This unit of competency supports racing industry personnel and others authorised to assist with harness race and trial starts.

This unit can be contextualised for other industries while also maintaining the integrity of the unit.

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

Ensure track is safe for racing.

1. Litter or other hazards are removed from track.

2. Damaged equipment is repaired and/or reported to stewards or track supervisor.

Assist with race start and running procedures.

3. Potential track problems or difficulties are identified during warm-up or score-up.

4. Horses are approached in compliance with racing safe operating procedures .

5. Clerk of course is assisted with cornering and capturing loose horses.

6. Horses are held and restrained when requested by clerk of course, stewards, starter or driver.

7. Track incidents or emergencies are responded to in line with racing procedures.

Debrief after race.

8. Reports are made to starter and/or stewards on outcomes of track incidents.

9. Contributions are made regarding ways to improve effectiveness of track assistants.

Required skills

applying safe handling and work practices when dealing with horses

catching, leading and handling a range of horses in a variety of environments

communicating with stewards, racing officials, licensed and registered personnel, co-workers and others using assertive communication techniques to gather and relay information related to assisting with race starts

completing duties in accordance with safe operating procedures and nominated time frame

evaluating risks associated with race start activities

identifying and correctly applying different items of approved gear

judging situations and seeking assistance to prevent problems arising or to overcome problems before they develop further

identifying and correctly using different items of handling gear

identifying behaviour of horses

recognising damaged or defective gear

relating to people from a range of social, cultural and ethnic backgrounds and with varying physical and mental abilities

relaying messages to others

responding to instructions promptly and safely

teamwork skills to ensure completion of job tasks.

Required knowledge

appropriate methods of controlling horses

approved gear

basic industry terminology related to handling horses

limits of own responsibility

personal grooming and presentation requirements

protocols and procedures for communicating with licensed and other racing industry personnel

racing industry animal welfare requirements

racing industry safety requirements, including safe operating procedures

range of behaviour traits exhibited by horses

relevant rules of racing

reporting requirements for irregularities and problems.

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit

The evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit must be relevant to workplace operations and satisfy all of the requirements of the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge and the range statement of this unit and include evidence of the following:

knowledge of the requirements, procedures and instructions that are to apply when assisting with harness race starts

implementation of procedures and timely techniques for the safe, effective and efficient application of race start duties

working with others to undertake and complete starting procedures that meet required outcomes.

Evidence should be collected over a period of time using a range of racehorses of different ages and sexes, and at different stages of preparation in racing stable and track environments.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Competency must be assessed in a racing workplace that provides access to the required resources or simulated environment approved by the relevant State Principal Racing Authority. Assessment is to occur under standard and authorised work practices, safety requirements and environmental constraints. It is to comply with relevant regulatory requirements or Australian Standards requirements.

Assessment of the practical components of this unit will be by observation of relevant skills.

The following resources must be available:

a variety of harness horses

materials and equipment relevant to assessing candidate's ability to assist with harness race starts

safe handling areas, such as racetracks, race meetings and associated facilities

work instructions and related documentation.

Method of assessment

Assessment methods must satisfy the endorsed Assessment Guidelines of the Racing Training Package.

The suggested strategies for the assessment of this unit are:

written and/or oral assessment of candidate's required knowledge

observed, documented and firsthand testimonial evidence of candidate's application of practical tasks

simulation exercises conducted in a State Principal Racing Authority approved simulated environment.

Evidence is required to be demonstrated over a period of time, therefore where performance is not directly observed any evidence should be authenticated by supervisors or other appropriate persons.

This unit may be assessed in a holistic way with other units of competency relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role, for example:

RGRCMN201A Follow OHS procedures and observe environmental work practices.

Guidance information for assessment

Assessment methods should reflect workplace demands (e.g. literacy and numeracy demands) and the needs of particular target groups (e.g. people with disabilities, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, women, people with a language background other than English, youth and people from low socioeconomic backgrounds).

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.

The range statement provides details of how this competency can be used in the workplaces of the racing industry to assist with harness race starts. Workplaces include harness stables and racecourses, training tracks and public areas.

Hazards may include:

foreign objects

loose or working horses

machinery

stray or feral animals

personnel working on tracks

plastic cones, markers or witches hats.

Potential track problems may include:

damaged gear or sulkies

driver injury

fallen driver

horse injury

loose horses

mobile barrier problems, for example hydraulic problems with wings.

Safe operating procedures when approaching horses may include:

approaching horse from near side front

avoiding sudden movement

assuming control of horse

considering variables that influence behaviour of horses, such as:

fences and equipment

other persons or animals

vehicles

wind and noise

leading horse person to person

maintaining at least two lengths between horses being led

speaking calmly to horse

using personal protective equipment

using well-maintained and safe gear.

Track incidents or emergencies may include:

foreign objects on racetrack

injured horses

fallen or injured drivers

loose horses

mobile barrier malfunction

people and/or stray or feral animals on racetrack

weather conditions, for example:

lightening

thunderstorm.

Reports will be relayed to starter or steward:

courteously and efficiently

maintaining confidentiality and discretion

promptly

using correct forms of greeting

via verbal and/or written communication, including:

describing actions

giving and receiving clear, accurate and simple messages

listening to and interpreting information and instructions

written reports, including simple documents and notes.

Unit Sector

Harness racing code

This unit contains employability skills.