Unit of competency details

Unit descriptor 

This unit of competency covers the process of providing immediate care for rescued native wildlife and rehabilitating animals.

Licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements may apply to this unit. Therefore, it will be necessary to check with the relevant state or territory regulators for current licensing, legislative or regulatory requirements before undertaking this unit.

Application of the unit 

The unit is applicable to wildlife animal keepers or carers working in wildlife animal shelters or parks, either on a paid or voluntary basis.

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.

Prerequisite units 

Employability skills 

This unit contains employability skills.

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.

ELEMENT 

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA 

1. Provide immediate care for rescued animals 

1.1. Native animals are handled following occupational health and safety  (OHS ) procedures and using personal protective equipment .

1.2. Quarantine and disease control procedures  are followed in accordance with facility policies and procedures.

1.3. Animal species are identified and initial animal emergency care  is initiated in accordance with policies and procedures.

1.4. Animals are examined and seriously injured  animals are referred to supervisors and/or taken to veterinary clinic for immediate treatment.

1.5. Information  on each animal is collected and recorded in accordance with legislative and facility policies and procedures.

2. Rehabilitate rescued animals

2.1. Suitable species-relevant rearing procedures  are applied in accordance with industry guidelines.

2.2. Captive diets  similar to the natural diet of the relevant species are provided.

2.3. Common problems  experienced by rescued animals are identified and treated as directed by veterinarian.

2.4. Species-specific recovery procedures  are followed in accordance with relevant legislative and facility  policies and procedures.

2.5. Deceased animals required for research purposes are processed  in accordance with legislative and facility policies and procedures.

2.6. Documentation  required in relation to rescued wildlife is maintained.

3. Prepare animals for post rehabilitation life

3.1. Options  for returning mature animals to native habitat are evaluated.

3.2. Options for orphaned animals are evaluated.

3.3. Hunting or foraging skills development opportunities are provided as required.

3.4. Socialising opportunities are provided where appropriate.

3.5. Tactics to reduce human interaction are implemented as required.

REQUIRED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE 

This section describes the skills and knowledge required for this unit.

Required skills 

• complete animal husbandry tasks as required
• develop and follow animal rehabilitation procedures in consultation with relevant people and organisations
• employ safe, humane and environmentally responsible organisation systems and procedures when handling and/or working with animals
• follow quarantine and disease control procedures
• implement facility policies and procedures
• provide basic animal first aid
• undertake basic preparation for necropsy requirements
• literacy skills to read and implement facility policies and procedures, including OHS and waste management; follow treatment instructions; record accurately and legibly information collected; and select and apply procedures to a range of tasks
• communication skills/language to fulfil the job role as specified by the facility, including questioning techniques, active listening, asking for clarification from coordinators and/or veterinarians and consulting with coordinators and/or veterinarians
• numeracy skills to estimate, calculate and record basic workplace measures
• interpersonal skills to work with and relate to people from a range of cultural, social and religious backgrounds
• problem-solving skills to use available resources and prioritise daily tasks
• use safe manual handling techniques and/or equipment
• use safe waste handling and disposal procedures.

Required knowledge 

• anatomical structures and physiological features of common native animals
• basic animal husbandry requirements and rehabilitation procedures for common native species
• natural dietary requirements for specific species
• normal behaviour of native wildlife
• pathogens and their potential impact on the environment
• principles and objectives of animal rehabilitation programs, animal welfare and ethics
• relevant facility policies and procedures, including OHS, hygiene standards and other industry guidelines
• relevant legislation including state or territory wildlife Acts and codes of practice
• wildlife ecology, including population dynamics, habitat selection, competition, and predator-prey interactions.

EVIDENCE GUIDE 

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.

Overview of assessment 

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit 

The evidence required to demonstrate competence 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:

• identify and handle native wildlife correctly and humanely
• provide care for rescued native animals
• develop and implement rehabilitation programs for native animals in consultation with relevant people and organisations
• prepare animals for post-rehabilitation life
• maintain accurate records.

The skills and knowledge required to rehabilitate native wildlife 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 a captive animal workplace or an environment that reproduces normal work conditions.

There must be access in either situation to rescued native wildlife requiring rehabilitation as well as the appropriate equipment and/or resources 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 and where possible, over a number of assessment activities.

The assessment strategy must include practical skills assessment. Suggested strategies for this unit are:

• written and/or oral assessment of candidate's required knowledge
• observed, documented and first-hand testimonial evidence of candidate's application of practical tasks
• simulation exercises that reproduce normal work conditions
• third-party evidence
• workplace documentation
• portfolio.

