Application
This unit of competency supports licensed and registered personnel and others in the greyhound racing industry who may be required to act as starters for greyhound race meetings as part of their job function. |
Elements and Performance Criteria
ELEMENT | PERFORMANCE CRITERIA |
Prepare for race starts. | 1. Race fields and distances are confirmed. 2. Past problems with particular greyhounds during race starts are noted. 3. Operation of start boxes and other equipment is confirmed prior to commencement of race meeting. 4. Contingency plans are arranged in case of malfunction in start equipment. 5. Rules of racing relating to starting a race are defined and complied with. 6. OHS and racing safety protocols and procedures associated with the start of a race are complied with. |
Start greyhound race. | 7. Race start time is confirmed with stewards. 8. Box positions are verified and handlers directed to load greyhounds within time and safety constraints. 9. Incidents are managed to minimise risk of injury to staff and greyhounds, and are reported to stewards and/or veterinarian. 10. Non-starters are declared after conferring with stewards. 11. Permission to start race is confirmed with stewards. 12. Race start is initiated once final greyhound is boxed. |
Complete post-race duties. | 13. Loading and start reports are provided to stewards. 14. Notes on problems with starters are updated for personal records. 15. Boxes and other start equipment are checked for damage and/or maintenance requirements prior to shutting down. 16. Repairs or maintenance requirements are reported to race club. |
Required Skills
Required skills |
applying safe handling and work practices when dealing with greyhounds communicating with race meeting staff, stewards, licensed and registered personnel and others using assertive communication techniques to gather, interpret and relay information related to greyhound racing starts completing duties in accordance with safe operating procedures and nominated time frame complying with animal welfare legislation evaluating risks associated with race meeting starts 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 starter operating starting box equipment in accordance with safe operating and race day procedures 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 starting procedures recognising damaged or defective gear 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 working in a high pressure environment written communication skills to complete workplace documentation and reports. |
Required knowledge |
approved gear common features of injury, illness and distress in greyhounds communication procedures within the race meeting and wider racing industry equipment used in work role and procedures for its operation and maintenance greyhound handling and controlling techniques OHS and environmental legislative requirements organisational policies and procedures positive and effective communication strategies used to work with a team, deal with conflicts and resolve disputes racing industry animal welfare requirements racing industry safety requirements, including safe operating procedures relevant rules of racing reporting requirements for irregularities and problems. |
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 starting greyhound races implementation of procedures and timely techniques for the safe, effective and efficient application of race starting 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 start greyhound races safe handling and approved race starting 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. | |
Past problems with particular greyhounds may include: | greyhound: attempts to fight with other dogs charges forward is reluctant to move into boxes pulls sideways. |
Operation of start boxes and other equipment may include: | boxes are clean back doors are working properly lids are set properly lids open properly nine, ten and blank magnets are available red and green lights are working spare muzzles are available trip start is working. |
Rules of racing in relation to race starts may include: | box draw and withdrawal after box draw failing to pursue the lure fighting greyhounds suffering injury or condition judge's decision lure driver, lure starting point and lure distance to leading greyhound no race, false start, postponement or abandonment of event unsatisfactory performance. |
OHS and racing safety protocols and procedures may include: | adhering to responsibilities under OHS legislation and workplace practices adhering to responsibilities under national and state codes of practice; federal, state and territory legislation; and local government regulations covering animal welfare adhering to rules of racing and rules of the race venue considering variables that influence behaviour of greyhounds, such as: fences and equipment lure, wind and noise other persons or animals vehicles contributing to development of risk control measures following safe work practices following accident and injury procedures identifying and reporting unsafe work practices identifying race start hazards, including: broken start equipment gear breakage injury to staff, attendant or greyhound loose greyhound identifying emergency situations understanding individual greyhound behaviour wearing approved personal protective equipment. |
Incidents may include: | delayed race start greyhound turning in box injured greyhound loose greyhound faulty equipment or box operation. |
Reports are provided to stewards: | 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 | Greyhound racing code |
Employability Skills
This unit contains employability skills. |
Licensing Information
Refer to Unit Descriptor