Elements and Performance Criteria

The Range of Variables explains the range of contexts within which the performance and knowledge requirements of this unit may be assessed. The scope of variables chosen in training and assessment may depend on the work contexts.

What planning is required for capture and restraint?
Planning may include the choice of staff, including veterinary; time factors; safety issues, including those relating to the public and the team involved in the capture or restraint; equipment required; assessment of the impact of the capture or restraint on animals and / or group; climatic conditions; and contingency plans in the event of escape.

Which equipment may be used in capturing and restraining animals?
Equipment may include catch poles, nets, ropes, bags, visual barriers and anaesthetic agents.

Why may the animal species determine the capture technique used?
The capture technique used may depend on species' characteristics such as flight or fight, aggressive nature, stress response, defence mechanisms and physiological attributes.

What type of OHS and emergency procedures would be relevant in this context?
Animal care for captive animals has a range of associated risks from bites, envenomation, kicks or scratches. All duties should reflect an awareness of and a respect for these risks.
The handling of chemicals / drugs requires extra care to ensure safe work practices are maintained.
Safe work practices are used in packaging and handling loads, including animals. Appropriate safe handling techniques are used to reduce muscle load on exertion.
Some captive animal facilities may expose personnel to risks such as zoonoses, release of infective agents (both animal and human) and chemical or drug spillage. Procedures to reduce the spread of disease may include incident reporting, cleaning, the removal of waste and spillage, the containment or elimination of risk, the use of personal protective equipment and clothing and seeking advice from supervisors.
Emergency procedures would relate to the potential escape of an animal or injury to an animal, other animals, staff and potentially the public.

What is meant by capturing or restraining in a safe and humane manner?
This may include appropriately restraining the animal, using personal protective equipment, observing stress in the animal, allocating sufficient time to the process and conducting the capture or restraint out of the public's view.

How may assistance be provided to the veterinarian?
Assistance may be provided by safely and securely restraining the animal, administering tranquillisers and / or sedatives and using chemical agents.

What preparation may be required prior to transportation?
Preparation may include building transport containers, conditioning the animal for transport and providing special dietary requirements.

What are examples of transport containers?
Transport containers may include transfer or crush cages, bags, padded containers, pouches and shipping boxes.

What might be included in transportation protocols and procedures?
Protocols and procedures might include International Air Transport Association (IATA) shipment requirements and protocols, container requirements, transportation methods, transportation standards for specific species and food and water requirements.

What are the critical aspects of evidence required for this unit of competency as a whole?
The critical requirements that are valuable for this unit of competency as a whole are listed below.

Assessment must confirm one's ability to:

work with others to plan the safe capture and restraint of animals from at least two of the six major animal groups
adhere to animal welfare requirements at all times when capturing, restraining and transporting animals
move animals in accordance with established protocols and legislative requirements.

What specific knowledge is needed to achieve the performance criteria?

Knowledge and understanding are essential to apply this unit in the workplace, to transfer the skills to other contexts and to deal with unplanned events. The knowledge requirements for this unit of competency are listed below and include:

institutional policies and procedures, including OHS
relevant legislation, including animal welfare and ethics
principles of capture and restraint and associated behavioural and physiological aspects
the maintenance of capture and restraint equipment
emergency procedures
IATA shipment requirements and protocols
relevant quarantine requirements for the external shipment of animals.

What specific skills are needed to achieve the performance criteria?

To achieve the performance criteria, some complementary skills are required. These skills include:

ability to implement institutional policies and procedures
ability to capture and restrain animals
ability to use safe and humane animal handling techniques
ability to assist in the administration of medication
ability to design and identify transport containers appropriate to animals' requirements
ability to maintain capture and restraint tools and equipment and transport containers in accordance with manufacturers' specifications
literacy skills to read and implement institutional policies and procedures, including OHS and waste management; follow sequenced written instructions; record accurately and legibly information collected; and select and apply procedures to a range of defined tasks
oral communication skills / language competence to fulfil the job role as specified by the institution, including questioning techniques, active listening, asking for clarification from supervisors and consulting with supervisors
numeracy skills to measure and build transport containers
interpersonal skills to work with and relate to people from a range of cultural, social and religious backgrounds
problem-solving skills to use available resources and prioritise daily tasks.

What are the specific resource implications for this unit of competency?
For valid assessment, one
an appropriate captive animal workplace
equipment and / or resources normally used in the workplace
animals to capture and restrain from at least two of the six major animal groups
institutional policies and procedures
IATA shipment requirements and protocols
capture and restraint materials and equipment
transport containers.

What considerations should there be for consistency in performance?
To ensure consistency in one's performance, competency should be demonstrated 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 skills and knowledge required to

What considerations should there be for context of assessment?
Assessment for this unit of competency is to be largely practical in nature and will be most appropriately assessed in a captive animal workplace.
There must be access in this situation to the appropriate equipment and / or resources to enable one to demonstrate competency.

Are there other units of competency that could be assessed with this one?
This unit of competency

There are a number of processes that are learnt throughout work and life which are required in all jobs. They are fundamental processes and generally transferable to other work functions. Some of these are covered by the key competencies, although others may be added. The questions below highlight how these processes are applied in this unit of competency. Following each question a number in brackets indicates the level to which the key competency needs to be demonstrated where 0 = not required, 1 = perform the process, 2 = perform and administer the process and 3 = perform, administer and design the process.
Communicating ideas and information
Through discussion with supervisors and team members about capture and restraint processes. (2)

Collecting analysing and organising information
By determining correct capture and restraint techniques based on the analysis of a range of information. (2)

Planning and organising activities
By planning capture and restraint procedures. (3)

Working with others and in teams
By working with others on agreed tasks. (2)

Using mathematical ideas and techniques
By using arithmetic calculations when assisting with the administration of medication. (2)

Solving problems
By analysing the behavioural and physical requirements of animals and determining the best approach to captures. (3)

Using technology
By using electronic databases and the Internet to access information. (2)