This unit of competency supports licensed and registered personnel and others in the greyhound racing industry who may be required to supervise catching pen operations as part of their job function.

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

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

Prepare for race meeting.

1. Race fields and distances are confirmed.

2. Catching pen operation is tested prior to commencement of race meeting.

3. Props used to attract greyhounds are available near catching area.

4. Rules of racing , protocols and procedures related to catching pen operation are explained to racing participants and complied with by participants and catching pen staff.

5. Potential hazards in catching area are identified and strategies used to minimise risk of injury are employed.

Operate catching pen.

6. Last lap of race is identified and safe time to enter catching area is determined.

7. Greyhounds are lured into catching area using techniques that are safe for self, catchers and greyhounds.

8. Catching area is secured.

Supervise greyhound catchers.

9. Catchers are supervised during catching of greyhounds.

10. Identification of greyhounds is verified before greyhounds leave catching area.

11. Catching pen gate is prepared for next race once greyhounds have been secured.

12. Incidents are reported to stewards.

Required skills

applying safe handling and work practices when catching, leading and controlling greyhounds

communicating with race meeting staff, stewards, racing participants and others using assertive communication techniques to gather, interpret and relay information related to the conduct and operation of racing and catching pens

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

complying with animal welfare legislation

evaluating risks associated with catching pens and catching greyhounds

giving instructions

giving evidence in racing inquiries and investigations

identifying and correctly fitting gear

identifying individual greyhounds using industry-approved terminology, records and signalment

identifying injured and distressed greyhounds that require assistance

making effective decisions and resolving routine problems within the bounds of the duties and responsibilities of a catching pen supervisor

performing pre and post-race catching pen supervisory procedures

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 stewards in a timely manner

written communication skills to complete workplace documentation and reports.

Required knowledge

characteristics of healthy greyhounds

communication procedures within the kennel and wider racing industry

equipment used in work role and procedures for its operation, shut down maintenance and emergency stop

first aid procedures for humans and greyhounds

racing industry animal welfare requirements

racing industry safety requirements, including safe operating procedures

race day and trial catching pen procedures

rules of greyhound racing, including state and local variations relating to job function and associated tasks, protocols and procedures.

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 supervising catching pen operations

implementation of procedures and timely techniques for the safe, effective and efficient application of catching pen 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 greyhounds at different stages of race preparation

materials and equipment relevant to assessing candidate's ability to supervise catching pen operations

safe handling and catching pen areas, such as training and racetracks

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

RGRPSG201A Handle greyhounds.

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, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.

Props used to attract greyhounds to catching area may include:

false lure dragged by catching pen attendant

synchronised timing of lure switch off with approach of greyhounds to catching area

visual barrier to block greyhounds' view of track.

Rules of racing , protocols and procedures related to catching pen operations may include:

Australian and local rules of racing

adhering to responsibilities under OHS legislation and workplace practices

adhering to state, territory or federal legislation related to animal welfare

adhering to personal presentation standards

following instructions from race day stewards and other officials.

Potential hazards in catching area may include:

getting hit by the lure

getting hit by greyhounds running into the pen

getting hit or jammed in the catching gate

greyhounds attacking other greyhounds

greyhounds not entering the catching pen and running back down the track

making physical contact with greyhound catchers

tripping or falling while encouraging greyhounds into the catching area.

Strategies to minimise risk may include:

controlling access to the catching area until it is safe to enter

switching off lure at strategic distance from catching pen

ensuring all greyhounds are in catching pen before closing the gate

ensuring timing of use of catching area props is likely to attract greyhounds into pen

directing catchers to concentrate on catching their own greyhound

knowing greyhound behaviour traits

moving swiftly to catch greyhounds that may appear to be ready to fight

paying attention to where catchers and greyhounds are in the catching pen

talking to greyhound trainer about a greyhound's behaviour.

Identification of greyhounds may include:

coat colour and markings

ear brand

race rug colour and number

racing registration certificate.

Incidents to be reported to stewards may include:

accidents or near misses in the catching pen area or surrounds

inability to verify identification of greyhounds with racing documentation

injured, distressed or sick greyhounds

failure of catching pen equipment

failure of racing participants to comply with catching pen supervisor's instructions.

Unit Sector

Greyhound racing code

This unit contains employability skills.