Unit of competency

Modification History

Application

This unit of competency covers the skills and knowledge required to provide basic care of quiet, well-handled animals under supervision.

It covers understanding potential hazards and associated risks when working with and around animals.

This is an introductory unit for individuals with little or no experience working with animals in commercial or professional animal care settings, and who undertake defined routine activities under direct supervision.

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

NOTE: The terms 'occupational health and safety' (OHS) and 'work health and safety' (WHS) generally have the same meaning in the workplace. In jurisdictions where the national model WHS legislation has not been implemented, RTOs must contextualise the unit of competency by referring to current OHS legislative requirements.

Pre-requisite Unit

Nil

Unit Sector

General Animal Studies (GAS)

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 assisted in the care of a minimum of three animals, including:

• cleaned work areas and animal housing according to WHS and organisation policies and procedures
• assisted in the preparation and distribution of food under supervision
• related basic animal behaviour to animal categories and reported observations of live animal behaviour and health status to supervisor.

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:

• animal care work tasks, including:

• assisting in health care of animals
• enclosure and bed cleaning and bedding replacement
• equipment and consumables stocktake and ordering
• exercising animals
• feeding and watering animals
• following environmentally sustainable work practices
• grooming and animal cleaning
• information collection, record and resource updating
• observing animal behaviour and reporting
• taking messages and relaying information to appropriate person
• cleaning workplace and equipment
• tools and equipment required to undertake routine duties
• cleaning techniques and related safety issues for animal housing and general workplace

• risks of working with animals, including:

• animal bites, envenomation, kicks, scratches and crush injuries
• biological hazardous waste and sharps disposal
• handling of chemicals and medicines
• gas leakage
• 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

• characteristics of animal behaviour, including:

• indicators of stress
• defensive gestures
• submissive gestures
• basic nutritional and water requirements for animals
• storage, preparation and presentation requirements for food for animals
• types of food and food supplements and their basic role in animal diets
• common animal ailments and conditions
• contaminated and unsuitable quality food stuffs

• organisational policies and procedures, including WHS and emergency procedures, animal welfare and waste disposal requirements.

Assessment Conditions

Assessment of skills must take place under the following conditions:

• physical conditions:

• an environment that accurately reflects a real workplace setting

• resources, equipment and materials:

• a range of animals
• equipment and resources appropriate to work undertaken in an animal care environment

• specifications:

• access to organisational policies and procedures

• relationships (internal and/or external):

• interactions with supervisor.

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