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.
Companion animals may include:
aquaria, reptiles and amphibians
birds
dogs and cats
invertebrates (e.g. stick insects, spiders and beetles)
small animals (e.g. rabbits, rodents, ferrets and guinea pigs).
Risks in capture, handling and transport of animals may include
aggressive animal behaviour
escape of animals and subsequent threat to safety of humans and other animals
potential injuries to humans during capture, handling and transport processes
potential stress and injury to animals during capture and transport.
Capture techniques and equipment may include:
equipment:
chemical controls (e.g. sedatives)
hoods or other sight restriction devices
leads, collars and halters
lassoes, ropes, chains, catching poles, nets and harnesses
traps
visual barriers
techniques and devices used to:
entice or attract animals
herd stock
separate animals.
Transport housing may include:
bags, cages, pouches, padded containers
containers suitable for holding water
climate controlled containers
trailers or other stock vehicle
transfer or crush equipment.
Transport housing preparation factors may include:
animals' metabolic and other health features
challenges involved in loading captured animal into transport
location of capture and distance to destination
risk of injury to animal within transport container
size, age, health status and number of animals to be transported.
Safe and humane manner considerations may include:
allocating sufficient time to the process
appropriate use of restraints for animals
considering animals' welfare at all times
correct use of personal protective equipment
observing if the animal is becoming distressed.
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 may relate to:
potential escape of an animal
injury to target animals, other animals, staff and potentially the public.
Indicators of stress may include:
aggressive behaviour
inappetence
subdued behaviour
trembling
vocalisation.
Relocation procedure considerations may include:
future dietary requirements
housing at destination
immediate food and water requirements on arrival
indicators of travel stress and other health emergencies
introduction process to people and other animals.

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:
handle animals in a safe, humane and ethical manner at all times
select and use appropriate techniques and equipment to capture and restrain a range of companion animals
prepare correct type of transport container
comply with relevant legislation, regulations and codes of practice, including animal welfare, OHS and transport of companion animals
build relationships and communicate effectively with clients in respect to animals' transportation and initial settling in requirements
maintain records and documentation.

The skills and knowledge required to capture, handle and transport companion 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 most appropriately be assessed in a companion animal workplace or in a situation that reproduces normal work conditions. Workplaces can include pet shops, boarding kennels and catteries, companion animal training, grooming and/or breeding establishments and mobile animal facilities.

There must be access to a range of companion animal breeds and species 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).