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.
Institutional policies and procedures may include:
institution's quality assurance manual and procedures:
biosecurity
breeding processes
OHS
recycling and re-use guidelines
restraint, handling, euthanasing and disposal of animals
safe handling, storage and thawing of frozen genetic material
standard operating procedures
use, storage and transport of equipment and drugs used during procedures
waste disposal
project objectives and production schedules.
Procedures that require AEC approval may include:
cloning
creation of transgenic, knock in and knockout lines
random mutagenesis
surgical procedures
any other procedure that may impact on the animal's health and wellbeing.
Relevant legislative requirements may include:
Australian Code of Practice for the Care and Use of Animals for Scientific Purposes
Federal Gene Technology Act 2000
National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) guidelines
relevant state or territory legislation and regulations, such as those relating to:
animal research
animal welfare
prevention of cruelty to animals
quarantine
the practice of veterinary surgery
the administration and storage of therapeutic and controlled substances.
OHS risks associated with animal technician procedures include:
animal bites, kicks or scratches
biological hazardous waste and sharps disposal
handling of chemicals and medicines
gas leakage
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)
scalds and burns from sterilising and cleaning equipment
zoonoses.
Breeding program may include:
information about:
the number of breeders required
selection criteria for breeders and retiring breeders
breeding system to be used:
inbred
outbred
backcross
fostering requirements and identification system to be used
record systems to be used (e.g. computer, cards and books)
data to be collected about:
production rates
parent information
generation development (e.g. litter numbers, numbers born and sex ratios)
sex and weaning rate.
Signs of parturition may include:
bleeding and discharge
box presentation
grooming
isolation
nest building
restlessness.
Equipment required for caesarean procedures may include:
anaesthetic equipment and supplies:
anaesthetic machines
anaesthetic trolleys
filters
gas cylinders
incubators
masks
re-breathing bags
soda lime and canisters
scavenging systems
tubes
vaporisers
surgical instruments and equipment:
cautery
forceps
needles
needle holders
resection clamps
scalpels
scissors
sutures.
Personal protective equipment may include:
appropriate footwear
optical aids
surgical gowns, caps, masks, boots and gloves
theatre clothing.
Medications may include:
anaesthesia agents:
isoflurane
ketamine
ketamine combination anaesthesia
methoxyflurane.
Clean or dirty status assessment may consider:
establishing an aseptic animal and room environment
preparation techniques
workplace hygiene standards:
cleaning agents and techniques
cleaning equipment and materials
disinfectants.
Preparation of foster mother may include:
consideration of:
environment
housing and bedding
strain qualities and benefits
temperament.
Area for fostering assessment may consider:
bedding conditions and qualities
chemicals
environmental conditions and impact of particular changes to environment
housing.

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 for procedures in accordance with institutional policies and procedures, including AEC and legislative requirements
monitor parturition stages of natural births and monitor pups
plan and conduct caesarean section on full-term pregnant mice or rats
foster pups onto clean mothers and monitor acceptance
review, revise, maintain and update records in accordance with regulatory and project documentation requirements.

The skills and knowledge required to manage the parturition of transgenic mice or rats 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 an animal research facility or an environment that reproduces normal work conditions that has a scientific establishment licence and access to an approved AEC.

There must be access to a range of research animals and the relevant information, materials and documentation 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 two occasions over a period of time in order to cover a variety of circumstances, cases and responsibilities and 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
practical simulation exercises that reproduce normal breeding work-related conditions
case study analysis
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).