Unit of competency

Modification History

Application

This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to develop, monitor and review behavioural management strategies, including animal training and enrichment activities. It incorporates implementing short-term and long-term objectives requiring the involvement and cooperation of a range of staff within the facility.

This unit applies to senior team members with zoo keeping, wildlife care, aquarium or related animal care experience who generally supervise others and provide and communicate solutions to a range of predictable and unpredictable problems. Tasks may vary in scale from individual animal welfare to social group management, working across a range of programs and/or animal groups in the facility.

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 are known to apply to this unit at the time of publication.

Pre-requisite Unit

Nil

Unit Sector

Behaviour and Training (BEH)

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:

• researched, created and analysed a behaviour profile for one animal or one species
• developed, monitored and reviewed one training and one enrichment program, including short-term and long-term objectives for one animal or species
• maintained records for each animal or species
• provided support and advice to two staff members on behavioural husbandry, including animal training and enrichment programs
• contributed one recommendation to the facility's animal behavioural husbandry policy.

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:

• specific behavioural needs of an animal or species, including:

• how to collect information via detailed observation, research and discussions with others
• natural habitat – environment and diet
• normal and abnormal behaviour and behavioural patterns
• housing, nutrition and feeding, enclosure or exhibit and breeding requirements
• socialisation and conspecific interactions
• anatomy and physiology, including reproductive behaviour

• features of behavioural husbandry, including:

• behavioural training
• enrichment programs

• key purpose, features and techniques used in training, including:

• assisting with husbandry activities
• accessing animals for health and veterinary checks
• interpretative programs

• key purpose, features and strategies used in enrichment programs, including:

• goal-based enrichment
• encouraging natural behaviours
• promoting wellbeing and animal welfare

• animal welfare principles and ethics related to behaviour management, including:

• Australian Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines for Exhibited Animals
• animal welfare assessment frameworks – Five Domains, Quality of Life, Five Freedoms
• state/territory regulations

• relevant facility policies and procedures, including:

• managing animal behaviour
• health and safety and emergency procedures
• animal handling

• facility record-keeping requirements relevant to behaviour management, including:

• information management software
• animal husbandry manuals
• observation and monitoring records.

Assessment Conditions

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

• physical conditions:

• an animal care workplace or an environment that accurately reflects a real workplace

• resources, equipment and materials:

• live animals as specified in the performance evidence
• equipment and resources appropriate to work undertaken in an animal care facility

• specifications:

• facility policies and procedures relating to behavioural management

• relationships:

• team members.

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