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. Add any 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.


Dog profile refers to:
Information gathered on the health, population and condition of dogs


Benefits of conducting a dog profile may be:
To give an overall picture of a situation, and keep the community informed
To assist with the development of strategies to address dog health issues in the community
To maintain the health of the dogs
To prevent the spread of infection


Information gathered may include:
The number of dogs in each household/the community
Unhealthy/diseased and under-nourished dogs
Rogue or problem dogs
Dumped dogs


Reporting may include any number of the following range of variables:
Verbal in either first language or English
Written checklists/data collection in either first language or English, i.e. counting the number of dogs, sick dogs, undernourished dogs, etc. The numerical language chosen will be dependant upon the target group and whether or not the information gathered is to remain internally within the community or reported externally to other key people and outside agencies
Written notes in either first language or English
Photos of the condition/population of dogs in the community
Video recording the condition/population of dogs in the community


Information may be obtained from:
Veterinarians
Aboriginal Health Workers
Environmental Health Officers
Other specialists/experts
Books/resources if required


Strategies may include:
Informing dog owners/community about various strategies in relation to caring for dogs, e.g. nutritional food sources, the provision of clean/dry shelter, checking dogs for fleas, ticks, wounds, sores, mange, eye and ear infections, immunising and worming dogs, washing dogs, seeking help and support for sick dogs, etc.
Reducing the number of internal and external parasites, e.g. Dog Ivomec program
Dog sterilisation/contraception, e.g. Covinan to control population
Putting dogs down/euthanasia, e.g. Lethobarb, or by shooting


Informing dog owners/community about various strategies in relation to caring for dogs


Advantages may include:
Community control
Healthier and happier dogs in the community
Reduces the possibility of aggression and dog bites
Limits the spread of infection


Disadvantages may include:
Increased dog breeding rates as a result of improved health


Obstacles may include:
Cultural issues in relation to dog ownership
Inability to be able to afford to buy the necessary items to keep dogs healthy, e.g. nutritional food, medicated creams, eye and ear drops, worming tablets etc.
Inability to gain access to veterinarians when required as a result of remoteness


Dog program to reduce the number of internal and external parasites, i.e. Ivomec


Advantages may include:
Healthier and happier dogs in the community
Limits the spread of infection


Disadvantages may include:
Increased dog breeding rates due to improved health
More competition and aggression between male dogs for female dogs in the community, leading to an increased number of dog wounds, and the possibility of wounds becoming infected


Obstacles may include:
Gaining access to Ivomec and the equipment needed to run a dog Ivomec program
Needs to be ongoing, approximately every 3 month


Dog sterilisation (spays castration)/contraception, i.e.: Covinan to control population


Advantages may include:
Controls the dog population
Avoids multiple litters
Avoids disposal of unwanted/excessive numbers of pups


Disadvantages may include:
Expensive
The Covinan injection that is currently given as a means female contraception can sting the dog causing unwanted aggression towards the handlers


Obstacles may include:
The community will need the assistance of a qualified veterinarian for sterilisation/contraceptive procedures, sometimes for up to one or two weeks. This can present obstacles, e.g. transport and labour costs, accommodation for the veterinarian whilst they are in the community etc.
Covinan as a means of contraception for female dogs needs to be given every 5 months which can sometimes present difficulties with finding the same dog twice
Difficulties with correct timing in relation to administering Covinan, i.e. it needs to be given to dogs before they go on heat (at approximately 7 months of age), and it is not to be given to dogs if they are pregnant


Putting dogs down/euthanasia i.e. Lethobarb


Advantages may include:
Ends a dogs suffering, misery, and pain


Disadvantages may include:
Cultural issues
It can be very emotional and stressful for the dog owner


Obstacles may include:
If chemical injections such as Lethobarb are to be used, the assistance of qualified veterinarians, or other people with permits to administer the drug will be required. Access to people who are qualified can present obstacles for some remote communities


Key people or agencies may include:
Environmental Health Officers
Other environmental health worker
Aboriginal Health Workers
Veterinarians
Specialists/experts
Poisons branch


Relevant others/community members may include:
Aboriginal Health Workers
Other clinic staff
Dog owners
Householders
Community members
Elders and traditional owners


Organisation may refer to:
Community council
Community clinic
Other employer bodies/agencies


