Unit of competency details

Unit descriptor 

This unit of competency specifies the outcomes required to conduct parading procedures for greyhounds prior to the start of greyhound races. It requires an ability to work closely with people, use appropriate communication skills to direct and control greyhound racing participants, and use verbal and reading skills to interpret racing documentation and directions from stewards and racing officials.

To undertake this unit the candidate will be able to recognise greyhound behaviour patterns and follow workplace OHS and animal welfare standards.

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

Licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements 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 race meeting staff assisting in the conduct of race meetings.

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 

Call starters to marshalling area.

1. Race starters are confirmed and identification of greyhounds  is verified.

2. Box draw is verified and race rugs and handler jackets are allocated.

3. Box draw order is used to marshall greyhounds.

4. Fit and safety of muzzles are checked.

5. Rules of racing , and OHS and racing safety protocols and procedures are complied with.

6. Non-compliance with rules of racing is reported to stewards or appropriate racing officials.

Escort race field to start boxes.

7. All starters are kept in line of sight.

8. Greyhounds are paraded  according to race club procedures.

9. Greyhounds are accompanied to start.

Present race field to race starter (or load boxes).

10. Box loading order is used to line up greyhounds.

11. Control of race field is taken by starter or approval to load greyhounds is confirmed by chief steward.

12. Greyhounds are loaded according to racing protocols and procedures.

13. Handlers are directed to safe area .

REQUIRED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE 

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

Required skills 

• applying safe handling and work practices when dealing with greyhounds
• communicating with stewards, racing officials, and licensed and registered personnel using assertive communication techniques to gather, interpret and relay information related to parade official duties
• completing duties in accordance with safe operating procedures and nominated time frame
• complying with OHS and animal welfare legislation
• complying with race day procedures and relevant rules of racing
• ensuring no contact with greyhounds by unauthorised personnel
• following directions of racing officials and stewards
• handing over race field to starter
• identifying common signs and symptoms of distressed or injured greyhounds
• locating allocated kennels
• maintaining visual contact of race field whilst escorting greyhounds and handlers during parade and walk to race start
• marshalling greyhounds in race order and ensuring race field stays in order and together during marshalling, parade and walk to race start
• 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
• reporting problems or incidents to kennel supervisor, stewards and other officials in a timely manner
• verifying box draw and allocating race rugs and handler jackets
• verifying identification of greyhounds
• written communication skills to complete workplace documentation or reports.

Required knowledge 

• basic industry terminology related to greyhound racing procedures
• communication procedures within the kennel and wider racing industry
• procedures for conduct of pre and post-race parading
• race meeting procedures and protocols
• racing industry animal welfare requirements
• racing industry safety requirements, including safe operating procedures
• rules of racing for greyhounds, including state and local variations relating to race day procedures and animal welfare
• signals and symptoms of injured, distressed or sick greyhounds
• time management for the completion of work tasks
• written and verbal report formats and protocols for reporting non-compliance issues to supervisor and stewards.

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 are to apply when performing parade official duties at greyhound race meetings
• implementation of procedures and timely techniques for the safe, effective and efficient performance of parade official greyhound race meeting duties
• working with others to undertake and complete greyhound race meeting 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 race meeting environments.

Context of and specific resources for assessment 

Competency must be assessed in a racing workplace that provides access to 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 and handlers
• materials and equipment relevant to assessing candidate's ability to perform the duties of a parade official at greyhound race meetings
• safe handling areas, such as racetracks with racing authority approved kennels and associated facilities
• 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.

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 assess the skills required to perform the duties of parade official at greyhound race meetings. Workplaces include greyhound kennels and racecourses, training tracks and public areas.

Identification of greyhounds  may include:

• coat colour and markings
• ear brand
• race rug colour and number
• racing registration certificate.

Fit and safety of muzzles  may include:

• complying with greyhound-approved gear
• distance from end of nose and space around nose that allows for comfort of greyhound while preventing greyhound from biting.

Rules of racing  will include:

• Australian and local rules of racing.

OHS and racing safety protocols and procedures  may include:

• 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
• adhering to rules of racing and rules of the race venue
• considering variables that influence behaviour of greyhounds, such as:

• fences and equipment
• lure, wind and noise
• other persons or animals
• vehicles

• contributing to development of risk control measures
• following safe work practices
• identifying and reporting unsafe work practices
• identifying emergency situations
• understanding individual greyhound behaviour
• using approved gear or equipment
• wearing approved personal protective equipment.

Parading procedures  may include:

• allocating race rugs and handler jackets according to box draw number
• verifying greyhound identification against registration papers and race book details
• maintaining greyhound race order and visual contact of race field while escorting greyhounds and handlers during parade, public viewing and walk to race start
• stopping field if a greyhound needs to empty out or for any other problems
• handing field over to race starter.

Safe area for handlers  will be:

• area allocated on racetrack for handlers, usually behind racetrack fence to avoid potential distraction or impact by racing greyhounds.

Unit Sector 

Greyhound racing code

Co-requisite units 

Functional Area 

Racing performance services