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 is meant by behavioural and physical requirements?
Physical requirements may include separation of sexes if mating not wanted.
Behavioural requirements may consider the needs of nocturnal animals, environments that replicate normal feeding behaviour and environments that stimulate the animals.

What are examples of animal enclosures?
Animal enclosures may include aviaries, paddocks, aquaria, habitat boxes, cages and walk through or closed off enclosures.

What requirements may apply to enclosure furniture?
Enclosure requirements may include shading, shelters and behavioural enrichment features such as furniture, vegetation, water features and landscaping.

What should be considered when assessing the impact of furniture?
Assessing the impact of furniture should include the safety of new materials (e.g. toxicity or splintering), the obstruction of animal movement or view, keeper access and furniture hardiness, attractiveness and compatibility.

What type of OHS issues 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.
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 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 included in enclosure security?
Security may involve implementing security procedures such as locks and slides, checking for pests, maintaining structures in good order, identifying any enclosure faults that may result in escape, ensuring that animals are safe and secure in their enclosures and checking that there are no unauthorised people in the enclosure.

How may stock be counted?
Flushing paddocks, positive count and correlation to records.

How may repairs be classified?
Major urgent repairs may include repairs to holes in wire, roof or doors; faulty locks; broken windows; and landscaping concerns.
Minor repairs may include repairing signs or taps and replacing plants.

What are examples of tools and equipment?
Tools and equipment may include rakes, spades, secateurs, wheelbarrows and cleaning agents.

What is included in a cleaning regime?
A cleaning regime may include the sequence of cleaning events, time to perform them, equipment and cleaning agents to be used, which chemicals cannot be used with certain animals, the importance of odour for some species, the behavioural needs of animals and their impact on the cleaning routine and the safety of self and animals.

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:

identify housing requirements, in consultation with others, appropriate to species from at least two of the six major animal groups
maintain enclosure security
prepare and implement cleaning regimes.

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
protocols for hazard identification and risk minimisation
principles of enclosure landscaping and horticulture, including basic working knowledge of exhibit plants and weeds
principles and protocols for enclosure or exhibit design, including aesthetics, function and the effects of introduced fixtures and features
educational and interpretive functions of enclosures
situations requiring knots and lashings
materials for knots and lashings
specialist enclosures for different animals
use of different cleaning compounds.

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 design and implement a cleaning regime
ability to identify and prioritise repairs
ability to complete minor repairs
ability to maintain tools and equipment in accordance with manufacturers' specifications
ability to use knots and lashings
ability to use tie wire and cable ties effectively and safely
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 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 complete arithmetic calculations and measure volumes
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
institutional policies and procedures
range of animal housing and temporary housing
materials and equipment for maintaining and cleaning animal housing
enclosure furniture.

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
RUV3407A Maintain exhibits and assist with their design

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 daily routines and repair schedules. (2)

Collecting analysing and organising information
By assessing the needs of animals based on the analysis of a range of information. (2)

Planning and organising activities
By designing and implementing a cleaning regime. (3)

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

Using mathematical ideas and techniques
By counting stock and using arithmetic calculations for daily tasks. (1)

Solving problems
By assisting in providing enclosures that meet the behavioural and physical requirements of animals. (2)

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