Elements and Performance Criteria

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.
Institutional standard operating procedures may include:
institution’s quality assurance manual and procedures including:
biosecurity
OHS
recycling and re-use guidelines
restraint, handling, humane killing and disposal of animals
embryo culture
use, storage and transport of equipment and drugs during procedures
waste disposal
project objectives and production schedules.
Procedures that require Animal Ethics Committee (AEC) approval may include:
anaesthetic
re-derivation
super-ovulation induction
surgical
any other procedure that may impact on the animal’s health and wellbeing.
Relevant legislative requirements may include:
Australian Code of Practice for the Care and Use of Animals for Scientific Purposes
Gene Technology Act 2000
relevant state or territory legislation and regulations such as those relating to:
animal research
animal welfare
prevention of cruelty to animals
quarantine
the practice of veterinary surgery
the administration and storage of therapeutic and controlled substances.
OHS risks associated with animal technician procedures may include:
animal bites or scratches
biological hazardous waste and sharps disposal
handling of chemicals and medicines
waste anaesthetic gas leakage
inhalation of aerosol particles
intraocular contamination
manual handling including carrying, lifting and shifting
needle pricks and cuts from other sharps
release of infective agents (animal and human)
scalds and burns from sterilising and cleaning equipment
zoonoses.
Breeding program may include:
information about:
the number of breeders required
selection criteria for breeders and retiring breeders
breeding system to be used for example:
inbred
outbred
backcross
genotype
fostering requirements, identification system to be used
record system to be used e.g. computer, cards, books
data to be collected about production rates e.g. numbers born and sex rations
weaning rate.
PPE may include:
appropriate footwear
optical aids and protective eyewear
laboratory gowns, caps, masks, boots and gloves.
Health status considerations may include:
animal health checks including:
general health and condition
behaviour
respiration
temperature
bodyweight
sentinel testing of mouse colonies.
Anaesthetic, analgesics and equipment may include:
anaesthesia agents
anaesthetic equipment and supplies:
anaesthetic machines and trolleys
filters
gas cylinders
incubators
scavenging systems
tubes
vaporisers
surgical instruments and equipment:
cautery instruments
forceps
needles
needle holders
resection clamps
scalpels
scissors
sutures
wound clips.
Preparation for aseptic surgery may include:
clipping
preoperative skin preparation routines
further preparation may extend to administration of necessary premedication including analgesics.
Monitoring during recovery may include:
continued monitoring of vital signs
detection of pain and distress
positioning of patient recumbency in consideration of recovery phase and surgical site
prevention of hypothermia and hypotension.
Stages of oestrus cycle may include:
induced ovulation species
dioestrus
metoestrus
oestrus
proestrus
detection of vaginal plugs in female mice.
Preparation for super-ovulation may include:
selection of strain and age of donor mice
re-constitution and dilution of super-ovulatory hormones
administration of super-ovulatory hormones to mice
timing of administration of super-ovulatory hormones.
Embryo preparations for transfer may include:
selection of recipient females
breeding of recipient mice with vasectomised males
checking of vaginal plugs after breeding with vasectomised males
preparing equipment including construction and treatment of embryo transfer pipettes
packing and sterilising surgical instruments
preparing anaesthetic equipment
loading embryo transfer pipettes.

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.
Overview of assessment

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit
The evidence required to demonstrate competence 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. Assessors should ensure that candidates can:
comply with institutional protocols, policies and procedures including Animal Ethics Committee and legislative requirements including OHS at all times
read and verify breeding program requirements
identify, verify health status and prepare suitable animals for embryo collection and embryo transfer procedures
under supervision conduct embryo collection and transfer procedures for re-derivation purposes
monitor the health and welfare of animals during and after procedures and provide appropriate care
maintain and update records in accordance with regulatory and project documentation requirements.

The skills and knowledge required to assist to collect and transfer embryos of mice must be transferable to a range of work environments and contexts and include the ability to deal with unplanned events.
Context of and specific resources for assessment
Assessment of this unit is to be practical in nature and will be most appropriately assessed in an animal research or production facility or an environment that simulates normal work conditions that has a scientific establishment licence and access to an approved Animal Ethics Committee.

There must be access to a range of research animals and the relevant information, materials and documentation to enable one to demonstrate competence.
Method of assessment
To ensure consistency in one’s performance, competency should be demonstrated, to industry defined standards, on at least two occasions over a period of time in order to cover a variety of circumstances and over a number of assessment activities.

The assessment strategy must include practical skills assessment. Suggested strategies for this unit are:
written and/or oral assessment of candidate’s required knowledge
observed, documented and first-hand testimonial evidence of candidate’s application of practical tasks
simulation exercises that reproduce normal work conditions
case study analysis
third-party evidence
workplace documentation
portfolio.

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