Unit of competency details

Unit descriptor 

This unit of competency covers the process of preparing and successfully releasing native wildlife into their natural environment.

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. Investigate options  for release of native animals

1.1. Habitat of native animals  for release is researched and suitable release locations identified and evaluated.

1.2. Risks to released native animals are identified and options to minimise risks evaluated.

1.3. Release strategy is developed and site selected and prepared as required.

1.4. Release site is monitored  in consultation with experienced personnel.

2. Prepare for animal release

2.1. Prior to release animals are identified and assessed for readiness  to be released.

2.2. Monitoring devices or tactics are evaluated and implemented where appropriate.

2.3. Documentation  is completed as required in accordance with legislative requirements and facility policies and procedures.

3. Release and monitor native animals

3.1. Release day is determined according to animal needs.

3.2. Animals are handled safely and humanely and transported to the release site in accordance with occupational health and safety  (OHS ), animal welfare and facility procedures.

3.3. Release strategies  are implemented to address the requirements of particular animals.

3.4. Released animals are monitored, where possible, to ensure successful return to their natural environment.

3.5. Records are updated.

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 release strategy in consultation with experienced personnel and organisations
• employ safe, humane and environmentally responsible organisational systems and procedures when handling, transporting and releasing native animals
• follow quarantine and disease control procedures
• implement facility policies and procedures
• 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 other experienced personnel and consulting with coordinators and/or other experienced personnel
• numeracy skills to estimate, calculate and record routine 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 native animals
• animal monitoring devices and tactics
• basic animal husbandry requirements and rehabilitation procedures for common native species
• database to establish status of species in the wild
• natural dietary requirements for specific species
• normal behaviour of native wildlife
• principles and objectives of animal rehabilitation and release programs, animal welfare and ethics
• relevant facility policies and procedures, including OHS, animal welfare, 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:

• prepare native animals for release
• transport and release animals
• monitor success of release program, where possible
• maintain accurate records.

The skills and knowledge required to release native animals to natural environment 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 a range of rehabilitated native wildlife potentially ready for release 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.

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.

Native animals  may include:

• rescued and rehabilitated native wildlife:

• amphibians
• birds
• marsupials
• montremes
• reptiles.

Release site  selection and monitoring  considerations may include:

• selected site should be close to where the animal was found or captured, as relocation to new areas is not advised due to the potential of:

• creating competition with local wildlife
• disease spread
• displacing other animals from their home range
• genetic integrity compromise.

• site may be monitored for:

• adequate shelter
• availability of natural food and water supply
• habitat destruction
• human interaction or intervention
• pests
• predators
• suitable numbers of same species of animals.

Readiness  for release considerations may include:

• indications of animals' readiness for release:

• being dehumanised
• displaying appropriate species behaviour
• displaying normal physical features (e.g. returning to waterproof state)
• feeding independently and eating at least 85 per cent natural diet that will be available in the proposed release site
• moving freely
• recognising own species
• socially adapted to survive in their natural state
• recognising natural food sources
• used to exposure to natural elements

• readiness will also depend on:

• availability of a suitable release site
• other habitat considerations
• practicality of releasing animals into the area where they were originally found
• timing of release (e.g. species migratory patterns)
• weather conditions.

Documentation  in relation to rescued wildlife that must be maintained may include:

• 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, if applicable
• yearly returns to relevant state or territory bodies detailing the survival of all wildlife held.

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.

Release strategies  may include:

• ensuring animal readiness for release:

• physical wellbeing of the animal
• necessary survival skills are present

• steps for release:

• veterinary examination to ensure animals are clinically free of diseases and parasite
• notify relevant government department of proposed release, as required
• organise tagging, banding or other marking, as required, for monitoring purposes
• soft or hard release
• release as near as possible to original habitat
• release in the appropriate social group, where applicable to species
• select appropriate weather, season and time of day.

Unit sector 

Captive animals

Competency field 

Co-requisite units