Unit of competency details

Unit descriptor 

This unit of competency specifies the outcomes required to review individual greyhound training performance, prepare and implement racing program plans, race greyhounds in accordance with the rules of racing and related protocols, review race performance and develop future race and training plans.

This unit also requires the ability to demonstrate competence in the practical care and management of racing greyhounds and application of OHS standards in the workplace.

This unit of competency operates in work environments of racing kennels, racecourses and public areas.

Licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements may apply to this unit. Check with your State Principal Racing Authority for current license or registration requirements.

Application of the unit 

This unit of competency supports trainers and others in the greyhound racing industry responsible for planning and managing trialling and racing of greyhounds.

This unit can be contextualised for other industries while also maintaining the integrity of the unit.

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 

Plan racing schedule.

1. Greyhounds' training performance against racing goals is reviewed.

2. Racing program plans  for individual greyhounds are developed.

3. Qualifying trials for greyhounds are organised.

4. Greyhounds are nominatedfor races.

Race greyhounds.

5. Race meeting preparations  are planned and relayed to staff.

6. Race meeting protocols and procedures  are completed.

7. Race meeting officials' directions  are followed.

8. Greyhound owners  are advised of race meeting information and procedures.

Review race performance.

9. Greyhounds' recovery  is assessed and recorded.

10. Racing condition and performance  of greyhounds are assessed and recorded.

11. Variables that impact on performance are evaluated.

12. Future race and training plans are prepared.

REQUIRED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE 

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

Required skills 

• adapting trial and racing program plans according to individual greyhound responses and specific stages of preparation
• adhering to responsibilities under OHS legislation and workplace practices
• adhering to responsibilities under national and state codes of practice; federal, state and territory legislation; and local government regulations covering animal welfare
• applying safe handling and work practices when dealing with greyhounds
• assessing greyhound condition
• assessing and responding to illnesses or injuries in greyhounds
• calming and controlling greyhounds
• communicating with stewards, racing officials, kennel staff, greyhound health and exercise specialists, and others using assertive communication techniques to gather and relay information related to trialling and racing greyhounds
• dealing with emergencies
• giving and receiving instructions
• identifying behaviour traits of individual greyhounds
• identifying possible options for improving race performance
• implementing greyhound trialling and racing processes and procedures
• presenting greyhounds in a fit and healthy condition for trials and races
• reading and interpreting workplace documentation, including relevant rules of racing
• relating to people from a range of social, cultural and ethnic backgrounds and with varying physical and mental abilities
• selecting appropriate qualifying trials and races for individual greyhounds
• supporting others when handling, trialling and racing greyhounds in the appropriate manner
• written communication skills to compile and maintain greyhound records and associated procedural documentation.

Required knowledge 

• communication procedures within kennel and wider racing industry
• common greyhound behaviour, social traits and vices
• common illnesses and injuries in greyhounds
• effective working relationships, including teamwork
• emergency control measures
• industry terminology related to trialling and racing greyhounds, including type and class of race
• principles of planning training and racing programs for greyhounds
• protocols and procedures for entering greyhounds for races
• protocols and procedures for racing greyhounds
• racing industry animal welfare requirements
• racing industry safety requirements, including safe operating procedures
• roles and responsibilities of trainers, staff and officials at trials and race meetings
• rules of racing
• track features, surfaces and conditions

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 that apply to planning and managing greyhound trial and race programs.
• demonstration of procedures and timely techniques for the safe, effective and efficient implementation of trial and race programs for racing greyhounds
• working with others to undertake and complete procedures that meet required outcomes.

Evidence should be collected over a period of time using a range of greyhounds of different ages, sexes and temperaments, and at different stages of preparation in racing kennel and track environments.

Context of and specific resources for assessment 

Competency must be assessed in a racing workplace that provides access to greyhounds that are being educated and trained in a commercial racing kennel under the care of a licensed trainer and 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:

• a variety of greyhounds currently in training
• commercial kennels, safe racetrack areas, race meetings and related facilities
• materials and equipment relevant to assessing candidate's ability to trial and race greyhounds
• 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.

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.

