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.
Range of animal species may include:
a wide range of animals typically seen in a veterinary clinic:
birds
dogs, cats and horses
small animals (e.g. rabbits, rodents, ferrets and guinea pigs)
wildlife or exotic animals (e.g. amphibians, reptiles and fish).
Clinic facilities may include:
accommodation for a wide range of animals including:
birds
dogs, cats and horses
small animals (e.g. rabbits, rodents, ferrets and guinea pigs)
food-producing animals (e.g. cattle, pigs and sheep)
wildlife or exotic animals (e.g. amphibians, reptiles and fish).
Animal housing may include:
cages, pens, stables and yards
kennels and catteries
other large animal accommodation.
OHS risks when working with animals may include:
animal bites, kicks, scratches and crush injuries
biological hazardous waste and sharps disposal
handling of chemicals and medicines
gas leakage
inhalation of aerosol particles
intraocular contamination
manual handling, including carrying, lifting and shifting
needle pricks and cuts from other sharps
release of infective agents (animal and human)
slippery or uneven work surfaces
zoonoses.
Daily routine procedures may include:
assistance with:
administering veterinary medicines under veterinary supervision
maintaining fluid therapy lines
clipping nails, beaks and feathers
wound dressing
assistance in the provision of adequate nutritional support
assistance in the application of animal psychological procedures according to individual animal requirements:
provision of comfort (e.g. touching, stroking, speaking, soothing and reassuring)
privacy (e.g. hiding places for wildlife and shy species)
monitoring vital signs.
Forms of medication may include:
antibiotics, anthelmintics, anti-inflammatory drugs and anaesthetics, some of which may be administered only by the veterinarian.
Legislative requirements relevant to medication administration will include:
animal codes of welfare
federal, state and territory veterinary drug requirements.
Veterinary support routines may include:
assistance with:
applying casts
renewing fluid therapy bags or bottles
wound dressings
assisting the veterinarian with:
applying Elizabethan collars
euthanasia.
Security measures may include:
computer passwords
deadlocks
fireproof safe
lighting
locked cabinets for drugs and fireproof safe
locked petty cash tin
outside security firm
security system.

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:
clean and disinfect animal housing, treatment area and general clinic areas to maintain clinic hygiene
carry out daily patient treatments and observations
communicate effectively with the veterinarian and follow instructions for food, water and treatment regimes
handle and restrain animals for examination as required
assist in stock control including taking inventory, ordering stock as directed and checking stock when delivered.

The skills and knowledge required to carry out daily clinic routines 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 a veterinary practice or in a situation that reproduces normal work conditions.

There must be access to a range of animals and the 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, cases and responsibilities 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).