Elements and Performance Criteria

The Range of Variables explains the range of contexts within which the performance and knowledge requirements of this unit may be assessed. The scope of variables chosen in training and assessment may depend on the work contexts.

What is meant by companion animals?
Companion animals are those kept domestically as pets and may include animals from any of the six major animal groups (fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, mammals and invertebrates).

What types of risk may have to be assessed?
Risks that might be assessed include escape, the safety of animals and people during the capture process, aggressive animal behaviour, and stress and injury to the target animal and / or other animals in close proximity.

What types of capture techniques and equipment may be used?
Techniques may include the use of a hood, separation from a group, enticement devices, lassoing and herding.
Equipment may include catch poles, nets, ropes, bags, visual barriers, leads, chains, collars and head halters.

What types of transport housing may be prepared?
Transport housing may include transfer or crush cages, bags, padded containers, pouches and containers suitable for holding water. The strength, comfort and material selected for transport housing should be appropriate to animals' requirements.

What is meant by a safe and humane manner?
This may include appropriate use of restraints for animals, correct use of personal protective equipment (PPE), observing stress to the animal, allocating sufficient time to the process and considering animals' welfare at all times.

What type of OHS and emergency procedures would be relevant in this context?
Animal care for companion animals has a range of associated risks from bites, envenomation, kicks or scratches. All duties should reflect an awareness of and a respect for these risks.
The handling of chemicals and drugs requires extra care to ensure safe work practices are maintained.
Safe work practices are used in packaging and handling loads including animals and equipment. Appropriate safe handling techniques are used to reduce muscle load on exertion.
Companion animal facilities such as pet shops, aquaria and boarding kennels and catteries expose personnel to risks such as zoonoses, release of infective agents (both animal and human) and chemical or drug spillage.
Procedures to reduce the spread of disease may include incident reporting, cleaning, removal of waste and spillage, containment or elimination of risk, PPE and seeking advice from supervisor.
Emergency procedures would relate to the potential escape of an animal or injury to target animals, other animals, staff and potentially the public.

What are indicators of stress in an animal?
Indicators of stress may include trembling, vocalisation and being off food or docile.

What may be part of the relocation procedures?
Relocation procedures may include immediate food and water requirements on arrival at destination, future diet requirements, housing at destination and an introduction process to people and other animals.

What are the critical aspects of evidence required for this unit of competency as a whole?
The critical requirements that are valuable for this unit of competency as a whole are listed below.

Assessment must confirm one's ability to:

select the appropriate technique and equipment to capture and restrain a range of companion animals
prepare the correct type of transport container
capture selected animals safely and humanely
communicate effectively with clients in respect to animals' transportation and initial settling in requirements.

What specific knowledge is needed to achieve the performance criteria?

Knowledge and understanding are essential to apply this unit of competency in the workplace, to transfer the skills to other contexts and to deal with unplanned events. The knowledge requirements for this unit of competency are listed below and include:

organisational policies and procedures, including OHS and emergency procedures
relevant legislation, including animal welfare and ethics
behaviour and physiology of typical companion animals
appropriate capture and restraint methods for different animals
maintaining capture and restraint equipment
species compatibility
transport housing requirements
dietary requirements before, during and after transport .

What specific skills are needed to achieve the performance criteria?

To achieve the performance criteria, some complementary skills are required. These skills include:

ability to capture and restrain animals
ability to implement organisational policies and procedures
ability to use safe and humane handling techniques
ability to identify transport containers appropriate to animals' requirements
ability to maintain tools, equipment and transport containers in accordance with manufacturers' specifications
literacy skills to read and follow OHS and waste management procedures and other organisational policies and procedures; select and apply the procedures to perform a range of defined tasks; follow sequenced written instructions; and record accurately and legibly the information collected
oral communication skills / language competence to fulfil the job role as specified by the organisation including questioning techniques, active listening, asking for clarification from supervisor and consulting with supervisor
numeracy skills to complete arithmetic calculations
interpersonal skills to work with and relate to people from a range of cultural, social and religious backgrounds
problem-solving skills to use available resources and prioritise daily tasks.

What are the specific resource implications for this unit of competency?
For valid assessment, one
an appropriate companion animal workplace or an environment that reproduces normal work conditions
equipment and resources normally used in the workplace including a range of companion animal species and breeds
handling and restraint equipment
transport housing or containers
organisational policies and procedures, including OHS
relevant legislation.

What considerations should there be for consistency in performance?
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

What considerations should there be for context of assessment?
Assessment for this unit of competency is to be largely practical in nature and will be most appropriately assessed in a companion animal workplace or in a situation that reproduces normal work conditions.
There must be access in either situation to the appropriate equipment and / or resources to enable one to demonstrate competency.

Are there other units of competency that could be assessed with this one?
This unit of competency

There are a number of processes that are learnt throughout work and life which are required in all jobs. They are fundamental processes and generally transferable to other work functions. Some of these are covered by the key competencies, although others may be added. The questions below highlight how these processes are applied in this unit of competency. Following each question a number in brackets indicates the level to which the key competency needs to be demonstrated where 0 = not required, 1 = perform the process, 2 = perform and administer the process and 3 = perform, administer and design the process.
Communicating ideas and information
By discussing capture and restraint processes with the supervisorsand team members. (1)

Collecting analysing and organising information
By analysing a range of information to determine the correct capture and restraint technique. (2)

Planning and organising activities
By planning capture and restraint procedures. (2)

Working with others and in teams
By working with others on agreed tasks. (2)

Using mathematical ideas and techniques
By using arithmetic calculations when calculating transportation requirements. (1)

Solving problems
By analysing the behavioural and physical requirements of animals and determining the best approach to capture. (1)

Using technology
By using electronic databases and the Internet for accessing information. (1)