Modification History
Not applicable.
Unit Descriptor
Unit descriptor |
This unit of competency covers the process of monitoring illness and/or abnormal behaviour in aquatic animals, collecting and analysing water samples and administering treatments. Licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements may apply to this unit in relation to the protection of reptiles and amphibians. 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
Application of the unit |
This unit is applicable to those working in the companion animal industry sector. It relates to the maintenance of aquascapes and aquatic animals, including fish, amphibians and some reptiles. 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. |
Licensing/Regulatory Information
Not applicable.
Pre-Requisites
Prerequisite units |
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Employability Skills Information
Employability skills |
This unit contains employability skills. |
Elements and Performance Criteria Pre-Content
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. |
Elements and Performance Criteria
ELEMENT |
PERFORMANCE CRITERIA |
1. Follow effective personal health management practices |
1.1. Personal hygiene and cleanliness standards are maintained in accordance with occupational health and safety (OHS ) and organisational policies and procedures. 1.2. Disease agents and their impact on aquatic animals are identified. 1.3. Work practices are implemented to protect oneself from, and minimise spread of, zoonotic diseases . |
2. Identify unhealthy aquatic animals |
2.1. Unhealthy aquatic animals are identified and information is recorded in accordance with organisational policies and procedures. 2.2. Injured aquatic animals are recognised and reported to supervisors. 2.3. Aquatic animal abnormal behaviour and condition are recognised and reported to supervisors. 2.4. Records for unhealthy aquatic animals are maintained in accordance with organisational policies and procedures. |
3. Sample, analyse and adjust aquascape water quality |
3.1. Water samples are collected using correct equipment, in accordance with organisational policies and procedures. 3.2. Samples are tested using appropriate equipment in accordance with manufacturers' directions. 3.3. Sampling results are recorded in accordance with organisational policies and procedures. 3.4. Water quality is adjusted to better suit the requirements of the aquascape and species. 3.5. Optimum water quality records for the aquascape and species are maintained in accordance with industry requirements. |
4. Administer aquatic animal treatments |
4.1. Broad categories of parasitic infestations and/or viral , fungal and bacterial diseases are identified. 4.2. Appropriate and authorised aquatic animal treatments are administered in accordance with organisational policies and procedures. 4.3. Preventative medicine programs for internal and external parasites are implemented in accordance with organisational policies and procedures. 4.4. Treatments and medicines are correctly stored in accordance with organisational policies and procedures and legislative requirements. 4.5. Records for treatments and medicine programs are maintained in accordance with organisational policies and procedures and legislative requirements. |
Required Skills and Knowledge
REQUIRED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE |
This section describes the skills and knowledge required for this unit. |
Required skills |
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Required knowledge |
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Evidence Guide
EVIDENCE GUIDE |
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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. |
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Overview of assessment |
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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:
The skills and knowledge required to maintain aquascapes and aquatic animals 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 most appropriately be assessed in an aquaria services workplace or in a situation that reproduces normal work conditions. There must be access to a range of aquatic animal breeds and species 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:
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
RANGE STATEMENT |
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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. |
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OHS risks when handling animals may include: |
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Disease agents may include: |
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Zoonotic diseases may include: |
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Signs of unhealthy or injured animals may include: |
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Signs of abnormal behaviour may include: |
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Water sampling tests and analysis may include: |
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Water quality adjustment may involve: |
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Parasitic infestations may include: |
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Viral , fungal and bacterial diseases may include: |
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Aquatic animal treatments may be administered via: |
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Preventative medicine programs may include: |
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Unit Sector(s)
Unit sector |
Companion animal services |
Competency field
Competency field |
Co-requisite units
Co-requisite units |
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