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.
Housing requirements may include:
brooders, heating and perches
fencing, netting, gates and security measures
food and water dispensers
hollow logs, branches and environmental enrichment.
Husbandry practices may include:
appropriate delivery and placement of food and water
handling and housing methods relevant to bird species
disease control
environmental and waste management control.
OHS and environmental considerations may include:
hazard identification, risk minimisation and workplace procedures for:
animal bites, kicks and scratches
biological hazardous waste and sharps disposal
gas leakage
handling, use, storage, transport and disposal of chemicals and medicines
inhalation of aerosol particles
manual handling including carrying, lifting and shifting
needle pricks and cuts from other sharps
control of the release of infective agents (animal and human)
transmission of zoonotic diseases.
Maintenance activities may include:
checking and reporting utilities
repairing fixtures and fittings
replacing consumables
sweeping, hosing, washing and disinfecting.
Tools, equipment and materials may include:
surveying and levelling equipment:
levels and pegs
notebook, pencil and calculator
tools:
hammers
hose and hose fittings
rakes
rollers
shovels and spades
wheelbarrows
Personal protective equipment may include:
animal handling gauntlets
gloves
overalls
hearing or eye protection
respirators or face masks
sun hats and sunscreen lotion
work boots.
Hygiene standards and infection control practices may include:
appropriate reprocessing of reusable equipment
aseptic technique
dedicated equipment (e.g. to each animal or as appropriate to work function)
environmental controls (e.g. design and maintenance of premises and cleaning)
isolation/cohorting
personal hygiene practices especially washing and drying hands (e.g. before and after animal contact)
restricted movement of animal, staff and visitors/customers
restricting contact with birds away from workplace
safe handling and disposal of sharps and other related and general waste
special ventilation requirements
surface cleaning and management of blood and bodily fluid spills
techniques to limit contamination
use of personal protective equipment.
Pests may include:
cockroaches, spiders, ants and flying insects
predators and parasites
rats and mice.

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 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. Assessors should ensure that candidates can:
manage aviaries and bird rooms
provide appropriate husbandry for birds
maintain enclosures
identify pests and apply pest control techniques
detect and report notifiable diseases
maintain accurate records and workplace documentation.

The skills and knowledge required to manage and maintain aviaries and bird roomsmust 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 companion animal workplaces where a broad range of bird species are housed.

There must be access to a range of bird species and breeds as well as the relevant information, materials and documentation.

Method of assessment
To ensure consistency in one's performance, competency should be demonstrated, to industry defined standards, on more than one occasion 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 strategies 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
simulation exercises that reproduce normal work conditions
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).