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 in the performance criteria is detailed below.

The range statement provides details of how this competency can be used in the workplaces of the harness racing industry to assess the skills required to prepare for race driving. Workplaces include harness stables and racecourses, training tracks and public areas.
Industry jargon and abbreviations will include:
terminology related to:
action and behaviour of horses during race
age and experience of horses
inquiries into the running of races
position in a race
protests
race classes
race finish position of runners
race incidents
stages of a race
track conditions.
Factors that can affect race outcomes may include:
barrier draws
fitness of horse and level of education
interference
race strategies
race tempo
wheels locking.
Reports may include:
form guides
form reports produced by specialists
internet
live race observations
race books
steward reports
verbal reports from drivers, trainers or others
videos.
Individual horse's racing style may include:
coming from behind
first up race form
front runners
number of starts per preparation
score-up and start manners
sprint and staying race behaviour.
Applying for a license may include:
age of applicant
driving skill assessments
license class requirements.
Rules related to safe and legal race driving may include:
careless, improper, incompetent or foul driving
crossing only when clear of other horses
drug testing procedures for drivers and horses
keeping horse straight
driving horse calmly and safely to and from race stalls
principles of animal welfare
whip use.
Standing starts will include:
balance and control of horse and sulky prior to start
complying with clerk of course and starter's directions
control and balance at release of starting stands
adjusting gait in case of horse breaking
gaining a field position.
Mobile starts will include:
score-up procedure prior to start
complying with clerk of course and starter's directions
control and balance at release of starting gate
adjusting gait in case of horse breaking
gaining a field position.
Driving in a field of horses will include:
maintaining a safe distance from other horses when:
behind horse in front
crossing horse
side by side.
Pushing out will include:
adhering to rules of racing relating to push outs
applying safe pushing out techniques.

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.
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 and include evidence of the following:
knowledge of the requirements, procedures and instructions that are to apply when preparing to drive in races
demonstration of driving skills for standing and mobile starts, driving in a field and applying push out techniques
implementation of procedures and timely techniques to safely, effectively and efficiently complete preparation for race driving tasks
interpreting documentation and other sources of racing information to evaluate and assess individual horse's expected performance in a race
working with others to undertake and complete preparation for race driving tasks that meet required outcomes.
Evidence should be collected over a period of time using a range of horses of different ages and sexes, in different circumstances and in different racing stable and track environments.
Context of and specific resources for assessment
Competency must be assessed in a racing workplace that provides access to horses that are being educated and trained in a commercial racing stable under the care of a licensed trainer and the required resources. Assessment is to occur under standard and authorised work practices, safety requirements and environmental constraints. It is to comply with relevant regulatory requirements or Australian Standards requirements.
This unit is largely practical in nature. Assessment of the practical components of this unit will be by observation of relevant skills.
The following resources must be available:
a variety of harness horses that are currently in training
commercial racing training establishments, and training and racetracks
materials and equipment relevant to assessing candidate's skills related to preparing for race driving
work instructions and related documentation.
Method of assessment
Assessment methods must satisfy the endorsed Assessment Guidelines of the Racing Training Package.
The suggested strategies for the assessment of this unit are:
written and/or oral assessment of candidate's required knowledge
observed, documented and firsthand testimonial evidence of candidate's application of practical tasks.
Evidence is required to be demonstrated over a period of time, therefore where performance is not directly observed any evidence should be authenticated by supervisors or other appropriate persons, at least one of whom should be approved by the State Principal Racing Authority.
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).