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.
Species may include animals from the six major animal groups:
amphibians
birds
fish
invertebrates
mammals
reptiles.
Planning requirements may include:
assessment of the impact of the capture or restraint on animals and/or group
choice of capture technique depending on species' characteristics:
aggressive nature
defence mechanisms
flight or fight
physiological attributes
sex
size
stress response
choice of staff, including veterinary
climatic conditions
contingency plans in the event of escape
equipment required
safety issues, including those relating to the public and the team involved in the capture or restraint
time factors.
Equipment may include:
anaesthetic agents
bags
catch poles
nets
ropes
transportation containers
visual barriers.
OHS risks when handling animals may include:
animal bites, envenomation, kicks, scratches and crush injuries
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)
slippery or uneven work surfaces
zoonoses.
Emergency procedures would relate to:
injury to animal, other animals, staff and potentially the public
potential escape of animal.
Safe and humane manner requirements include:
allocating sufficient time to the process
appropriately restraining the animal
conducting the capture or restraint out of the public's view
observing stress in the animal
using personal protective equipment.
Assistance to the veterinarian may be provided by:
safely and securely restraining the animal
administering tranquillisers and/or sedatives
using chemical agents.
Preparation prior to transportation may include:
building transport containers
conditioning the animal for transport
providing special dietary requirements.
Transport containers may include:
bags
padded containers
pouches
shipping boxes
transfer or crush cages.
Transportation protocols and procedures may include:
IATA shipment requirements and protocols
container requirements
transportation methods
transportation standards for specific species
food and water requirements.

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:
assist with planning and implementing the safe capture and restraint of animals
assist with moving animals in accordance with established protocols and legislative requirements
complete relevant documentation and reports.

The skills and knowledge required to assist with capturing, restraining and moving animals 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 a captive animal workplace.

There must be access in this situation to animals to capture and restrain, from at least two of the six major animal groups (amphibians, birds, fish, invertebrates, mammals and reptiles), as well as the appropriate equipment and/or resources 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 one occasion over a period of time in order to cover a variety of circumstances and where possible, 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
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).