Unit of competency details

Unit descriptor 

This unit covers implementing and monitoring animal welfare programs and defines the standard required to: provide information to the work group about animal welfare; facilitate the participation of workers in complying with animal welfare guidelines; implement and monitor enterprise programs for animal welfare; deal with animal welfare emergencies; maintain animal welfare records including staff training.

Application of the unit 

This unit applies to livestock production enterprise supervisors and managers with responsibility for animal production.

Prerequisite units 

Employability skills 

This unit contains employability skills.

ELEMENT 

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA 

1. Provide information about animal welfare

1.1. Relevant provisions of animal welfare legislation and codes of practice are accurately and clearly explained to the work group.

1.2. Information on enterprise animal welfare policies, procedures and programs is provided in a readily accessible manner and is accurately and clearly explained to the work group.

1.3. Information about identified animal welfare requirements is regularly provided and is accurately and clearly explained to the work group.

2. Facilitate the participation of workers in animal welfare compliance

2.1. Enterprise procedures for compliance on animal welfare issues are implemented and monitored.

2.2. Procedures whereby workers report animal welfare hazards, risks and action taken to control risks, are clearly described to the work group.

2.3. Issues raised on animal welfare are dealt with and resolved promptly or referred to the appropriate personnel for resolution in accordance with workplace procedures.

3. Implement and monitor enterprise animal welfare procedures

3.1. Existing and potential hazards to animal welfare which are identified are reported so that effective remedial measures are implemented.

3.2. Work procedures to control animal welfare risks are implemented by the work group and regular monitoring occurs to ensure ongoing adherence and effectiveness of animal practices.

3.3. Inadequacies in allocation of resources to ensure animal welfare are identified and reported to management.

4. Implement workplace procedures for dealing with animal welfare emergencies

4.1. Workplace procedures for dealing with animal welfare emergencies are implemented where necessary to ensure that prompt and effective control action is taken.

4.2. Animal welfare emergencies are reported in accordance with established enterprise procedures.

4.3. Measures to prevent recurrence and minimise risk of animal welfare emergencies are implemented.

5. Implement and monitor enterprise procedures for providing animal welfare training

5.1. Animal welfare induction and training needs are identified accurately.

5.2. Arrangements are made for meeting identified animal welfare training needs in both on and off-the-job training programs in consultation with relevant parties.

6. Implement and monitor enterprise procedures for maintaining animal welfare record

6.1. Animal welfare records for work area are accurately and legibly completed in accordance with workplace and legislative requirements for record keeping.

6.2. Aggregate information from animal welfare records is used to identify potential hazards to animal welfare and monitor compliance procedures within work area according to enterprise procedures and within scope of responsibilities.

REQUIRED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE 

This section describes the skills and knowledge required for this unit.

Required skills 

• facilitate the participation of workers in animal welfare compliance
• implement and monitor enterprise animal welfare procedures
• use literacy skills to read, interpret and follow organisational policies and procedures, develop sequenced written instructions, record accurately and legibly information collected and select and apply procedures to a range of tasks
• use oral communication skills/language competence to fulfil the job role as specified by the organisation including questioning, active listening, asking for clarification, negotiating solutions and responding to a range of views
• use numeracy skills to estimate, calculate and record routine and more complex workplace measures and data
• use interpersonal skills to work with others and relate to people from a range of cultural, social and religious backgrounds and with a range of physical and mental abilities.

Required knowledge 

• animal health and welfare requirements, practices and procedures.
• animal physiology.
• relevant animal welfare legislation and codes of practice.
• industry animal health requirements
• animal production processes
• enterprise policies, guidelines and standard operating procedures relating to animal welfare.

EVIDENCE GUIDE 

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.

Overview of assessment 

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 holistically all of the requirements of the performance criteria and required skills and knowledge and include achievement of the following:

• provide information to the work group about animal welfare
• facilitate the participation of workers in complying with animal welfare guidelines
• implement and monitor enterprise programs for animal welfare
• deal with animal welfare emergencies
• maintain animal welfare records including staff training.

Context of and specific resources for assessment 

Competency requires the application of work practices under work conditions. Selection and use of resources for some worksites may differ due to the regional or enterprise circumstances.

RANGE STATEMENT 

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole.

Animal welfare programs may include:

• those within the full range of livestock production enterprises.

Unit sector 

Livestock

Co-requisite units 

Competency field