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 in the performance criteria is detailed below.

The range statement provides details of how this competency can be used in the workplaces of the racing industry to select greyhounds for racing. Workplaces include greyhound kennels and racecourses, training tracks and public areas.
Profiling a greyhound may include:
assessment of pedigree and performance of close relatives
conformation evaluation
health and injury status
performance if any of nominated greyhound.
Characteristics of greyhound types include:
climate adaptability
greyhounds that prefer to lead versus those who prefer to cover
race greyhound types include:
all weather runners versus particular weather specialists
distance versus sprinting types
track direction preferences
track type preferences
temperament and ability to settle into training and racing
variations in behaviour and management requirements based on sex and age.
Features of conformation may include:
balance and proportion of body
conformational faults that may affect racing performance
front leg structural features
hind leg structural features
structural features of feet and toes.
Racing program aims may include:
longer term performance in feature races
race class
race distance
race location, including:
country
metropolitan
provincial.
Pedigree information may include:
dam line pedigree styles
methods used in pedigrees to identify race performance, such as black type
sire line pedigree styles
suffix details commonly used in pedigrees for greyhounds, for example import country
terminology used in describing the relationship between ancestors and other relations for greyhounds.
Racing breeding theories may include:
dangers of close or inbreeding, or breeding from animals with known inherited faults
line breeding and outcrossing
influence of dam on progeny performance
influence of environment on performance potential
influence of sire on progeny performance
race records and statistical information.
Features of prominent racing lines may include:
consistency of type within progeny of nominated sire or dam
consistency of race performance of nominated sire or dam, for example producers of early winners
current successful dams based on:
dam's race record
number of pups to race
number of winners to starters
prize money earned by progeny
current successful sires based on:
number of runners for winners
number of winners to starters
prize money earned by progeny
sire's race record
sale price of pups
race performance of related progeny within a three generation pedigree
reputation of dog as producer of successful brood bitches.
Options for racing greyhounds may include:
racing as an owner-trainer
leasing greyhounds to race
syndicating greyhounds to race
purchasing a share in a greyhound
purchasing a greyhound and engaging a trainer
selecting a greyhound with racing performance versus selecting a pup
breeding a greyhound to race.
Health and fitness priorities may include:
free of inherited abnormalities that may affect performance or general health
respiratory soundness
structural soundness
metabolic efficiency
seeking specialist advice, including:
veterinary advice and testing, such as:
blood test
endoscope
racing fitness testing
suitability for racing assessment
x-ray
trainer advice.
Options for greyhound's future may include:
changing racing location to change:
climate
quality of competition
racing direction
changing trainer
retiring greyhound from racing
selecting appropriate race distance
selecting appropriate race type, such as country versus metropolitan start
spelling greyhound.
Greyhound's future may include:
ensuring adequate provision is made for feed, water, shelter, exercise and companionship if greyhound is to be retired
euthanasing greyhound with serious injuries or poor prognosis
identifying potential other uses for greyhound that is retired from racing, such as:
companion animals
re-homing program
pets as therapy
leasing greyhound to other racing team
selling greyhound to other racing home
sending greyhound to stud.

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.
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 processes that are to apply when determining a greyhound's suitability for racing
preparation and timely application of criteria for the safe, effective and efficient selection of greyhounds for racing or alternative future options
working with others to select greyhounds for racing that meet required outcomes.
Evidence should be collected over a period of time and be focused on selection and decision making processes applying to a range of greyhounds of different ages and sexes, at different stages of their racing career. Theoretical components can be assessed in a simulated situation but must be related to racing industry conditions and contexts.
Context of and specific resources for assessment
Competency may be assessed in an actual workplace or simulated environment 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.
This unit includes practical aspects as well as the research, interpretation and evaluation of data. 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
breeding or commercial racing kennels
materials and equipment relevant to assessing candidate's ability to assess conformation, pedigree and race type features of greyhounds for racing
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
inspection of completed work
simulation exercises.
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.
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).