RGRROP310A
Supervise race meeting kennels

This unit of competency specifies the outcomes required to supervise race meeting kennelling procedures before, during and after racing. It requires adherence to the compliance requirements associated with the rules of racing and related protocols, allocating duties to and monitoring performance of kennel staff to ensure procedures meet security standards and race schedule timetable in line with stewards' directions.To undertake this unit the candidate will be able to oversee safe greyhound handling skills. It is recommended that RGRCMN201A Follow OHS procedures and observe environmental work practices be delivered in conjunction with or before this unit of competency.This unit of competency operates in work environments of racing kennels, racecourses and public areas.Licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements may apply to this unit. Check with your State Principal Racing Authority for current license or registration requirements.

Application

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


Elements and Performance Criteria

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

Prepare for kennelling.

1. Rules of racing that apply to kennelling procedures are identified and applied.

2. Kennels are checked for cleanliness, repair and security .

3. Kennels are secured and operation of monitors (if present) or other security devices is verified prior to commencement of kennelling.

4. Duties are allocated to kennel staff.

5. OHS hazards are identified and risks managed.

Oversee kennelling procedures for greyhounds.

6. Purpose of and requirements for kennelling procedures and the obligations of staff to comply are explained to kennel attendants.

7. Identification , weight and health of greyhounds are verified prior to allocation of kennel.

8. Kennels for each race are allocated using racing protocols and procedures.

9. Procedures for escorting and securing greyhound in allocated kennel are observed.

10. Greyhound attendants are supervised during visits to kennels.

Oversee pre-race procedures.

11. Procedures for marshalling greyhounds are monitored.

12. Procedures for conduct of stir-up are monitored.

13. Procedures for supervising greyhound empty-out are monitored.

14. Procedures for escorting greyhounds to race start are monitored.

15. Distressed or ill greyhounds are reported to veterinarian and stewards.

Oversee post-race procedures.

16. Procedures for kennelling greyhounds for post-race swabbing are monitored.

17. Veterinarian is called to inspect greyhounds that are injured , ill or nominated by stewards.

18. Reports on greyhounds' status are relayed to stewards.

19. Swabbing of greyhounds is monitored.

Required Skills

Required skills

communicating with race meeting staff, stewards, licensed and registered personnel and others using assertive communication techniques to gather, interpret and relay information related to supervising race meeting kennels

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

complying with animal welfare legislation

delegating duties to others, including volunteers and workers

evaluating risks associated with race meeting kennelling and race day operations

giving evidence in racing inquiries and investigations

identifying individual greyhounds using industry approved terminology, records and signalment

identifying injured or distressed greyhounds that require assistance

making effective decisions and resolving routine problems within the bounds of duties and responsibilities of a race meeting supervisor

monitoring kennelling and greyhound security procedures and using effective communication skills to ensure compliance by staff and greyhound attendants

operating closed circuit television and other devices used for monitoring security

operating telephones, two-way radios and other communication tools

overseeing safe handling and work practices when dealing with greyhounds

reading and interpreting racing documents relating to race distances, race fields, track conditions, greyhound identification and performance records

reading and interpreting workplace documentation, including rules of racing and kennelling procedures

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

resolving disputes according to greyhound racing protocols and procedures

teamwork skills to ensure completion of job tasks

written communication skills to complete workplace documentation and reports.

Required knowledge

characteristics of healthy greyhounds

common features of injury, illness and distress in greyhounds

communication procedures within the racing kennel and wider racing industry

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

positive and effective communication strategies used to manage and work with a team, deal with conflicts and resolve disputes

racing industry animal welfare requirements

racing industry safety requirements, including safe operating procedures

rules of racing and industry protocols and procedures in relation to kennelling, greyhound inspections, pre-race procedures, swabbing, greyhound welfare and the rights and responsibilities of greyhound attendants, owners and kennel staff.

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 supervising race meeting kennel operations

implementation of procedures and timely techniques for the safe, effective and efficient application of race meeting kennel 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. 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

materials and equipment relevant to assessing candidate's ability to supervise race meeting kennel operations

safe handling and approved race meeting kennel areas 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.

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, 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.

Rules of racing that apply to kennelling procedures may include:

appointment of stewards and officials

authority, committee and stewards

greyhounds in public places

identification of greyhounds

race meetings

registration of greyhounds

registration of owners, trainers and attendants

running of races

weights and inspections of greyhounds.

Security requirements may include:

greyhound attendants must be supervised while in the vicinity of or handling greyhounds

greyhounds must be monitored while kennelled to identify ill or distressed animals

kennels must be:

designed to prevent contact with greyhounds by persons or objects

free of materials or contaminants that could affect the blood, urine or samples taken from greyhounds at race meetings

free of materials, substances or objects that could injure or cause illness to greyhounds

locked with tamper-evident locks and seals

monitored to identify anyone who has contact with or is in the vicinity of greyhounds that have been kennelled prior to racing or swabbing.

