Elements and Performance Criteria

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.
Assessing the situation may include:
the consideration of:
members of the public and their safety
safety of self and team members
safety and welfare of the animal to be seized
environment:
open space
public facility
residential property
roads
circumstances:
an aggressive animal
crowded place
time of day
provision for backup if required
type, size and number of animals to be seized
health and wellbeing of animals to be seized
making a decision, in consultation with supervisor, veterinarian or others, as to whether the animal should be destroyed during the seizure process.
The purpose of seizing an animal may include:
an animal may be seized:
to ensure safety to the community or to the animal itself (e.g. due to an animal's aggressive behaviour)
for legislative reasons:
animal wandering at large
attacks
breach of seizure orders.
Equipment may include:
bribes (e.g. food)
bridles and headstalls
catch poles
cages
collars and leads
halters and harnesses
nets
ropes
shackles
snake bags
protective clothing including gloves
traps.

Firearms, chemicals or drugs should not be used as part of this unit of competency.
Safe work practices may include:
use of personal protective clothing and equipment appropriate to the type of animal
protocols:
animal hazard management and identification
animal handling (e.g. lifting and securing)
seizure and transportation.
OHS risks when working with animals may include:
animal bites, envenomation, kicks, scratches and crush injuries
biological hazardous waste
inhalation of aerosol particles
intraocular contamination
manual handling, including carrying, lifting and shifting
moving parts of machinery or equipment
release of infective agents (animal and human)
slippery or uneven work surfaces
zoonoses.
Possible destinations may include:
pounds
return to owner
shelters
RSPCA
veterinary clinic for veterinary care and assistance
wildlife carer.
Types of restraintsdo not include:
firearms, chemicals or drugs as part of this unit of competency.

EVIDENCE GUIDE
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:
assess a situation to determine an appropriate plan for seizure and transport of animals
minimise risks to animals, self, bystanders and the public
handle and restrain animals in a safe and humane manner
seize animals using equipment appropriate to the animal and the task
assess animals for injury and/or health issues
apply basic first aid as required
load, transport and unload animals using safe work practices
access and use management systems to keep and maintain accurate records.

The skills and knowledge required to assess and impound animals 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 control and regulation workplace or in a situation that reproduces normal work conditions.

There must be access to the appropriate equipment and/or resources 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 more than one occasion over a period of time in order to cover a variety of circumstances, cases and responsibilities 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).