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Unit of competency details

ACMATE502 - Manage and maintain the health of research animals (Release 2)

Summary

Usage recommendation:
Current
Mapping:
MappingNotesDate
Supersedes and is equivalent to ACMATE502A - Manage and maintain the health of research animalsUpdated to meet Standards for Training Packages 28/Nov/2017

Release Status:
Current
Releases:
ReleaseRelease date
2 (this release) 10/Sep/2019
(View details for release 1) 29/Nov/2017

Companion volumes:
Unit of competency Assessment requirements

Delivery:
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Training packages that include this unit

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Classifications

SchemeCodeClassification value
ASCED Module/Unit of Competency Field of Education Identifier 050105 Animal Husbandry  

Classification history

SchemeCodeClassification valueStart dateEnd date
ASCED Module/Unit of Competency Field of Education Identifier 050105 Animal Husbandry  29/Nov/2017 
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Unit of competency

Modification History

Release

Comments

Release 2

This version released with ACM Animal Care and Management Training Package Version 3.0.

Release 1

This version released with ACM Animal Care and Management Training Package Version 1.0.

Application

This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to manage the health of animals in a research environment.

It applies to individuals who work as part of a team with other staff, researchers and veterinarians to manage the health of research animals.

All work practices must be undertaken in accordance with legislative requirements, the current Australian Code for the Care and Use of Animals for Scientific Purposes (the Code), the organisation's standard operating procedures, and protocols, policies and procedures approved by the organisation's Animal Ethics Committee (AEC). Users are advised to check legislative requirements for their jurisdiction.

In addition to complying with legal and ethical responsibilities, individuals are required to minimise stress and discomfort for animals through gentle and calm handling and appropriate care.

Pre-requisite Unit

Nil

Unit Sector

Animal Technology (ATE)

Elements and Performance Criteria

Elements

Performance Criteria

Elements describe the essential outcomes.

Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element.

1. Monitor the health status of research animals

1.1 Develop standard operating procedures to monitor the health of research animals for signs of disease

1.2 Follow the organisation's standard operating procedures, including health and safety requirements, when monitoring the health of research animals

2. Investigate and recognise disease processes in research animals

2.1 Contribute to the development of standard operating procedures to investigate and recognise diseases in research animals

2.2 Follow the organisation's standard operating procedures to investigate and recognise diseases in research animals

2.3 Recognise and report signs of ill health, sickness behaviours and pain to appropriate staff

2.4 Recognise abnormalities in research animals, including during post-mortem examinations, and record against health status of animals

2.5 Recognise post-mortem changes due to deterioration in tissues and organs.

3. Prevent, treat and control disease in research animals

3.1 Contribute to the development of standard operating procedures to prevent, treat and control disease in research animals

3.2 Follow the organisation's standard operating procedures when preventing, treating and controlling a range of diseases in research animals

3.3 Contribute to development and implementation strategies to investigate, prevent, treat, control and monitor disease

4. Record effects on research animals

4.1 Recognise and document effects of disease processes in research animals on the research program

4.2 Recognise and document effects on research animals of experimental techniques

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.

Skill

Description

Writing
  • Prepare written reports and workplace documentation that communicate complex information clearly and effectively about the effects of disease processes in research animals and the impacts on research animals of experimental techniques

Numeracy
  • Recognise safety parameters and interpret numerical information regarding quantities of feed, water, food supplements and medication
  • Calculate changes to dosages due to animal health and disease issues

Interact with others
  • Work independently and as part of a team to monitor indicators of animal health

Unit Mapping Information

Code and title current version

Code and title previous version

Comments

Equivalence status

ACMATE502 Manage and maintain the health of research animals Release 2

ACMATE502 Manage and maintain the health of research animals Release 1

Minor changes to performance criteria and assessment requirements for clarity

Equivalent unit

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

Release

Comments

Release 2

This version released with ACM Animal Care and Management Training Package Version 3.0.

Release 1

This version released with ACM Animal Care and Management Training Package Version 1.0.

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:

  • assisted in the investigation of disease processes and acted to prevent, treat, control and monitor disease on at least one occasion
  • contributed to the development of two standard operating procedures to manage and maintain the health of research animals
  • recognised and documented the impact of at least one disease process in a research program.

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:

  • principles and practices in managing health of research animals
  • anatomical and physiological structures and functions related to:
  • health and wellbeing of animals commonly held in facility
  • ante-mortem and post-mortem changes in animals
  • industry terminology, including for:
  • administration of substances
  • sampling techniques
  • animal technology workplace practices
  • identifying animals and describing their behaviour
  • diseases
  • overview of animal diseases, including:
  • microbiology of common diseases in research animals
  • types of disease vectors
  • types of infectious and non-infectious diseases relevant to commonly held research animals
  • causes of infectious diseases and non-infectious diseases in commonly held research animals
  • tissue and fluid sample types and methods of collection
  • biohazards in the workplace of significance to animals and humans
  • common disorders found in research animals
  • parameters of normal and abnormal behaviour in animals, including signs of a healthy animal, and signs of an animal in pain or distress in commonly held species
  • differences between ill health and phenotypes of genetically modified animals
  • protocols, legal and ethical considerations in establishing animal care procedures and policies and gaining ethics committee approval
  • current, relevant codes of practice, including the Australian Code for the Care and Use of Animals for Scientific Purposes
  • relevant aspects of state or territory legislation and regulations relating to health of research animals
  • organisational policies and safe work procedures relating to health of research animals
  • workplace hygiene standards, including commonly used disinfectants, cleaning agents, cleaning techniques and cleaning equipment and materials
  • sources of relevant scientific and technical literature.

Assessment Conditions

Assessment of skills 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
  • resources, equipment and materials:
  • personal protective equipment – used when working with research animals
  • animals and animal housing used in research
  • specifications:
  • organisational policies and procedures, legislation, regulations, industry standards and codes of practice relevant to work undertaken in animal research.

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

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