Duties performed by kennel staff may include:

allocating and collecting race rugs and attendant jackets

allocating kennels and escorting greyhounds and attendants to kennels

cleaning kennels and surrounding area pre-race meeting

cleaning and securing kennels post-race meeting

escorting greyhounds to parade area

identifying greyhounds during pre-kennel inspections, prior to racing, after racing and prior to swabbing

supervising greyhounds and attendants during approved contact prior to racing

supervising post-race hosing and care of greyhounds

supervising stir-up

supervising weighing of greyhounds.

OHS hazards and risks may include:

contraction of zoonotic diseases

extremes of hot or cold weather

greyhounds biting, fighting or running into people

high levels of noise due to greyhounds barking

lifting greyhounds

trips, slips and falls

unsafe work practices

working in confined spaces.

Features considered to verify identification and health of greyhounds may include:

identification characteristics, including:

approximate age

colour

ear brands

greyhound authority issued identification certificates

other signalment, including:

nail colour

scars

whorls

sex

general characteristics of good health, including:

absence of skin disease

colour of conjunctiva

ease of movement when walking around inspection area

general attitude and interest in surroundings

reaction to flexion or extension of joints

reaction to light

reaction to palpation of external body structures.

Protocol and procedures when kennels are allocated may include:

individual kennels cannot be reserved for greyhounds

individual kennels within the race field are randomly allocated to greyhounds

lock and seal numbers are recorded for each kennel

race field kennel rows are allocated using a random selection procedure

race field kennels include all animals in a particular race

separate kennels are prepared and kept secure for greyhounds that are nominated for swabbing

swabbing kennels are allocated on a random basis then locked with an individual lock and seal.

Procedures to follow when greyhounds are escorted and secured in kennels will include:

a separate lock and numbered seal are attached once greyhound has been installed

a separate lock and seal are attached to gate enclosing the race field kennel row once all greyhounds have been installed

attendants may only visit greyhounds with the approval of stewards or kennel supervisor

attendants must be escorted to and from kennel by race meeting official

each greyhound and attendant must be escorted by a race meeting official to the allocated kennel, with the official observing the installation of the greyhound and ensuring bedding is compliant with the rules of racing.

Attendants are supervised during visits to kennels to:

ensure they do not give anything or do anything, or allow anyone else to give or do anything that could affect the greyhound's race performance or welfare.

Main features of the pre-race marshalling procedure include:

greyhound attendants are:

called to collect their greyhounds

allocated a jacket based on greyhound box draw

supervised as they bring greyhounds to marshalling area

greyhound collars, muzzles and leads are checked for compliance with rules as well as safe condition and fit

greyhound identification is verified

race rugs are allocated to greyhounds based on box draw.

Conduct of stir-up involves:

lure being operated within sight and sound of greyhounds to excite some greyhounds immediately prior to racing

greyhounds being held by their attendants during the stir-up in an allocated, usually fenced area

no greyhounds being allowed on the track during stir-up.

Empty-out procedures may include:

greyhound and attendant are kept under observation during empty-out and pre-race marshalling

greyhound attendant is escorted to kennel and area allocated for greyhounds to urinate or defecate.

Procedures of escorting greyhounds to race start include:

greyhounds and attendants are allocated and must wear race rugs and jackets that correspond to the greyhound box draw

greyhounds must stay in box draw order during the walk to the race start

if a greyhound stops for any reason, the rest of the field must also stop so that the race field is not spread out over a large distance

parade officials must assert their authority using effective communication skills to ensure greyhound attendants comply with parade procedures

race field must reach the race start area within allocated time frame to ensure greyhounds can be loaded so race starts are on time.

Features of distressed or ill greyhounds may include:

behavioural characteristics, including:

body curled, head lowered and tail between legs

general lack of interest in surroundings and/or lethargy

laying down and refusing to stand

unwilling to leave kennel area

physical characteristics of illness or distress, including:

convulsions

diarrhoea

discharge of blood

excessive panting or salivating

loss of consciousness

straining to pass urine or faeces without producing any material

vomiting

yelping or whimpering.

Features of injured greyhounds may include:

lack of coordination

laying down and refusing to stand

limping

reluctance to put limb to the ground

reluctance to walk.

Swabbing will include:

escorting greyhound and attendant from the time they are selected for swabbing until greyhound is installed in swab kennel and kennel is secured using individual lock and seal by a race meeting attendant

escorting greyhound and attendant to sample collection area

verifying greyhound identification prior to collecting samples

designated swabbing attendant or official collecting blood, urine and other samples from greyhounds

following procedures for collecting and storing samples.


Sectors

Unit Sector

Greyhound racing code


Employability Skills

This unit contains employability skills.


Licensing Information

Refer to Unit Descriptor