Unit of competency details

Unit descriptor 

This unit of competency covers the process of assessing current exhibit status and contributing to exhibit design and renovation planning.

No licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.

Application of the unit 

The unit is applicable to wildlife animal keepers or carers who are expected to perform tasks under supervision.

In addition to legal and ethical responsibilities, all units of competency in the ACM10 Animal Care and Management Training Package have the requirement for animals to be handled gently and calmly. The individual is required to exhibit appropriate care for animals so that stress and discomfort is minimised.

Prerequisite units 

Employability skills 

This unit contains employability skills.

Elements describe the essential outcomes of a unit of competency.

Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. Where bold italicised text is used, further information is detailed in the required skills and knowledge section and the range statement. Assessment of performance is to be consistent with the evidence guide.

ELEMENT 

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA 

1. Assess exhibit status

1.1. Exhibit security  for animals, staff and the public is reviewed.

1.2. Animal welfare  in relation to exhibit structure and furnishings is evaluated.

1.3. Exhibit aesthetics  and access are reviewed from the perspective of public perception, workplace image and animal needs.

1.4. Exhibit furnishings  condition, functionality and safety are evaluated.

1.5. Recommendations for exhibit design or renovation upgrades are documented and reported to supervisor.

2. Contribute to exhibit design and renovation planning

2.1. Enclosure and exhibit development and renovation proposals are reviewed.

2.2. Contributions are made as required to facility concept briefs  for the design or renovation of enclosures and exhibits.

REQUIRED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE 

This section describes the skills and knowledge required for this unit.

Required skills 

• assist with preparation of basic technical drawings
• identify animal housing behavioural and physical requirements
• implement facility policies and procedures
• maintain records and write workplace documents
• literacy skills to read and follow institutional policies and procedures, including occupational health and safety (OHS), hygiene control and waste management; follow sequenced written instructions; record accurately and legibly information collected; and select and apply procedures to a range of defined tasks
• oral communication skills/language to fulfil the job role as specified by the facility, including questioning techniques, active listening, training others and consulting with supervisors
• numeracy skills to complete mathematical calculations relating to enclosure and exhibit designs
• interpersonal skills to work with others and relate to people from a range of cultural, social and religious backgrounds and with a range of physical and mental abilities
• problem-solving skills to access and use available resources.

Required knowledge 

• animal biology and husbandry requirements relevant to enclosures and exhibits
• educational and interpretive functions of enclosures
• environmental enrichment
• principles of enclosure landscaping and horticulture, including basic working knowledge of exhibit plants and weeds
• principles and protocols for enclosure or exhibit design, including aesthetics, function and effects of introduced fixtures and features
• principles of animal welfare and ethics
• principles of naturalistic landscaping for enclosures and exhibits
• relevant facility policies and procedures, including OHS, animal welfare, ethics, hygiene standards and other industry guidelines
• relevant federal and state or territory legislation and codes of practice
• security control principles
• specialist enclosures for different 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:

• assess exhibit status and submit upgrade recommendations
• contribute to new or renovation concept briefs.

The skills and knowledge required to assist with exhibit design and renovation planning 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 or in a situation that reproduces normal work conditions.

There must be access in this situation to 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 (e.g. design and renovation planning)
• 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).

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.

Exhibit security  considerations may include:

• ensuring animals are safe and secure in their housing
• locks and slides in good working order
• maintaining structures in good order
• presence of pests within animal housing or enclosures
• prevention of escape by animals
• restriction of access to authorised personnel
• safe access and egress.

Animal welfare  requirements include:

• adequate housing, nutrition and stock levels
• compliance to appropriate state or territory legislation and regulations and international conventions
• enrichment opportunities
• the absence of pests and vermin
• the compatibility of species and breeds.

Exhibit aesthetics  may include:

• appropriate placement of exhibit furniture
• appropriate use of materials (e.g. naturalistic or non-naturalistic) in line with institute's policies and procedures
• lines of sight
• maintaining the overall appearance of the exhibit and its features.

Exhibit furnishings  may include:

• branches and trees
• logs
• perches
• rails
• rocks or mock rocks
• shelves.

Concept briefs  may include:

• basic technical drawings
• costs for new or renovated enclosures or exhibits evaluation of exhibit performance
• detailed work plans
• research
• theme of exhibit, in line with institute's mission and visions/values.

Unit sector 

Captive animals

Competency field 

Co-requisite units