Unit of competency

Modification History

Application

This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to assist other personnel, such as horticulturists, to establish and maintain a plantation or plant production system for animal feed and enrichment requirements.

This unit applies to senior team members with zoo keeping, wildlife care or related 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’s collection.

All work must be carried out to comply with workplace procedures according to state/territory health and safety and animal welfare regulations, legislation and standards that apply to the workplace.

No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.

Pre-requisite Unit

Nil

Unit Sector

Exhibited Animals (EXH)

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:

• identified dietary, plant feed or enrichment requirements for at least one animal species
• assisted in establishing and maintaining plant feed or enrichment requirements, for a species or designated section, from a plantation or plant production system, including:

• worked effectively with others during activities, including horticulturalists
• harvested accurate quantity of plants to meet animal requirements
• maintained records.

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:

• objectives of a plantation or plant production system program
• types of plant foods derived from plantation or plant production system, including:

• foliage, browse
• flowers
• nectar

• basic physiology of required plant species
• plant identification and key features of relevant flora species
• pest and disease identification and management techniques
• relevant facility policies and procedures, including:

• workplace health and safety
• animal welfare
• hygiene standards

• safe work practices
• risks associated with plantation or plant production work, including:

• hazardous waste
• handling of chemicals and fertilisers
• manual handling, including carrying, lifting and shifting
• noise and moving parts of machinery or equipment
• slippery or uneven work surfaces

• toxic plants and substances, including control factors affecting toxicity and protocols for suspected animal poisoning
• zoological horticulture principles and practices.

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 setting

• resources, equipment and materials:

• a zoological plantation or plant production system
• equipment and resources appropriate to work undertaken in a plantation or plant production environment

• specifications:

• facility policies and procedures relevant to plantation or plant production

• relationships:

• other team members, including horticulture personnel.

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