Unit of competency

Modification History

Application

This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to develop a plan that facilitates the set up of a companion animal evacuation facility.

This unit applies to individuals who apply research and planning skills and knowledge to plan for emergency community companion animal housing needs. These analyse information and exercise judgement to complete a range of planning activities. It applies to individuals who work autonomously and apply in-depth, technical skills and knowledge to provide and communicate solutions for predictable and unpredictable problems within their scope of professional practice.

All work must be carried out to comply with Commonwealth and state/territory health and safety and animal welfare regulations.

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

Pre-requisite Unit

Nil

Unit Sector

Animal Incident Management (AIM)

Elements and Performance Criteria

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.

Unit Mapping Information

Links

Companion Volumes, including Implementation Guides, are available at VETNet: - https://vetnet.gov.au/Pages/TrainingDocs.aspx?q=b75f4b23-54c9-4cc9-a5db-d3502d154103

Assessment requirements

Modification History

Performance Evidence

An individual demonstrating competency must satisfy all of the elements and performance criteria in this unit.

There must be evidence that the individual has developed a plan for a companion animal evacuation facility in a local area in response to one of the following major incidents:

• flood
• fire
• earthquake
• extreme weather event
• other major incident relevant to local area.

Knowledge Evidence

An individual must be able to demonstrate the knowledge required to perform the tasks outlined in the elements and performance criteria of this unit. This includes knowledge of:

• considerations for the set-up of a companion animal evacuation centre, including:

• being outside the hazard impact area
• existing facilities available and for the required period
• accessible to accommodation, transport systems, service providers, veterinary care
• access to essential communications networks

• existing facilities in the local area to house companion animals during an incident that may be suitable, including:

• showgrounds
• boarding kennels
• veterinary surgeries
• existing animal shelters
• farming facilities
• vacant buildings in industrial areas such as halls, sporting venues and community centres

• safety and security issues relating to a companion animal evacuation facility, including:

• yards
• cages and enclosures
• enclosed and lockable gates
• easily accessible water
• infection control

• facility capacity considerations, including:

• suitable for different companion animal species and room to separate species
• potential for expansion with additional buildings or yards
• quarantine areas and biosecurity implications
• areas for storage, office, toilets and meals
• animal waste collection and disposal
• recording processes for providing care
• processes for unclaimed animals
• areas for office processes such as registration
• parking availability

• facility capacity for animal welfare maintenance, including:

• appropriate shelter
• access to feed and water
• access to first aid, veterinary care and medication
• access to companion animal owners

• major incidents involving the rescue of companion animals, including:

• floods
• fires
• earthquakes
• extreme weather events
• human-induced hazards
• occurrences that are likely to entail inter/intra-state and possibly international resources

• Australasian Inter-service Incident Management System (AIIMS) principles
• work health and safety process requirements for companion animal evacuation facilities, including personal protective equipment (PPE)
• regulatory requirements
• information documentation requirements for a companion animal evacuation facility
• budgetary and resource allocation requirements for a companion animal evacuation facility
• local resources, facilities, suppliers and tradespeople
• relevant Commonwealth, state/territory and local government policies, guidelines and codes of practice
• workplace policies, protocols and procedures
• stakeholder consultation, collaboration and participation principles and techniques
• local networks and community organisations, including:

• state or territory health departments
• police and other emergency services
• social security
• local government
• non-government organisations
• service providers
• community groups
• local emergency management committees
• Animal Ready Community (ARC) contacts

• animal care welfare practices relating to companion animals.

Assessment Conditions

Assessment of the skills in this unit of competency must take place under the following conditions:

• physical conditions:

• skills must be demonstrated in a workplace setting or an environment that accurately represents workplace conditions or an incident scene – this includes the use of simulations and scenarios where assessment would be unsafe, impractical or unethical

• resources, equipment and materials:

• regulations relating to suitable facility planning
• animal welfare regulations

• specifications:

• workplace policies and procedures

• relationships:

• community stakeholders, including companion animal owners.

Assessors of this unit must satisfy the requirements for assessors in applicable vocational education and training legislation, frameworks and/or standards.

Links

Companion Volumes, including Implementation Guides, are available at VETNet: - https://vetnet.gov.au/Pages/TrainingDocs.aspx?q=b75f4b23-54c9-4cc9-a5db-d3502d154103