with confidence being responsive to petting and praise from strangers in a non-aggressive manner being sociable demonstrating an even temperament exhibiting high levels of inquisitiveness having a high level of self-confidence having strong prey or play drive possessing high intelligence responding to other canines in a non-aggressive manner showing a strong desire to explore the environment and odours |
Desired physical attributes should include: | bright, clear eyes with pink surrounding membranes body suitably structured to work in a USAR environment clear of any parasitic infestations that cannot be treated ears that are clean and without foul odour or discharge feet that have all toes, solid whole pads and no overlong claws healthy, shiny coat with no bare patches etc. limbs/hips without signs of arthritis or dysplasia in the joints mouth containing pink gums, complete set of white teeth and no foul odour producing stools that are firm and moist, not sloppy wet nose without discolouration, scales or discharge |
Basic symptoms of ill health may include: | aggression dry nose dull eyes excessive barking excessive drinking excessive drooling frothing at mouth kennel cough lameness lethargy signs of pain stress/anxiety/depression |
Local authorities may include: | animal welfare associations local government authorities local veterinarians Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) |
Program of health maintenance must include: | Daily health checks including: general demeanour main body parts maintaining hygienic environment nose, eyes, ears, mouth, teeth, skin/coat, genitals/orifices, mucous membranes, feet/limbs/nails obvious injury passing of urine/faeces posture and gait presence of fleas or ticks specific individual canine requirements state of body coat and body condition annual veterinary checks |
Treatment program can vary according to: | cause of the symptoms, illness or injury dosage matched to weight of canine methods to be administered (e.g. in food, pill popper, applied to back of neck, injections, canine chew etc.) physical form of the treatment to be administered (e.g. tablet, liquids, wash, decontamination etc.) symptoms exhibited by the canine |
Specialist advice may include: | canine trainers jurisdictional canine focal points veterinarians |
Health records must include: | incident responses organisational and state/territory or local authority, animal welfare legislative requirements treatment programs for preventative or curative health regimes vaccinations |
Organisational policies and procedures may include: | Australian Urban Search & Rescue Canine Capability Best Practice Guideline enabling legislation national and regional policies and procedures organisational policies and procedures, particularly those relating to the health and welfare of canines within the organisation organisation's approach to environmental management and sustainability procedural guides, standard operating procedures, work instructions workplace health and safety acts, regulations and guidelines |
Training needs may include: | ability of canine search specialist to identify and respond to indicators access to situations where search canine can be deployed for USAR work age of canine behavioural drives influencing the canine degree of bonding between canine and canine search specialist characteristics exhibited by the canine experience, commitment and knowledge of canine search specialist frequency of training health and welfare status of canine length of time required by canine to acquire new skills level of canine enthusiasm for detecting live human scent level of training/experience temperament of canine |
Training plan must include: | consideration of environmental factors planned set of exercises to: develop and enhance canine response and control capabilities maintain health and safety during work maintain canine motivation outline of the strategies and timeline for the progressive development of the canine search team |
Sectors
Not applicable.
Employability Skills
This unit contains employability skills.
Licensing Information
Not applicable.