Modification History
March 2012: Minor typographical corrections.
Unit Descriptor
Unit descriptor |
This unit of competency covers introductory level skills in the basic care of quiet, well-handled animals under supervision. 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 is an introductory unit for those with little or no experience working with animals in commercial or professional animal care settings with the emphasis on working with and handling quiet, well-handled domestic animals under supervision and complying with animal care requirements to ensure animal and human health and safety. 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. Explore workplace activities and basic terminology |
1.1. Industry terminology is used to describe and identify animal care workplace activities. 1.2. Animal care workplace tasks are identified and ranked in order of importance to animal wellbeing and general health. 1.3. Potential occupational health and safety (OHS ) risks when working with animals are identified and reporting requirements confirmed. 1.4. Daily workplace information and documentation requirements are confirmed with supervisor. |
2. Maintain a clean workplace |
2.1. Floors benches and other flat areas are cleaned in accordance with workplace protocols. 2.2. Animal housing areas are cleaned in accordance with workplace protocols. 2.3. Waste and soiled bedding is disposed of in accordance with workplace protocols. |
3. Assist in feeding animals |
3.1. Food stuffs are identified and categorised for specific animal dietary needs. 3.2. Equipment used in food preparation and distribution is made ready for use. 3.3. Assistance is provided to experienced staff in the preparation and distribution of meals. 3.4. Equipment and materials are cleaned and stored in accordance with organisational policies and procedures. |
4. Report basic animal behaviour and health status |
4.1. Characteristics of animal behaviour are identified. 4.2. Signs of healthy, sick or distressed animals are identified and behaviour and health status is reported to supervisor. |
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 assist in the care of 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 animal care workplace or in a situation that reproduces normal work conditions. Workplaces can include pet shops, breeding or boarding kennels and catteries, aviaries, companion animal training, grooming establishments, domestic animal zoos, mobile animal facilities and veterinary practices. There must be access to a range of quiet, well-handled domestic animals as well as relevant information, equipment and/or resources to enable one to demonstrate competence. |
Method of assessment |
To ensure consistency in one's performance, competency should be demonstrated 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. 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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Animal care workplace tasks may include: |
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OHS risks when working with animals may include: |
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Daily workplace information and documentation may include: |
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Characteristics of animal behaviour may include: |
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Unit Sector(s)
Unit sector |
General animal studies |
Competency field
Competency field |
Co-requisite units
Co-requisite units |
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