Modification History
Not applicable.
Unit Descriptor
Unit descriptor |
This unit of competency covers the process of developing, implementing, monitoring and reviewing enrichment strategies for companion animals and communicating the strategies to staff members. No licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication. |
Application of the Unit
Application of the unit |
This unit is applicable to those working in the animal care industry where it may be necessary to develop and provide enrichment activities for animals in various companion animal sectors, including but not restricted to, pet shops, boarding kennels and catteries, and dog and cat breeding establishments. 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. Develop enrichment strategies |
1.1. Research and consultation are conducted to determine appropriate strategies for particular animals and breeds. 1.2. Enrichment strategies are developed against known animal behaviour and traits. 1.3. Animal welfare and occupational health and safety (OHS ) requirements are incorporated into strategies as appropriate. 1.4. Organisational procedures for enrichment are developed in accordance with the profile of animals in the workplace. 1.5. Behavioural management budget allocation is aligned to short and longer-term strategies. |
2. Implement enrichment programs |
2.1. Enrichment strategies and procedures are communicated to staff and training is provided as necessary. 2.2. Animal husbandry regimes are adjusted to incorporate enrichment strategies. 2.3. Assistance is provided to staff in implementing physical, social and food-related enrichment programs appropriate to the target species. 2.4. Staff members providing enrichment to animals are supervised in accordance with organisational policies and procedures. 2.5. Short-term management of animals exhibiting undesirable behaviour is assessed and implemented. |
3. Monitor and review enrichment strategies |
3.1. Responses to implementation of enrichment strategy are monitored to determine their effects on animals and documented. 3.2. Adverse consequences to an enrichment strategy are investigated and evaluated. 3.3. Enrichment program modification suggestions are gathered in consultation with staff and implemented where appropriate. 3.4. Short and longer-term enrichment strategies are updated in line with review findings and documented. 3.5. Organisation behavioural management budget allocation is aligned to reviewed and updated strategies. |
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 competency 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 develop enrichment strategies for companion animalsmust 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 companion animal workplace or in a situation that reproduces normal work conditions. Workplaces may include pet shops, boarding kennels and catteries, companion animal training, grooming and/or breeding establishments and mobile animal facilities. There must be access to a range of companion animal breeds and species and the relevant information, materials and documentation. |
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, cases and responsibilities, and over a number of assessment activities. The assessment strategies 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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Enrichment strategies may include: |
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Research may involve: |
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Animals may include: |
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Animal welfare requirements may include: |
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OHS requirements may include: |
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Adverse consequences 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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