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.
Emergency situations may include:
natural or human disasters:
building destruction
drought, flood or earthquakes
fire, fuel and/or chemical spillage
life threatening disease or biohazard
trauma:
cardiac arrest
exhaustion due to exercise or workload
exposure to climatic conditions
electrocution
fight or flight response
non-infectious diseases (e.g. diabetes and respiratory)
poisoning
respiratory distress
road accidents.
Hazards may include:
animal:
size
number
temperament
behaviour
fire, gas, fumes and electrical situations
injuries
lack of oxygen
proximity of other people and animals
vehicles and machinery.
Risks may include:
risks to self, bystanders and public:
animal attempting to escape
bites, scratches and wounds associated with animal handling
envenomation
kicks and crushes associated with animal handling
lifting and moving animals
zoonoses
risks to animals:
animal being harmed further (going into shock) as a result of human intervention
animal trying to escape and causing itself further injuries.
Animals may include:
animals commonly encountered within the industry workplace and may cover both native and introduced species
animals from the six major animal groups (mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish and invertebrates).
Physical condition and vital signs may include:
physical condition:
broken bones
burns
lacerations
other injuries, trauma and medical conditions
scratches
vital signs:
hydration status
pulse rates
respiration
temperature.
Basic first aid care may include:
stop bleeding
administer oxygen
minimise impact of shock by keeping animal quiet, warm and away from activity or noise
immobilise limb injuries, if soft tissue damage or fractures are suspected, if possible
hose or apply water, if available, in cases of burns or heat exhaustion
administration of emetics or antidotes under instruction if appropriate
feeding or watering as advised
transporting animal to veterinary assistance as soon as possible.
First aidassistance may include:
veterinarian
wildlife carer
ranger or supervisor.
OHS procedures may include:
safe work method statements (SWMS) covering:
cleaning, removal of waste and spillage, containment or elimination of risk
emergency procedures:
potential escape of an animal
injury to an animal or other animals, staff and potentially the public
handling animals
hazard identification and risk minimisation
procedures for the handling, use, storage, transport and disposal of chemicals
manual handling techniques
procedures for the handling and disposal of biological wastes
controlling the spread of disease, infection control and biohazard management
incident reporting
seeking advice from supervisors
referring to material safety data sheets (MSDS)
use of personal protective equipment.
Personal protective equipment may include:
animal restraint devices:
collars
halters
harnesses
leads
communication equipment
infection control equipment
protective clothing i:
animal handling gauntlets
boots, gloves, goggles and helmet
sun or wet weather protection from heat or cold
protection from animal scratches and bites
protection from terrain, chemical spills or other hazards
safety lines and harnesses.

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:
assess an emergency situation
determine hazards and minimise risk to self, bystanders, the public and the animal
apply basic first aid and care to animals
seek assistance during the application of first aid
communicate effectively with others and follow instructions.

The skills and knowledge required to provide basic first aid for animals 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, breeding or boarding kennels and catteries, aviaries, companion animal training, grooming establishments, animal shelters, zoos, mobile animal facilities and veterinary practices.

There must be access to a range of animals as well as relevant information, equipment and/or resources to enable one to demonstrate competence.Assessment must cover a minimum of one species from at least two of the six major animal groups (mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish and invertebrates).

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).