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.
Rules of racing that apply to kennelling procedures may include:
appointment of stewards and officials
authority, committee and stewards
greyhounds in public places
identification of greyhounds
race meetings
registration of greyhounds
registration of owners, trainers and attendants
running of races
weights and inspections of greyhounds.
Security requirements may include:
greyhound attendants must be supervised while in the vicinity of or handling greyhounds
greyhounds must be monitored while kennelled to identify ill or distressed animals
kennels must be:
designed to prevent contact with greyhounds by persons or objects
free of materials or contaminants that could affect the blood, urine or samples taken from greyhounds at race meetings
free of materials, substances or objects that could injure or cause illness to greyhounds
locked with tamper-evident locks and seals
monitored to identify anyone who has contact with or is in the vicinity of greyhounds that have been kennelled prior to racing or swabbing.
Duties performed by kennel staff may include:
allocating and collecting race rugs and attendant jackets
allocating kennels and escorting greyhounds and attendants to kennels
cleaning kennels and surrounding area pre-race meeting
cleaning and securing kennels post-race meeting
escorting greyhounds to parade area
identifying greyhounds during pre-kennel inspections, prior to racing, after racing and prior to swabbing
supervising greyhounds and attendants during approved contact prior to racing
supervising post-race hosing and care of greyhounds
supervising stir-up
supervising weighing of greyhounds.
OHS hazards and risks may include:
contraction of zoonotic diseases
extremes of hot or cold weather
greyhounds biting, fighting or running into people
high levels of noise due to greyhounds barking
lifting greyhounds
trips, slips and falls
unsafe work practices
working in confined spaces.
Features considered to verify identification and health of greyhounds may include:
identification characteristics, including:
approximate age
colour
ear brands
greyhound authority issued identification certificates
other signalment, including:
nail colour
scars
whorls
sex
general characteristics of good health, including:
absence of skin disease
colour of conjunctiva
ease of movement when walking around inspection area
general attitude and interest in surroundings
reaction to flexion or extension of joints
reaction to light
reaction to palpation of external body structures.
Protocol and procedures when kennels are allocated may include:
individual kennels cannot be reserved for greyhounds
individual kennels within the race field are randomly allocated to greyhounds
lock and seal numbers are recorded for each kennel
race field kennel rows are allocated using a random selection procedure
race field kennels include all animals in a particular race
separate kennels are prepared and kept secure for greyhounds that are nominated for swabbing
swabbing kennels are allocated on a random basis then locked with an individual lock and seal.
Procedures to follow when greyhounds are escorted and secured in kennels will include:
a separate lock and numbered seal are attached once greyhound has been installed
a separate lock and seal are attached to gate enclosing the race field kennel row once all greyhounds have been installed
attendants may only visit greyhounds with the approval of stewards or kennel supervisor
attendants must be escorted to and from kennel by race meeting official
each greyhound and attendant must be escorted by a race meeting official to the allocated kennel, with the official observing the installation of the greyhound and ensuring bedding is compliant with the rules of racing.
Attendants are supervised during visits to kennels to:
ensure they do not give anything or do anything, or allow anyone else to give or do anything that could affect the greyhound's race performance or welfare.
Main features of the pre-race marshalling procedure include:
greyhound attendants are:
called to collect their greyhounds
allocated a jacket based on greyhound box draw
supervised as they bring greyhounds to marshalling area
greyhound collars, muzzles and leads are checked for compliance with rules as well as safe condition and fit
greyhound identification is verified
race rugs are allocated to greyhounds based on box draw.
Conduct of stir-up involves:
lure being operated within sight and sound of greyhounds to excite some greyhounds immediately prior to racing
greyhounds being held by their attendants during the stir-up in an allocated, usually fenced area
no greyhounds being allowed on the track during stir-up.
Empty-out procedures may include:
greyhound and attendant are kept under observation during empty-out and pre-race marshalling
greyhound attendant is escorted to kennel and area allocated for greyhounds to urinate or defecate.
Procedures of escorting greyhounds to race start include:
greyhounds and attendants are allocated and must wear race rugs and jackets that correspond to the greyhound box draw
greyhounds must stay in box draw order during the walk to the race start
if a greyhound stops for any reason, the rest of the field must also stop so that the race field is not spread out over a large distance
parade officials must assert their authority using effective communication skills to ensure greyhound attendants comply with parade procedures
race field must reach the race start area within allocated time frame to ensure greyhounds can be loaded so race starts are on time.
Features of distressed or ill greyhounds may include:
behavioural characteristics, including:
body curled, head lowered and tail between legs
general lack of interest in surroundings and/or lethargy
laying down and refusing to stand
unwilling to leave kennel area
physical characteristics of illness or distress, including:
convulsions
diarrhoea
discharge of blood
excessive panting or salivating
loss of consciousness
straining to pass urine or faeces without producing any material
vomiting
yelping or whimpering.
Features of injured greyhounds may include:
lack of coordination
laying down and refusing to stand
limping
reluctance to put limb to the ground
reluctance to walk.
Swabbing will include:
escorting greyhound and attendant from the time they are selected for swabbing until greyhound is installed in swab kennel and kennel is secured using individual lock and seal by a race meeting attendant
escorting greyhound and attendant to sample collection area
verifying greyhound identification prior to collecting samples
designated swabbing attendant or official collecting blood, urine and other samples from greyhounds
following procedures for collecting and storing samples.

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 supervising race meeting kennel operations
implementation of procedures and timely techniques for the safe, effective and efficient application of race meeting kennel operations
working with others to undertake and complete the required procedures that meet required outcomes.
Evidence should be collected over a period of time in a range of workplace-relevant contexts and include dealings with an appropriate range of situations.
Context of, and specific resources for assessment
Competency must be assessed in a racing workplace that provides access to 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.
Assessment of the practical components of this unit will be by observation of relevant skills.
The following resources must be available:
a variety of greyhounds
materials and equipment relevant to assessing candidate's ability to supervise race meeting kennel operations
safe handling and approved race meeting kennel areas and associated facilities
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.
This unit may be assessed in a holistic way with other units of competency relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role, for example:
RGRCMN001A Comply with the rules of racing and related protocols.
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).