Application
This unit of competency supports race club personnel or others who may be required to perform the duties of clerk of scales for horses at thoroughbred race meetings. This unit can be contextualised for other industries while also maintaining the integrity of the unit. |
Elements and Performance Criteria
ELEMENT | PERFORMANCE CRITERIA |
Weigh horse prior to each race. | 1. Scales are checked to verify accuracy and correct operation. 2. Weight of horse at previous weigh out is checked. 3. Safe operating procedures are followed during weighing of horses to avoid injury and ensure accuracy of weighing. 4. Safe and effective horse handling strategies are employed to assist the loading and weighing of nervous or reluctant horses. 5. Horse is weighed and weight recorded. 6. Stewards are advised of the results of horse weigh out. |
Required Skills
Required skills |
applying safe handling and work practices when dealing with horses communicating with stewards, racing officials, and licensed and registered personnel using assertive communication techniques to gather, interpret and relay information related to the conduct of duties of clerk of scales for horses completing duties in accordance with safe operating procedures and nominated time frame complying with animal welfare legislation judging situations and seeking assistance to prevent problems arising or to overcome problems before they develop further operating and correctly reading weighing scales reading and interpreting workplace documentation, including rules of racing relating to people from a range of social, cultural and ethnic backgrounds and with varying physical and mental abilities reporting incidents to supervisor or stewards in a timely manner teamwork skills to ensure completion of job tasks written communication skills to record date and complete workplace documentation and reports. |
Required knowledge |
common horse handling techniques communication procedures used by race day personnel and wider racing industry equipment used in work role and procedures for its operation, shut down, maintenance and emergency stop horse weight allowances and variations 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 lines and procedures. |
Evidence Required
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 performing duties of clerk of scales for horses implementation of procedures and timely techniques for the safe, effective and efficient application of clerk of scales horse operations working with others to undertake and complete the required procedures that meet required outcomes. Evidence should be collected over a period of time in a range of workplace-relevant contexts and include dealings with an appropriate range of situations. |
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 thoroughbred horses materials and equipment relevant to assessing candidate's ability to undertake duties of clerk of scales for horses race day approved horse weighing 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: RGRCMN001A Comply with the rules of racing and related protocols. |
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). |
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. The range statement provides details of how this competency can be used in the workplaces of the racing industry to perform the duties of clerk of scales for horses. Workplaces include thoroughbred racecourses, training tracks and administration buildings. | |
Reasons weight of horse may be important include: | betting fluctuations conditioning health performance. |
Safe operating procedures may include: | considering variables that influence behaviour of horses, such as: fences and equipment other persons or animals vehicles wind and noise using an anti-rearing bit or bridle headpiece with bit and double clip lead using personal protective equipment using well-maintained and safe gear. |
Safe and effective horse handling strategies may include: | applying appropriate restraining techniques assessing behaviour prior to handling identifying good behaviour traits and bad behaviour traits and vices relating horse behaviour to level of education and experience of the horse. |
Stewards are advised : | 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 may include simple documents and notes. |
Sectors
Unit Sector | Thoroughbred racing code |
Employability Skills
This unit contains employability skills. |
Licensing Information
Refer to Unit Descriptor