Elements and Performance Criteria

RANGE STATEMENT
The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole.
Signs of emergency disease or plant pest may include:
abnormality
clinical signs
high levels of morbidity in populations
mode of death
mortalities
presence of highly specific vectors
results of post-mortem examinations
symptoms and decline.
Emergency diseases or plant pests include:
diseases that may affect animals, fish and other marine animals, including:
disease that is exotic to Australia
serious infectious disease of unknown or uncertain cause
severe outbreak of a known endemic disease that is considered to be of national significance with serious social or trade implications
variant of an endemic disease
species, biotype or strain of invertebrate pest or pathogen injurious to plants or plant health.
Relevant standards and protocols may include:
approved standard operating procedures
commonwealth, state and territory legislation
emergency disease or plant pest specific guidelines, such as AUSVETPLAN or PLANTPLAN
other relevant guidelines for handling an emergency disease or plant pest
transportation of dangerous goods.
Appropriate measures to contain emergency diseases or plant pests may include:
decontaminating people, products, materials and premises
disposing of carcasses or plants and plant products
implementing movement controls
notifying appropriate authorities
quarantining one or more premises.
Relevant information may include:
clinical signs
disease history
epidemiology
livestock or crop data
owner/manager contact details
premises data
surveillance
tracing.

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 critical requirements for this unit of competency as a whole are listed below.
Assessment must confirm one's ability to:
follow work instructions
follow biosecurity and decontamination procedures
communicate findings to supervisor in a timely and accurate manner
communicate with property owner while observing confidentiality requirements.
Context of and specific resources for assessment
For valid assessment, one must have opportunities to participate in exercises, case studies and other real and simulated practical and knowledge assessments that demonstrate the skills and knowledge required to carry out field surveillance for a specific emergency disease or plant pest.

The candidate must also have access to the following resources:
standards, protocols and procedures, such as:
AUSVETPLAN or PLANTPLAN
operational plan and survey plan
personal protective and decontamination equipment.
Method of assessment
Assessment for this unit of competency is to be largely practical in nature and will most appropriately be assessed in an emergency disease or plant pest response simulation exercise or in responses to an emergency disease or plant pest incursion.
Guidance information for assessment
To ensure consistency in one's performance, competency should be demonstrated on more than one occasion over a period of time in order to cover a variety of circumstances, cases and responsibilities, and where possible, over a number of assessment activities.
The skills and knowledge required to carry out field surveillance for a specific emergency disease or plant pest must be transferable to a range of work environments and contexts, including the ability to deal with unplanned events. For example, this could include work with outbreaks of different emergency diseases or plant pest incursions and with possibly unfamiliar species.