This unit may be assessed in a holistic way with other units of competency relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role, for example:

• RGRPSG303A Determine nutritional requirements for racing greyhounds
• RGRPSG401A Relate anatomical and physiological features to the care and treatment of greyhounds
• RGRPSG402A Manage greyhound health and welfare
• RGRPSG403A Plan and implement education and training of greyhounds for racing.

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 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 trial and race greyhounds. Workplaces include kennels and racecourses, training tracks and public areas.

Greyhounds' training performance against racing goals  may include:

• animal welfare and racing guidelines for the amount of exercise
• expected time frame to first race
• hormone control, for example:

• sire versus bitch

• race grade that greyhound is being prepared for
• specialist advice to review fitness, including:

• blood tests
• other fitness tests.

Racing program plans  may include:

• considering recent training performance and level of greyhound health and fitness
• determining exercise and remedial work required prior to trialling or racing
• available and appropriate qualifying trials, including:

• greyhound potential to win
• location and distance of trial
• quality and make up of trial field

• class of races, including:

• grades 1 to 5
• aged
• juvenile
• maiden
• mixed
• non-graded
• special event

• external factors, including:

• distance of races
• race locations
• track surfaces
• weather conditions

• ultimate aim for greyhound .

Racing meeting preparations  may include:

• arranging transportation to and from race meeting and planning departure time
• checking greyhounds' general health and condition
• ensuring required racing documents are available at race meeting
• organising and briefing attendants and catchers, including:

• routine race meeting procedures
• safety procedures at race meeting

• organising gear, including bedding, rug and water.

Race meeting protocols and procedures  will include:

• appropriate presentation of greyhounds, attendants, trainers and others at race meetings
• arriving at race meeting in time for kennelling
• ensuring safety of greyhounds and people
• completing kennelling procedures
• documentation requirements, including:

• greyhound registration certificate
• attendant and trainer registration

• prior to race run procedures, including:

• collecting greyhound from kennels and preparing
• parading greyhound
• starting box loading

• post-race procedures, including:

• catching pen
• care and welfare of greyhound
• inquiries and appeals
• re-kennelling
• swabbing procedures

• post-race transportation
• providing post-transport care for greyhounds.

Officials' directions likely during race meetings  will include:

• asking for greyhound or attendant documentation
• directing greyhound kennelling procedures
• instructing patrons in case of an emergency
• instructing trainer to present greyhound for swabbing
• instructing trainer to present for an inquiry
• questioning on any aspect of conduct of race meeting
• questioning trainer on health or injury status of greyhound
• instructing attendants during kennelling, pre and post-race run procedures.

Information required by greyhound owners  includes:

• prospects of greyhound in race
• protocols for addressing and complying with officials' instructions
• required protocols and safety procedures in parading and presentation areas
• routine procedures for conducting a race meeting
• owner rights in an inquiry or appeal.

Assessment of greyhound's recovery  will include:

• checking for heat or swelling after cool down
• checking for signs of injury or soreness after race
• monitoring greyhound's recovery rate through vital signs.

Assessment of racing condition and performance  will include:

• appetite and general health and wellbeing, including:

• brightness of eyes and condition of coat
• muscle definition
• recovery time after exercise
• weight of greyhound

• aerobic performance
• box draw and box manners
• quality of opposition
• sex of greyhound
• stage of preparation
• trialling and racing times.

Variables that impact on performance  may include:

• housing conditions for greyhound
• influence of field position
• interference
• level of fitness and wellbeing of greyhound
• manner in which race was run
• speed of race
• starting position
• temperament of greyhound
• track surface and condition
• travelling conditions for greyhound
• type of race
• weather and temperature.

Future race and training plans are prepared  with consideration to:

• checking greyhound's health and fitness via blood and other tests
• consulting with owners
• determining if greyhound is better suited to a different race class
• determining if training or conditioning needs to be modified, for example:

• more or less work
• varying type of work

• race performance during current preparation
• spelling the greyhound
• rationalising whether greyhound should continue to race.

Unit Sector 

Greyhound racing code

Co-requisite units 

Functional Area 

Racing performance services