Modification History
Not applicable.
Unit Descriptor
Unit descriptor |
This unit of competency covers the process of practising and promoting animal welfare and ethical standards to others in animal technology workplaces and ensuring work practices, documentation and attitudes meet legislative, regulatory and workplace standards. No licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication. |
Application of the Unit
Application of the unit |
The unit is applicable to a senior or managerial level. All work practices must be undertaken in accordance with the Australian Code of Practice for the Care and Use of Animals for Scientific Purposes and the institution's standard operating procedures. It requires the ability to liaise with and report to the institution's Animal Ethics Committee (AEC) according to institutional requirements. It may also involve supporting and directing other, usually less experienced, staff in carrying out their responsibilities in these areas. In addition to legal and ethical responsibilities, all units of competency in the ACM10 Animal Care and Management Training Package have the requirement for animals to be handled gently and calmly. The individual is required to exhibit appropriate care for animals so that stress and discomfort is minimised. |
Licensing/Regulatory Information
Not applicable.
Pre-Requisites
Prerequisite units |
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Employability Skills Information
Employability skills |
This unit contains employability skills. |
Elements and Performance Criteria Pre-Content
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. |
Elements and Performance Criteria
ELEMENT |
PERFORMANCE CRITERIA |
1. Manage animals in accordance with relevant codes of practice and legislative and institutional requirements |
1.1. The use of animals in the institution's research programs is justified and written approval is sought from the Animal Ethics Committee (AEC). 1.2. Principles of the 3Rs (replacement, refinement and reduction) are applied. 1.3. The scope of interests and responsibilities of the institution, the individual working in animal technology and the community are identified. 1.4. Requirements outlined in the Australian Code of Practice for the Care and Use of Animals for Scientific Purposes are applied to daily animal care. 1.5. Reporting requirements to the AEC are clearly defined and followed. 1.6. The care and containment of experimental animals are followed to comply with AEC requirements. |
2. Manage the euthanasia of research animals |
2.1. Reasons for the decision to euthanase an animal are identified to comply with institutional policies and procedures, program approvals or protocols and legislative requirements . 2.2. Licences and permits required to conduct the euthanasia are obtained 2.3. Euthanasia procedures conducted by less experienced staff are monitored and assistance or support is provided where required. 2.4. The institution's standard operating procedures relating to euthanasia are regularly reviewed and suggestions for improvement are discussed with veterinarians and implemented. 2.5. The institution's standard operating procedures relating to euthanasia are communicated to staff, researchers and others. |
3. Manage the negotiation of approval for non-standard laboratory practices and specific projects |
3.1. Project and laboratory practices that require approval are identified. 3.2. Project and non-standard laboratory practices are justified in line with animal ethics and welfare guidelines. 3.3. Application for approval of non-standard project or laboratory practices is prepared and presented. |
4. Manage the operation of and compliance with containment and exclusion procedures |
4.1. Monitoring programs for containment and exclusion of organisms are developed and implemented. 4.2. Breaches of containment or exclusion reported by staff or others are acted on in accordance with the monitoring program and the institution's standard operating procedures . 4.3. The institution's standard operating procedures relating to containment and exclusion are regularly reviewed and suggestions for improvement are discussed with veterinarians. 4.4. The institution's standard operating procedures relating to containment and exclusion are communicated to staff, researchers and others. |
5. Maintain records |
5.1. Records relating to the management of breeding stock and research and teaching animals are maintained in accordance with requirements. 5.2. Records relating to containment and exclusion are maintained as required by the institution and relevant government authorities. |
Required Skills and Knowledge
REQUIRED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE |
This section describes the skills and knowledge required for this unit. |
Required skills |
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Required knowledge |
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Evidence Guide
EVIDENCE GUIDE |
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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. |
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Overview of assessment |
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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. Assessors should ensure that candidates can:
The skills and knowledge required to manage compliance in animal technology must be transferable to a range of work environments and contexts and include the ability to deal with unplanned events. |
Context of and specific resources for assessment |
Assessment of this unit is to be practical in nature and will be most appropriately assessed in an animal technology research facility or an environment that reproduces normal work conditions and has a scientific establishment licence and access to an approved AEC. There must be access to relevant information, materialsand documentation to enable one to demonstrate competence. |
Method of assessment |
To ensure consistency in one's performance, competency should be demonstrated, to industry defined standards, on more than one occasion over a period of time in order to cover a variety of circumstances, cases and responsibilities, and over a number of assessment activities. The assessment strategies must include practical skills assessment. Suggested strategies for this unit are:
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
RANGE STATEMENT |
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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, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included. |
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Subject to facility requirements animals may include: |
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Principles of 3Rs are: |
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Reasons to conduct euthanasia may include: |
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Legislation requirements that impact on the euthanasia of animals include: |
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Animal ethics and welfare requirements include: |
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Containment and exclusion sites include: |
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Containment and exclusion may apply to: |
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Institute standard operating procedures may include: |
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Records to be kept may include: |
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Unit Sector(s)
Unit sector |
Animal technology |
Competency field
Competency field |
Co-requisite units
Co-requisite units |
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