Contributions to the coordination of the plan may include:
Seeking community support for the plan
Ordering in supplies and equipment, e.g. Ivomec, dispenser guns, marker spray paint etc.
Networking and liaising with veterinarians, aboriginal health workers environmental health officers, other specialists/experts
Informing the community about the times and dates for any proposed programs
Organising the assistance of other helpers to aid with the handling of the dogs if required


Assistance with the delivery of a dog health and/or population control program may include:
Talking to dog owners/community members about strategies to care for their dogs if required
Talking to dog owners/community members about the causes of disease, and the possibilities of transmission between animals and humans
Talking to dog owners about treatment for specific dogs in the household/community, e.g. how many to be given Ivomec, which dogs to be put down, sterilised (spays/castration) contraception etc
Negotiating options with dog owners if required
Handling dogs as required
Marking dogs who have been treated
Disposing of dogs who are put down
Assisting the veterinarian with sterilisation/contraceptive procedures if required
Assisting veterinarian, EHO with measuring out dosages of Ivomec (usually onto bread) and giving treatment to dogs in conjunction with dog owners


Results may refer to:
Number of dogs treated
Number of people informed about the diseases affecting their animals
Method and type of treatment
Problems such as aggressive dogs that were unable to be treated etc.


Follow up measures may include:
Giving Ivomec treatment to dogs every 3 months
Assisting with the administration of Covinan every 5 months
Identifying and monitoring the location of female dogs being treated with Covinan in the community to ensure that they are easily found when required
Talking to the community/dog owners about strategies for ongoing care of their dogs
Monitoring dog diseases or deaths in the community, especially outbreaks
Checking up on dogs after vet visits, e.g. dogs needing ongoing medication, or those just operated on. This information can then be feed back to the vet, as problems can quite often be dealt with over the phone and medication sent if the vet has already seen the animal


Success of the plan may refer to:
Reduction in the number of sick dogs in the community
Reduction and/or the stabilising of population
Increased community awareness in relation to strategies to care for their dogs
Reduction of transmissible diseases


Reporting methods may be:
Verbally in either first language or English
Written in either first language or English, e.g. notes, written reports etc.


Feedback may be through:
Photos of the condition/population of dogs in the community
Video recording the condition/population of dogs in the community
Verbally in either first language or English depending on the target group and who the feedback is being provided to, i.e. the employing organisation, community or relevant others
Written in either first language or English

EVIDENCE GUIDE

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the Performance Criteria, Required Skills and Knowledge, the Range Statement and the Assessment Guidelines for this Training Package.

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate this competency unit:
The individual being assessed must provide evidence of specified essential knowledge as well as skills
Collaborative approach from the organisation, community, dog owners, indigenous environmental health workers, environmental health officers, and other key people/specialists in order to implement the plan effectively
Competency must be assessed in relation to the strategies which the community has chosen to be implemented as part of the plan
Consistency in performance should consider the nature and extent of problems in relation to dog health/population
Consistency in performance should consider wide range of strategies in relation to the management of dog health and/or population
Cultural activities should also be taken into consideration, i.e. people leaving the community with their dogs to visit relatives in other communities, or to attend sporting events, football carnivals etc.
As a result of these possible contingencies, this unit needs to be assessed on more than one occasion and is best assessed over a period of time in order to monitor the success of the strategy(s) implemented as part of the plan


Access and equity considerations:
All workers in the health industry should be aware of access and equity issues in relation to their own area of work
All workers should develop their ability to work in a culturally diverse environment
In recognition of particular health issues facing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, workers should be aware of cultural, historical and current issues impacting on health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
Assessors and trainers must take into account relevant access and equity issues, in particular relating to factors impacting on health of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander clients and communities


Context of and specific resources for assessment:
This unit is best assessed on the job
The identification of strategies in relation to dog health can be assessed both on or off the job
Access required to:
a phone/fax (to assess competency in networking and liaising with veterinarians, environmental health officers, and other specialists/experts)
equipment and supplies in accordance with the strategy(s) to be implemented, and job role (to assess competency in delivery of a dog health and population control program)
books and resources if required


Note:
The worker will receive training/written approval from a veterinarian, Environmental Health Officers, or other people qualified to administer schedule 4 drugs, i.e. Ivomec during this unit
This can then be given to the poisons registrar to enable them to obtain Ivomec, and deliver follow up procedures for the Ivomec program on their own