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 

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.

Rescued animals  refers to:

• native wildlife rescued from the wild:

• amphibians
• birds
• mammals
• reptiles.

OHS  risks when working with animals may include:

• animal bites, envenomation, kicks, scratches and crush injuries
• biological hazardous waste and sharps disposal
• handling of chemicals and medicines
• inhalation of aerosol particles
• intraocular contamination
• manual handling, including carrying, lifting and shifting
• needle pricks and cuts from other sharps
• release of infective agents (animal and human)
• slippery or uneven work surfaces
• zoonoses.

Personal protective equipment  may include:

• animal handling gauntlets
• boots
• gloves
• hessian bags to wrap around arm
• long-sleeved and legged clothing
• safety goggles.

Disease control procedures  may include:

• appropriate reprocessing of reusable equipment
• aseptic technique
• environmental controls (e.g. design and maintenance of premises and cleaning)
• isolation/cohorting
• personal hygiene practices especially washing and drying hands (e.g. before and after animal contact)
• safe handling and disposal of sharps and other clinical, related and general waste
• surface cleaning and management of blood and body fluid spills
• techniques to limit contamination
• use of personal protective equipment.

Initial animal emergency care  may include:

• clearing animal's mouth and nose to assist breathing
• applying pressure bandages to stem external bleeding
• supporting bandages to immobilise fractures
• observing injuries
• treating dehydration
• providing warmth and comfort for shock.

Seriously injured  may include:

• bleeding
• evidence of poisoning or pain
• missing fur or skin
• obvious head injury
• paralysis
• puncture wounds
• seizures
• visible limb or wing fractures
• visible trauma and/or bruising.

Information  may include:

• exact location where animals were found
• date and time of collection
• presence of other animals
• known circumstances
• conditions including weather
• human activities in the area.

Problems associated with animal care and orphan rearing procedures  may include:

• behavioural changes
• changes in urine or bowel movements
• feeding problems
• humanisation
• loss of weight
• malnutrition
• parasitism
• poor animal husbandry practices
• poor nutrition standards
• stress-induced conditions
• trauma.

Captive diet  considerations will include:

• ensure captive diet is similar to the natural diet for the species to:

• minimise the impact of captivity
• stimulate normal digestive function

• provide suitable quantity and appropriate quality of food and water for the particular species in care to ensure:

• maximum potential for healing and recovery from wounds and injuries
• growth of young animals
• maximum development of natural survival techniques

• seek advice from knowledgeable person when caring for a species unfamiliar to the carer.

Common problems  experienced by rescued animals may include:

• age-related health conditions
• bloat
• changes in behaviour
• changes in urine and bowel movements
• cloacal prolapse
• dehydration
• discharges
• feeding problems, including milk aspiration and decreased appetite
• fight injuries
• fur loss
• general ill health
• heat stress
• humanisation
• lethargy
• loss of weight
• malnutrition
• parasitic burdens
• stooped position
• stress
• trauma
• zoonotic and other diseases.

Recovery procedures  may include:

• 24-hour care for young animals
• accessing veterinary care and administering medication as directed
• applying relevant husbandry standards to ensure pathogens are not contracted
• cleaning eyes
• dressing wounds
• feeding and hydrating
• integrating with other same-species animals
• minimising stress
• providing warmth
• releasing animals to the natural environment if permitted by relevant legislation
• removing domestic animals from wild animals' presence.

Facilities  and organisations involved in animal rehabilitation may include:

• animal shelters
• captive animal government bodies
• fauna parks
• independent bodies
• volunteer groups/individuals.

Processes  may include:

• recording data:

• animals' weight
• estimated age and sex
• location where found
• history of animal care, if applicable

• in the case of deceased animals processes may include:

• following recommended industry guidelines for necropsy requirements
• labelling and recording the circumstances of death.

Documentation  in relation to rescued wildlife that must be maintained includes:

• individual animal identification where possible
• health history if applicable
• reports to relevant government departments of species of threatened wildlife or unusual animals held
• approval of shelter operators for any release of rehabilitated wildlife
• yearly returns to relevant state or territory bodies detailing the survival of all wildlife held.

Options  for release considerations may include:

• animals readiness for release:

• age, sex and health status of animal
• ability to establish a home range
• need for social interaction

• availability of suitable release site
• other habitat considerations (e.g. current stock density, availability of natural food and water)
• practicality of releasing animals into the area where they were originally found.

Unit sector 

Captive animals

Competency field 

Co-requisite units