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 are examples of desirable behaviour?
Desirable behaviour may relate to normal appetite, normal activity levels, social interaction, visual and vocal interaction and appropriate nocturnal behaviour.
Undesirable behaviour may include inappropriate aggression, repetitive or stereotyped behaviour patterns, self-mutilation, poor appetite, restlessness, biting, kicking, hissing and vocalisation.

What are examples of positive reinforcement?
Positive reinforcement may include primary reinforcers such as food and secondary reinforcers including touch, play, toys and verbal interaction.

What may conditioned reinforcers include?
A conditioned reinforcer may include something that the animal does not initially perceive as having reinforcing or rewarding value (e.g. a whistle or clicker) taking on a reinforcing value of its own when paired with a known reinforcer (e.g. food).

What is included in a conditioning plan?
A conditioning plan may include the animal's profile, the behavioural goal and reasons for it, types of reinforcers to be used, tools required (e.g. target poles, stations and props), the number and type of sessions planned and the staff to be used.

What OHS requirements may have to be considered?
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.
Some captive animal facilities may expose personnel to risks such as zoonoses, release of infective agents (both animal and human) and chemical 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.

What is meant by animal welfare?
Animal welfare considers the psychological and physiological wellbeing of animals as paramount. An animal should be free from thirst, hunger, malnutrition, discomfort, pain, injury, fear and distress.

What is meant by approximations?
Approximations may include the successive steps that a trainer will go through in order to condition a behaviour.

What does under stimulus control refer to?
Under stimulus control refers to a behavioural response from a verbal and / or visual cue.

What type of things may be recorded?
Items recorded at each session may include progress, problems encountered and solutions.

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:

formulate, in consultation with others, a conditioning plan that complies with OHS and animal welfare requirements
apply principles of learning in relation to operant conditioning techniques
apply positive reinforcement methods and use appropriate techniques and tools to condition behaviour
keep accurate records.

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
terms used in conditioning animals
anatomy and physiology of animals
normal and abnormal animal behaviour and behaviour patterns
behavioural needs including housing, feeding, enclosure maintenance and breeding
principles of and reasons for animal learning and operant conditioning techniques
principles of behaviour and environmental enrichment.

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 handle animals safely
ability to demonstrate operant conditioning techniques
observation skills
record-keeping and report writing skills
literacy skills to read and implement institutional policies and procedures, including OHS; 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, training others and consulting with team members and supervisors
numeracy skills to complete arithmetic calculations relating to resources for behavioural enrichment programs
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 develop animal enrichment programs.

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
suitably experienced supervisors and / or mentors
institutional policies and procedures, including OHS and animal welfare
animals for conditioning
materials and equipment for conditioning animals
record-keeping system.

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
RUV3414A Identify behavioural needs and implement improved husbandry

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 animal conditioning issues. (2)

Collecting analysing and organising information
By observing, recording and organising animal behaviour in accordance with institutional needs. (2)

Planning and organising activities
By developing animal behavioural profiles and conditioning programs. (3)

Working with others and in teams
By working with others to develop and implement conditioning plans. (3)

Using mathematical ideas and techniques
By collating and documenting animal behaviour activity data. (2)

Solving problems
By examining animal behaviour and designing appropriate conditioning programs. (3)

Using technology
By using electronic databases to maintain records. (2)