Unit of competency Outline

Date retreived
22/07/2026 2:59 PM AWST

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Respond to wildlife emergencies

Respond to wildlife emergencies

Unit of competency
National Code
AHCFAU301A
State Code
D6820
TGA Status
Replaced
DTWD Status
Replaced
Current Release Number
1.00
Current Release Date
10/06/2011
View on TGA
State Implementation and Classification
Approved Date
18/06/2014
Field of Education
050901 - Land, Parks And Wildlife Management
Original Release Date
18/06/2014
Nominal Hours
50
Description
This unit covers the process of evaluating and coordinating a response to natural resource emergencies involving fauna and defines the standard required to: implement and coordinate an emergency response; care for affected animals; determine management options including return to wild or temporary captive management; remove animal carcasses; complete debrief and prepare reports.
Notes
Elements and Performance Criteria
1. Evaluate wildlife emergency
  • 1.1. Nature of emergency is investigated from eyewitness reports and/or inspection to determine what procedures should be implemented.
  • 1.2. Assessment of the incident is made to identify key factors that may impact on an appropriate response.
  • 1.3. State/Territory authorities are notified of incident according to enterprise guidelines.
  • 1.4. Interim care of animals is implemented where appropriate and according to enterprise procedures pending instructions from authorities.
  • 1.5. Appropriate staff is deployed in interim care for animals according to assessment of incident and enterprise guidelines.
  • 1.6. Personnel assisting in interim care are appropriately equipped and briefed according to enterprise and legislative requirements.
  • 1.7. Care instructions from authorities and/or veterinarians are implemented according to legislative and enterprise requirements.
  • 1.8. Information is collected about the reported situation to determine response.
  • 1.9. Informants are interviewed to obtain necessary details about the reported situations.
2. Implement response to emergency
  • 2.1. Nature of emergency is investigated from eyewitnesses and/or inspection to determine what procedures should be implemented.
  • 2.2. Communications to manage situation are established to enterprise policies and procedures.
  • 2.3. Resources and personnel are transported to site to implement action to enterprise procedures.
  • 2.4. Site procedures are established to legislative requirements, enterprise procedures and emergency plans to control risks to people, the environment and to property.
  • 2.5. Live fauna are moved in accordance with legislative and enterprise procedures.
  • 2.6. Dead fauna are removed from site and biological matter is disposed of in accordance with enterprise procedures and health and safety requirements.
  • 2.7. Site is cleaned in accordance with enterprise procedures to maintain public and environmental health and safety.
  • 2.8. Measures are implemented that minimise risk to significant places, area, habitats, species and communities.
3. Coordinate response
  • 3.1. General public and media are informed of the nature of the incident and agency decisions in accordance with enterprise guidelines.
  • 3.2. Volunteers and staff are briefed on Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) hazards, preventive measures and reporting requirements.
  • 3.3. Volunteers are coordinated and deployed according to their skills and available personal protective equipment.
  • 3.4. Physical barriers are established to keep public away from animals to minimise distress to it and to protect the public.
  • 3.5. Media is managed until authorities provide instructions.
  • 3.6. Media is utilised according to instructions and enterprise procedures.
4. Care for affected animals
  • 4.1. Team(s) are allotted to animals according to incident assessment, care instructions and skills within teams.
  • 4.2. Animal first aid is applied.
  • 4.3. Role in wildlife operations team is performed according to the command structure and procedures of the management plan.
  • 4.4. Animal is cared for using a range of skills and according to veterinary instructions and enterprise procedures.
  • 4.5. OHS procedures are followed according to legislative, management plan and enterprise requirements.
5. Determine management options
  • 5.1. Veterinary advice is sought where appropriate and according to enterprise guidelines.
  • 5.2. Biological and incident data on animals is collected according to enterprise procedures and scientific standards.
  • 5.3. Management options are evaluated according to advice, condition of animal, risk assessment and according to enterprise guidelines.
  • 5.4. Where required for scientific purposes and under enterprise procedures, released animals are humanely banded or tagged.
  • 5.5. Selected management option is implemented according to enterprise guidelines, OHS requirements and risk assessment.
  • 5.6. Equipment and staff required for returning animal to wild or temporary captive management are sourced to enterprise procedures.
6. Remove carcass
  • 6.1. Where necessary, inter-agency agreement is developed with local authority for removal of carcass.
  • 6.2. Carcass is disposed of according to authority instructions.
  • 6.3. Equipment and staff for disposal are sourced to enterprise procedures.
  • 6.4. OHS requirements are met.
7. Complete debrief and report
  • 7.1. Where applicable, incident management processes for debrief and wash-up are followed.
  • 7.2. Report provided to management according to enterprise guidelines.
RANGE STATEMENT
The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole.
Emergencies involving fauna may include:
marine animal incident management (whales and dolphins, seals and sea lions, turtles, sharks, dugongs, crocodiles, sea snakes, sea birds)
oil and chemical spills
injured or dangerous animals (small animals and birds causing nuisance to the public, animals, birds and reptiles behaving aggressively or likely to behave aggressively to the public or causing public fear, either due to their normal behaviour patterns and/or injury)
animals injured by flood, fire or disease.
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 competency in this unit must be relevant to workplace operations and satisfy holistically all of the requirements of the performance criteria and required skills and knowledge and include achievement of the following:
implement and coordinate an emergency response
care for affected animals
determine management options including return to wild or temporary captive management
remove animal carcasses
complete debrief and prepare reports.
Context of and specific resources for assessment
Competency requires the application of work practices under work conditions. Selection and use of resources for some worksites may differ due to the regional or enterprise circumstances.
Replaces
State Code National Code Title Type
S2610 RTD3125A Respond to wildlife emergencies Unit of competency
Replaced By
State Code National Code Title Type
BAP41 AHCFAU301 Respond to wildlife emergencies Unit of competency