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.
Options for release considerations may include:
animals readiness for release:
age, sex and health status of animal
ability to establish a home range
need for social interaction
availability of suitable release site
other habitat considerations (e.g. current stock density, availability of natural food and water)
practicality of releasing animals into the area where they were originally found.
Native animals may include:
rescued and rehabilitated native wildlife:
amphibians
birds
marsupials
montremes
reptiles.
Release site selection and monitoring considerations may include:
selected site should be close to where the animal was found or captured, as relocation to new areas is not advised due to the potential of:
creating competition with local wildlife
disease spread
displacing other animals from their home range
genetic integrity compromise.
site may be monitored for:
adequate shelter
availability of natural food and water supply
habitat destruction
human interaction or intervention
pests
predators
suitable numbers of same species of animals.
Readiness for release considerations may include:
indications of animals' readiness for release:
being dehumanised
displaying appropriate species behaviour
displaying normal physical features (e.g. returning to waterproof state)
feeding independently and eating at least 85 per cent natural diet that will be available in the proposed release site
moving freely
recognising own species
socially adapted to survive in their natural state
recognising natural food sources
used to exposure to natural elements
readiness will also depend on:
availability of a suitable release site
other habitat considerations
practicality of releasing animals into the area where they were originally found
timing of release (e.g. species migratory patterns)
weather conditions.
Documentation in relation to rescued wildlife that must be maintained may include:
individual animal identification, where possible
health history, if applicable
reports to relevant government departments of species of threatened wildlife or unusual animals held
approval of shelter operators for any release of rehabilitated wildlife, if applicable
yearly returns to relevant state or territory bodies detailing the survival of all wildlife held.
OHS risks when working with animals may include:
animal bites, envenomation, kicks, scratches and crush injuries
biological hazardous waste and sharps disposal
handling of chemicals and medicines
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.
Release strategies may include:
ensuring animal readiness for release:
physical wellbeing of the animal
necessary survival skills are present
steps for release:
veterinary examination to ensure animals are clinically free of diseases and parasite
notify relevant government department of proposed release, as required
organise tagging, banding or other marking, as required, for monitoring purposes
soft or hard release
release as near as possible to original habitat
release in the appropriate social group, where applicable to species
select appropriate weather, season and time of day.

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:
prepare native animals for release
transport and release animals
monitor success of release program, where possible
maintain accurate records.

The skills and knowledge required to release native animals to natural environment 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 captive animal workplace or an environment that reproduces normal work conditions.

There must be access in either situation to a range of rehabilitated native wildlife potentially ready for release as well as the appropriate 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 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).