Unit of competency
Modification History
Release |
Comments |
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 provide enrichment to stimulate, replenish and maintain appropriate behavioural patterns of all animals, including those housed short-term or long-term in an animal care facility.
The unit applies to individuals working in the animal care industry where it is necessary to provide enrichment programs for animals. They work under broad direction, typically in a team environment, and are required to take responsibility for their own work, including carrying out assigned tasks, organising processes, solving routine problems and working to schedules.
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
Behaviour and Training (BEH)
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. Observe and record animal behaviour |
1.1 Observe and record behaviour of individual animals and groups of animals according to workplace policies and procedures 1.2 Compare observed behaviour with known normal behavioural patterns for a range of species 1.3 Identify and encourage natural behaviour 1.4 Recognise and record signs of stress and determine possible stressors 1.5 Report maladaptive or undesirable behaviour indicating less than optimum physical and mental wellbeing to supervisor |
2. Prepare an enrichment program |
2.1 Participate in the development and implementation of a long-term environmental and behavioural enrichment strategy for animals in care 2.2 Conduct short-term environmental and behavioural enrichment for animals, considering those with behaviours requiring attention 2.3 Comply with animal welfare and health and safety requirements in preparing and implementing enrichment programs |
3. Implement enrichment programs |
3.1 Determine and assess types of species-appropriate environmental and behavioural enrichment strategies 3.2 Identify and assess potentially adverse consequences of an enrichment strategy, considering safety and welfare risks 3.3 Clean, decontaminate and dispose of or replace used enrichment items appropriately 3.4 Implement enrichment strategy appropriate to the species and individual animal according to workplace procedures 3.5 Document and record responses to enrichment strategy 3.6 Review enrichment program and suggest modifications where appropriate in consultation with supervisor and document 3.7 Implement any agreed modifications, and document the outcomes |
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 |
Reading |
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Writing |
|
Oral communication |
|
Numeracy |
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Unit Mapping Information
Code and title current version |
Code and title previous version |
Comments |
Equivalence status |
ACMBEH302 Provide enrichment for animals |
ACMGAS302 Provide enrichment for animals |
Minor changes to element and performance criteria for clarity Assessment requirements updated |
Equivalent |
Links
Companion Volumes, including Implementation Guides, are available at VETNet: - https://vetnet.gov.au/Pages/TrainingDocs.aspx?q=b75f4b23-54c9-4cc9-a5db-d3502d154103