Release 1.  This is the first release of this unit of competency in the PUA Public Safety Training Package.

This unit of competency involves the skills and knowledge required to select canines to be part of a canine search team for Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) incidents, to maintain the health and welfare of canines, to provide daily care to canines and to plan search and rescue training for search canines. A canine search team consists of one disaster search canine and one canine search specialist.

The unit is applicable to canine search specialists responsible for developing a canine search team for USAR incidents.

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

Not applicable.

Search and Rescue

Not applicable

ELEMENTS 

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA 

Elements describe the essential outcomes.

Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element.

1  

Assess canines for USAR work 

1.1 

Selection criteria for canines to work in an Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) environment are determined

1.2 

Canines are observed and assessed in relation to determined criteria

1.3 

Canines assessed as meeting determined criteria are selected to be part of canine search team

2 

Maintain search canine health 

2.1 

Symptoms of ill health or injury in search canines are identified

2.2 

Animal health care practitioners who can be consulted about the establishment or maintenance of search canine health are identified

2.3 

Program of health maintenance to prevent common illnesses or parasites is implemented, in accordance with organisational procedures

2.4 

Recommended treatment program for ill or injured search canine is followed, as required

2.5 

First aid kit for treating injured search canines is maintained, in accordance with organisational procedures

3 

Manage search canine hygiene and welfare 

3.1 

Living environment, training areas and search canine transportation are maintained, in accordance with organisational procedures and animal health and welfare regulations

3.2 

Health, welfare and fitness of search canines is maintained for USAR operational and environmental conditions

3.3 

Healthy diet is maintained for search canines based upon individual animal requirements

3.4 

Need to retire a search canine is assessed and recommended, in accordance with organisational procedures, specialist advice and/or animal health and welfare standards

4 

Maintain records of search canine health and welfare 

4.1 

Vaccination, treatment and other preventative health records for search canines are established and maintained, in accordance with organisational procedures and industry guidelines

4.2 

Decisions to retire search canines are recorded, in accordance with organisational procedures

4.3 

Organisational policies and procedures for recording and reporting incidents that result in injuries to search canines are followed

5 

Develop and implement a training plan 

5.1 

Training needs of canine search team are identified

5.2 

Training plan that addresses the needs, strengths, weakness of the canine search team is developed

5.3 

Training plan is reviewed and amended, as required, to reflect the changing needs of the canine search team

5.4 

Training equipment is maintained, in accordance with organisational procedures

5.5 

Progress of canine search team training is recorded and reported, in accordance with organisational procedures

Foundation skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit of competency.

Range is restricted to essential operating conditions and any other variables essential to the work environment.

Non-essential conditions may be found in the Companion Volume Implementation Guide.

This unit replaces and is equivalent to PUASAR018A Select and maintain canines to be part of a canine search team for USAR incidents.

Release 1.  This is the first release of this unit of competency in the PUA Public Safety Training Package.

Evidence required to demonstrate competence in this unit must be relevant to and satisfy all the requirements of the elements and performance criteria on at least one occasion and includes

• applying first aid techniques to canines including administering preventative or curative medicines and treatments to canines
• applying Work, Health and Safety (WHS)/Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) requirements
• assessing canines for desired characteristics and physical attributes for USAR work
• collecting, analysing and organising information to produce records and reports required by the organisation and animal welfare authorities
• developing and implementing a training plan based on identified needs
• following organisational policies and procedures
• interpreting actions and indications given by a canine
• maintaining living environment, training areas and canines to the required standard of hygiene
• maintaining records of search canine's health and welfare
• maintaining search canine's health
• managing search canine's hygiene and welfare
• monitoring diet and exercise regimes to maintain the health and welfare of canines
• observing and monitoring search canines in relation to their ability to work in a USAR environment
• providing recommendations on the health and welfare of search canines deployed in USAR incidents
• recognising symptoms of ill health and injury in canines
• seeking canine specialist advice including animal health care practitioner
• working independently and in teams to manage the hygiene and welfare of canines

Evidence required to demonstrate competence in this unit must be relevant to and satisfy all the requirements of the elements and performance criteria and includes knowledge of

• anatomy and signs of health and/or ill health and injury of canines including canine anatomy, physiology of canines, psychology and behaviour of canines, canine developmental stages, canine grooming requirements and dietary and exercise requirements of working canines
• animal health and welfare regulations
• canine search principles, methods and techniques
• canine training plans, procedures and processes
• capabilities of canines working within a USAR environment including typical characteristics and temperaments of various breeds of canines that are suited to working within the USAR environment and restricted canine breeds
• first aid techniques that can be used to treat injured canines including common illnesses, diseases, parasites and other causes of ill health or injury affecting working canines
• location of veterinarians and other authorities and specialists who can assist in the maintenance of the health and welfare of canines
• organisational documentation including required records and reports
• organisational policies and procedures including procedures and criteria for acquiring and retiring canines
• preventative measures for controlling illnesses and parasites that can affect canines
• work environment in which canines can be deployed including emergency deployment
• Work, Health and Safety (WHS)/Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) requirements including risk mitigation processes

As a minimum, assessors must satisfy applicable regulatory requirements, which include requirements in the Standards for Registered Training Organisations current at the time of assessment.

As a minimum, assessment must satisfy applicable regulatory requirements, which include requirements in the Standards for Registered Training Organisations current at the time of assessment.

Assessment must occur in workplace operational situations where it is appropriate to do so; where this is not appropriate, assessment must occur in simulated workplace operational situations that replicate workplace conditions.

Assessment processes and techniques must be appropriate to the language, literacy and numeracy requirements of the work being performed and the needs of the candidate.

Resources for assessment must include access to

• a range of relevant exercises, case studies and/or simulations
• relevant and appropriate materials, equipment, tools and personal protective clothing and equipment currently used in industry including

• canines training to work in a USAR environment
• legislation, policy, procedures and guidelines relating to the health and welfare of canines
• search canines

• applicable documentation including organisational procedures, industry standards, equipment specifications, regulations, codes of practice and operations manuals.