Unit of competency
Modification History
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Release |
Comments |
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Release 1 |
This version released with ACM Animal Care and Management Training Package Version 4.0. |
Application
This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to manage animals and facilitate human-animal interactions during animal-assisted services. It involves organising animal care, access to facilities and interactions with people including participants (clients, students, patients) and qualified practitioners (education, medical and/or health care). This unit does not cover the skills and knowledge required to train assistance animals.
This unit applies to animal-handlers working in a team situation with practitioners who use animals as part of their professional practice to support people with a range of special needs or disabilities. They work autonomously and apply specialist knowledge and skills to provide solutions for predictable and unpredictable problems.
All work must be carried out to comply with workplace procedures according to Commonwealth and state/territory health and safety and animal welfare regulations, legislation and standards that apply to the workplace.
No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.
Pre-requisite Unit
Nil
Unit Sector
Animal-Assisted Services (AAS)
Elements and Performance Criteria
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Elements |
Performance Criteria |
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Elements describe the essential outcomes. |
Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. |
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1. Establish working relationship for animal-assisted service |
1.1 Confirm type and requirements of the animal-assisted service with the practitioner or service provider 1.2 Identify key personnel, responsibilities and reporting requirements 1.3 Confirm the role and activities required are within scope of own training and competency 1.4 Establish compliance, and contractual or working relationship required for involvement in the animal-assisted activity |
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2. Establish role and purpose of animal-assisted activities |
2.1 Identify the purpose of the animal-assisted service in consultation with the practitioner and/or service provider 2.2 Identify the needs of the participant/s and the goals of the planned activity 2.3 Confirm the role of the handler and the animal in the planned activity 2.4 Identify specific species behaviours that may meet the needs of participants 2.5 Confirm the animal has been assessed as suitable for the planned activities 2.6 Confirm and clarify planned activities for group or individual sessions and participant consent arrangements 2.7 Prepare documentation for recording information relevant to animal and service requirements |
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3. Plan involvement of animal in animal-assisted service |
3.1 Obtain permissions or relevant certification documentation for animal as required 3.2 Identify, minimise and control risks associated with the animal-assisted service, using personal protective equipment and implementing infection control measures as required 3.3 Ensure animal meets health, care and hygiene requirements of service provider and/or facility 3.4 Organise animal handling or transport and facility access prior to planned activity 3.5 Ensure availability of water, retreat areas and other relevant species related equipment to meet requirements for the welfare and care of the animal 3.6 Prepare animal for interaction with people in group or individual sessions |
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4. Facilitate human-animal interaction |
4.1 Assess participant capacity, knowledge and experience with animals 4.2 Explain arrangements and safety procedures for interacting with animal to all team members 4.3 Facilitate human-animal interactions between participant and animal, initiating activities as required to achieve goals 4.4 Monitor interactions to ensure safety of team members and animal 4.5 Ensure compliance with policies and procedures of the practitioner or service provider and relevant legislative requirements |
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5. Monitor animal during activities |
5.1 Monitor and respond to animal body language, signals and emotional states during activities, applying humane, evidence based methods 5.2 Plan stress prevention and relief strategies specific to animal species 5.3 Monitor animal to prevent negative emotional welfare state and fatigue from involvement in activities |
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6. Review animal-assisted service |
6.1 Assess the animal's suitability for involvement in animal-assisted service using appropriate assessment criteria 6.2 Document human-animal interactions according to practitioner or service provider requirements 6.3 Plan exit strategy in consultation with practitioner or service provider, as required |
Foundation Skills
This section describes those language, literacy, numeracy and employment skills that are essential for performance in this unit of competency but are not explicit in the performance criteria.
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Skill |
Description |
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Reading |
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Writing |
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Oral communication |
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Unit Mapping Information
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Code and title current version |
Code and title previous version |
Comments |
Equivalence status |
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ACMAAS401 |
Not applicable |
Unit created to address an emerging skill required by industry |
Newly created |
Links
Companion Volumes, including Implementation Guides, are available at VETNet: - https://vetnet.gov.au/Pages/TrainingDocs.aspx?q=b75f4b23-54c9-4cc9-a5db-d3502d154103
