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 in the performance criteria is detailed below.

The range statement provides details of how this competency can be used in the workplaces of the racing industry to apply the principles of administrative law to investigation and resolution of racing incidents. Workplaces include greyhound, harness and thoroughbred racecourses, training tracks and administration buildings.

Stewards oversee the conduct of all racing-related activities within the responsibilities and powers described under the rules of racing. The conditions under which this unit is delivered and assessed must take into consideration these powers and responsibilities. These powers and responsibilities are further described in the rules of racing for the relevant racing code. It is strongly recommended that training facilitators and learners refer to these powers and responsibilities as part of the range of conditions for all units covered in the steward specialist area of the Training Package.
Natural justice , also known as procedural fairness, is applied to:
conduct of inquiries, hearings, protests and appeals
dealings with licensed persons, including:
drug testing procedures
inspections
licensing matters.
Racing protocols and procedures include:
legal parameters within the rules of racing and the stewards' rights and obligations under these rules when conducting an investigation and resolution of an incident.
Non-verbal communication may include:
body posture
eye contact
distance or physical contact
facial expression
timing.
Communication and recording aids may include:
microphone
note taking
recorder
scribe
two-way radio.
Techniques for dealing with difficult people may include:
analysing the situation from the interviewee's point of view
avoiding using manipulation or displays of temper
creating a clear picture of the overall situation
defining the parameters or constraints of the inquiry and solution
explaining decisions
identifying strengths and weaknesses of the case
judging issues at hand and not individuals
keeping calm and controlling level and pitch of voice
recognising the existence of difficulty
restraining from retaliating to interviewee's manipulation or displays of temper
stating the issues.
Questioning techniques may include:
identifying and acknowledging individual differences
identifying own issues that might impact on effective interviewing, including:
job role limitations
personal interaction styles
personal values
identifying legislation and organisational policies, procedures and protocols that impact on effective interviewing, including natural justice
using open-ended questions.
Assertiveness skills may include:
acknowledging rights of self and others
confronting tactfully
displaying self-confidence
giving others an opportunity to state their case
keeping control of emotions
keeping control of tone, level and pitch of voice
maintaining authority without resorting to emotional blackmail or violence
valuing others.
Participant's need for assistance may be required due to:
age
culture
gender
lack of racing industry experience
lack of reading or writing skills
non-English speaking background
physical or intellectual disability.
Evidence may include:
copy of betting sheets and fluctuations
inquiry transcripts
stewards' reports
swab materials
videos.
Explanations of participant's right to appeal may cover:
how to obtain relevant documentation
permitted time frame
steps involved in appealing a decision
types of decisions that are eligible for appeal.

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.
Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit
The evidence required to demonstrate competency 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 and include evidence of the following:
knowledge of the requirements, procedures and instructions applicable to applying the principles of administrative law to racing incident investigations and resolution
demonstration of ability to employ a range of communication strategies to elicit facts and information and to defuse potentially difficult situations, while applying the principles of natural justice and procedural fairness and complying with equity principles
implementation of procedures and timely techniques for the safe, effective and efficient application of administrative law principles to investigations and resolution of racing incidents
working with others to undertake and complete the required procedures that meet required outcomes.
Evidence should be collected over a period of time in a range of racing industry administration and operations contexts, and include dealings with an appropriate range of situations.
Context of and specific resources for assessment
Competency must be assessed in a racing workplace that provides access to the required resources. Assessment is to occur under standard and authorised work practices, safety requirements and environmental constraints. It is to comply with relevant regulatory requirements or Australian Standards requirements.
Assessment of the practical components of this unit will be by observation of relevant skills.
The following resources must be available:
materials and equipment relevant to assessing candidate's ability to apply the principles of administrative law to investigation and resolution of racing incidents
racing administration buildings, race meetings and related facilities
work instructions and related documentation.
Method of assessment
Assessment methods must satisfy the endorsed Assessment Guidelines of the Racing Training Package.
The suggested strategies for the assessment of this unit are:
written and/or oral assessment of candidate's required knowledge
observed, documented and firsthand testimonial evidence of candidate's application of practical tasks
case studies to assess candidate's ability to provide written and/or oral responses to various scenarios.
Evidence is required to be demonstrated over a period of time, therefore where performance is not directly observed any evidence should be authenticated by supervisors or other appropriate persons, at least one of whom should be approved by the State Principal Racing Authority.
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).