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.
Subject to facility requirements animals may include:
on most occasions the animal species will be common laboratory animals:
guinea pigs
mice
rabbits
rats
on some occasions animal species may include:
amphibians, fish and reptiles
dogs and cats
fish
invertebrates
livestock (e.g. sheep, cattle and pigs)
native wildlife (e.g. marsupials and birds)
primates
poultry.
Principles of 3Rs are:
replace the animals in research with non-animal alternatives
reduce the number of animals used in experiments
refine scientific procedures and animal husbandry to minimise suffering.
Reasons to conduct euthanasia may include:
accidents
cull of production
environmental failure; fire or other trauma
excessive aggression
meeting the requirements of product quality assurance
outbreak of disease
reaching the end point of research
the need to alleviate uncontrollable pain and distress.
Legislation requirements that impact on the euthanasia of animals include:
approval from the institution's AEC
local government regulations covering the transport and disposal of hazardous wastes
relevant codes of practice, including the Australian Code of Practice for the Care and Use of Animals for Scientific Purposes
relevant state or territory legislation and regulations such as those relating to:
firearms usage
fisheries
prevention of cruelty to animals
quarantine
the practice of veterinary surgery
the administration and storage of therapeutic and controlled substances
wildlife.
Animal ethics and welfare requirements include:
adhering to the responsible care and use of animals by providing for its needs in a reasonable way:
adequate food and water
appropriate accommodation or living conditions
handling animals humanely
the display of normal behavioural patterns
treatment of disease and injury
providing standards for animal care and use that:
achieve a reasonable balance between the welfare of animals and the interests of people whose livelihood is dependent on animals
allow for the effect of advancements in scientific knowledge about animal biology and changes in community expectations about practices involving animals
protect animals from unjustifiable, unnecessary, or unreasonable pain (e.g. cruelty)
Containment and exclusion sites include:
containment site is the physical location where the organism is being controlled and confined
exclusion site is the physical location from which organisms are to be excluded:
institution premises or parts of the premises
isolation areas or sick bays
laboratories
research animal holding or breeding facilities
whole farms or parts of a farm.
Containment and exclusion may apply to:
genetically modified organisms
gnotobiotic
infectious microbiological organisms
physical
specific pathogen free.
Institute standard operating procedures may include:
AS/NZ 2243.3:2002: Safety in laboratories - Microbiological aspects and containment facilities
institution's quality assurance manual and procedures:
biosecurity
OHS
recycling and re-use guidelines
waste disposal
product labels and manufacturers specifications, including material safety data sheets (MSDS)
project objectives and production schedules
relevant state and territory legislation and regulations relating to the practice of veterinary science, quarantine, animal welfare and research
requirements of the Office of the Gene Technology Regulator in line with the Federal Gene Technology Act
work and routine maintenance plans.
Records to be kept may include:
breeding program records
genetic constitution
infection control records
health status
environmental variables
fate of animals
staff training and rosters
monitoring animal health and wellbeing and other species-specific records.

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 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. Assessors should ensure that candidates can:
provide advice to and monitor staff on a range of procedural work functions relating to animal technology workplace compliance requirements
ensure that the organisation and all staff complies with relevant legislative requirements
manage the use, care and containment of animals to be used in research programs
manage the euthanasia of research animals and monitor staff performing euthanasia procedures
review, improve and implement the institution's policies and procedures to ensure compliance
manage relationships and communicate effectively with a range of stakeholders
maintain accurate records using relevant institutional electronic and/or manual systems.

The skills and knowledge required to manage compliance in animal technology 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 technology research facility or an environment that reproduces normal work conditions and has a scientific establishment licence and access to an approved AEC.

There must be access to relevant information, materialsand 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 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 strategies 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.

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).