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.
Medication classes relate to:
the national Standard for the Uniform Scheduling of Drugs and Poisons (SUSDP), a document which aims to standardise the scheduling and packaging/labelling of substances throughout Australia.

Note: Differences do exist in the regulation of drugs and poisons between Australian states and territories.
Safety precautions may include:
hazard identification, risk minimisation and workplace procedures for:
animal bites, kicks and scratches
biological hazardous waste and sharps disposal
handling, use, storage, transport and disposal of chemicals and medicines
inhalation of aerosol particles
manual handling, including carrying, lifting and shifting
needle pricks and cuts from other sharps
control of the release of infective agents (animal and human)
transmission of zoonotic diseases
use of relevant personal protective equipment.
Products and services may include:
dietary needs:
feeding and watering frequency and rates
supplements that may be required according to current animal status
types and quantities of commonly available feedstuffs, their preparation and presentation
grooming and cleaning requirements
handling procedures and equipment
health check-up frequency and procedures
diseases of animals that will require medication:
bacterial, viral and fungal infections
parasite and pest control
potential hazards to specific animal species
techniques used to minimise trauma during rehousing and socialising with other animals where relevant and humans
temperature, climate and habitat needs of specific animal species
animal handling equipment
animal housing and furniture
boarding and holiday care services
books, DVDs and other information sources
feeding equipment, implements and products
filtration systems
parasite control products
transportation equipment and services
veterinary and other products and services.
Information sources may include:
company representatives and advice service
industry associations
library resources
Medical Information Management System (MIMS) and other veterinary medication reference sources
product brochures and material safety data sheets (MSDS)
supervisor and other workplace staff
validated internet sites.
Metabolic processes may include:
activity features of nominated animals, related energy needs and processes
food ingestion, digestion processes and nutritional needs
integument features and effect of topical applications
respiration methods
temperature regulation.
Methods of administration may include:
oral :
nutritional supplements
pain medications
parasite control
eye and ear medications
topical applications:
external parasite washes
skin condition medications
wound treatments
water treatment and medications for birds, amphibians and fish.
Animal history information may include:
age
behaviour issues (if any)
breed
diet
exercise routine
housing type and location
injuries
known allergies
known health problems
parasite and other health condition control and prevention treatments
reason for consultation or inquiry
sex
vaccination status.
Effective listening and research skills may include:
listening skills:
asking both open ended and closed questions
clarifying what has been said
focusing on the issue at hand by drawing speaker's attention back to the information needed
prioritising information for significance and urgency of issue
recognising possible stress and anxiety being experienced by speaker and responding to their concerns whilst still following workplace protocols and priorities
separating emotional responses from facts
summarising what has been said and verifying understanding of information
research skills:
developing networks
identifying valid sources of information
recognising the importance of currency of information for particular issues
using animal care industry recognised sources of information.

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 competence 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:
differentiate between credible and unreliable information sources
identify precautions, active ingredients and other information that may be relevant to hazards and risk management issues in the care and treatment of animals and OHS considerations for staff
interpret medication and other items directions, dose rates and method of administration
prepare medication and treatment doses
take an animal history and document information using industry protocols and procedures.

The skills and knowledge required to source information for animal care needs 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 care workplace or in a situation that reproduces normal work conditions. Workplaces can include pet shops, aquariums, breeding or boarding kennels and catteries, aviaries, companion animal training or grooming establishments or veterinary practices.

There must be access to a range of products and types of services as well as relevant information, equipment and/or resources 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 and where possible, over a number of assessment activities.

The assessment strategy 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
third-party evidence
workplace documentation
portfolio.

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).