Unit of competency details

Unit descriptor 

This unit of competency specifies the outcomes required to perform industry-regulated procedures for the recording of permanent identification and registration of individual racing greyhounds. It requires knowledge of greyhound features and greyhound behaviour traits, effective interpretation and completion of written documentation, and compliance with animal welfare legislation and rules of racing.

To undertake this unit the candidate will be able to apply safe greyhound handling skills and follow workplace OHS standards.

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 stipendiary stewards or State Principal Racing Authority delegated officers in performing industry-regulated identification and branding of racing 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 

Verify identification.

1. Industry identification features  are used to identify greyhounds.

2. Whelping certificates and other industry documentation  are used to verify relationship of greyhound to declared parents.

3. Age of greyhound is estimated and compared with breeding and industry documentation.

Apply ear brand.

4. Animals are restrained for safety of greyhound and handler or operator.

5. Ear branding equipment is prepared.

6. Ear brand is applied using humane techniques  .

7. Documentation is completed.

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 licensed or registered industry personnel and others using assertive communication techniques to gather, interpret and relay information related to performing ear branding and marking up procedures
• completing duties in accordance with safe operating procedures and nominated time frame
• complying with animal welfare legislation
• identifying individual greyhounds using industry-approved terminology, records and signalment
• operating ear branding equipment
• reading and interpreting workplace documentation, including rules of racing
• relating to people from a range of social, cultural and ethnic backgrounds and with varying physical and mental abilities
• written communication skills to complete workplace documentation and reports.

Required knowledge 

• common greyhound behaviour traits
• communication procedures within the kennel and wider racing industry
• first aid procedures for humans and greyhounds
• operating procedures for ear branding equipment
• procedures for completing workplace documentation related to greyhound identification and registration
• racing industry animal welfare requirements
• racing industry safety requirements, including safe operating procedures
• relevant rules of racing.

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 ear branding and marking up of greyhounds
• implementation of procedures and timely techniques for safe, effective and efficient ear branding application
• working with others to undertake and complete the required procedures that meet required outcomes.

Evidence should be collected over a period of time in a range of workplace-relevant contexts and include dealings with an appropriate range of situations.

Context of and specific resources for assessment 

Competency must be assessed in a racing workplace that provides access to the required resources or simulated environment approved by the relevant State Principal Racing Authority. 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
• materials and equipment relevant to assessing candidate's ability to perform ear branding and marking up procedures
• safe handling areas, such as commercial kennels, training and racetracks
• 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
• simulation exercises conducted in a State Principal Racing Authority approved simulated environment.

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:

• RGRCMN001A Comply with the rules of racing and related protocols
• RGRPSG201A Handle greyhounds.

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 perform ear branding and marking up of greyhounds. Workplaces include greyhound racecourses, training tracks and administration buildings.

Stewards oversee the conduct of all racing-related activities within the responsibilities and powers described under the rules of racing. The conditions under which this unit is delivered and assessed must take into consideration these powers and responsibilities. These powers and responsibilities are further described in the rules of racing for the relevant racing code. It is strongly recommended that training facilitators and learners refer to these powers and responsibilities as part of the range of conditions for all units covered in the steward specialist area of the Training Package.

Industry identification features  will include:

• breeding
• colour
• date of whelping
• ear brands
• markings
• owner
• racing name
• registration number
• sex.

Other industry documentation  may include:

• naming and registration certificate
• kennel return.

Ear branding equipment required  includes:

• collar
• lead
• muzzle
• tattoo.

Humane techniques  ensure:

• compliance with animal welfare legislation
• compliance with rules of racing
• safety of handler and operator
• safety of greyhound.

Unit Sector 

Greyhound racing code

Co-requisite units 

Functional Area 

Racing performance services