Unit of competency details

Unit descriptor 

This unit of competency specifies the outcomes required to safely prepare greyhounds for road transportation; load and unload greyhounds; monitor greyhound health, welfare and behaviour during transportation; and conduct post-transport procedures.

To undertake this unit the candidate will be able to apply safe greyhound handling skills and follow workplace OHS standards.

This unit of competency operates in work environments of racing kennels, racecourses and public areas.

Licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements may apply to this unit. Check with your State Principal Racing Authority for current license or registration requirements.

Application of the unit 

This unit of competency supports greyhound training personnel and others in the greyhound racing industry who may be required to transport greyhounds as part of their job function.

This unit can be contextualised for other industries while also maintaining the integrity of the unit.

Prerequisite units 

RGRPSG201A

Handle greyhounds

Employability skills 

This unit contains employability skills.

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.

ELEMENT 

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA 

Prepare to load and unload greyhounds.

1. Basic vehicle and trailer safety check is conducted.

2. Equipment  required for transporting greyhounds is organised and checked for defects.

3. Greyhounds are checked and prepared for transport .

Load and unload greyhounds.

4. Greyhounds to be transported are safely loaded or unloaded.

Monitor greyhounds during transportation.

5. Greyhounds are monitored for comfort and safety while travelling.

6. Effects of travel on the behaviour and condition of greyhounds are identified and appropriately managed.

Conduct post-transport procedures.

7. Greyhounds are inspected and illness or injury  is reported to supervisor.

8. Greyhounds are caredfor  according to supervisor's instructions.

9. Vehicle and trailer are checked and cleaned  .

REQUIRED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE 

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

Required skills 

• applying safe handling and work practices when dealing with greyhounds
• checking and cleaning vehicles, trailers or trucks
• communicating with employer, supervisor, co-workers and others using assertive communication techniques to gather and relay information related to greyhound handling and transportation activities
• completing duties in accordance with safe operating procedures and nominated time frame
• evaluating risks associated with transporting greyhounds
• following instructions
• identifying greyhound behaviour problems
• identifying symptoms and signs of greyhound illness, injury or distress
• identifying and correctly using different items of handling gear
• reading and interpreting workplace documentation, including relevant rules of racing
• relating to people from a range of social, cultural and ethnic backgrounds and with varying physical and mental abilities
• reporting problems promptly.

Required knowledge 

• basic industry terminology related to handling greyhounds
• communication procedures, including reporting lines within kennel and wider racing industry
• common greyhound behaviour, social traits and vices
• illness or injury to greyhounds
• methods of checking greyhound physical condition during and after transport
• purpose of using different items of handling gear and appropriate personal protective equipment
• racing industry animal welfare requirements
• racing industry safety requirements, including safe operating procedures
• relevant rules of racing
• relevant road safety rules.

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.

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 all of the requirements of the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge and the range statement of this unit and include evidence of the following:

• knowledge of the requirements, procedures and instructions that are to apply when transporting greyhounds
• implementation of procedures and timely techniques for the safe, effective and efficient transport of greyhounds
• working with others to undertake and complete greyhound transportation procedures that meet required outcomes.

Evidence should be collected over a period of time using a range of greyhounds of different ages, sexes and temperaments, and at different stages of preparation in racing kennel and track environments.

Context of and specific resources for assessment 

Competency must be assessed in a racing workplace that provides access to the required resources or simulated environment approved by the relevant State Principal Racing Authority. Assessment is to occur under standard and authorised work practices, safety requirements and environmental constraints. It is to comply with relevant regulatory requirements or Australian Standards requirements.

Assessment of the practical components of this unit will be by observation of relevant skills.

The following resources must be available:

• a variety of greyhounds
• materials and equipment, including transport vehicles relevant to assessing candidate's ability to transport greyhounds
• safe handling areas, such as commercial kennels and racetracks
• work instructions and related documentation.

Method of assessment 

Assessment methods must satisfy the endorsed Assessment Guidelines of the Racing Training Package.

The suggested strategies for the assessment of this unit are:

• written and/or oral assessment of candidate's required knowledge
• observed, documented and firsthand testimonial evidence of candidate's application of practical tasks
• simulation exercises conducted in a State Principal Racing Authority approved simulated environment.

Evidence is required to be demonstrated over a period of time, therefore where performance is not directly observed any evidence should be authenticated by supervisors or other appropriate persons.

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 

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 in the performance criteria is detailed below.

The range statement provides details of how this competency can be used in the workplaces of the racing industry to transport greyhounds. Workplaces include greyhound kennels and racecourses, training tracks and public areas.

Basic vehicle and trailer safety check  may include:

• assessment of risks and hazards to people and greyhounds
• trailer:

• brake lights and indicators
• floor
• hitch and chain
• interior lighting
• ventilation

• vehicle:

• brakes
• jack and wheel brace
• lights and indicators
• tow bar and ball
• tyres.

Equipment for transporting greyhounds  may include:

• appropriate bedding
• collar and lead
• first aid kit
• food and water
• muzzle
• pooper scooper
• rug.

Checking and preparing greyhounds for transport  may include:

• establishing special requirements for a particular greyhound
• greyhound is assessed for signs and symptoms of illness or injury.

Transport  may include:

• cars
• station wagons
• trailers
• vans or trucks.

Indicators of illness or injury  may include:

• dehydration
• diarrhoea
• elevated temperature (overheating)
• excessive panting
• head, leg or body wounds
• listlessness
• swelling in limbs.

Caring for greyhounds  may include:

• adhering to responsibilities under OHS legislation and workplace practices
• adhering to responsibilities under national and state codes of practice; federal, state and territory legislation; and local government regulations covering animal welfare
• considering variables that influence behaviour of greyhounds, such as:

• fences and equipment
• other persons or animals
• vehicles
• wind or noise

• cooling down greyhounds according to weather conditions
• feeding and watering as directed
• identifying and reporting unsafe work practices
• identifying emergency situations, including:

• gear breakage
• greyhound getting loose

• providing appropriate rest stops during transportation
• rugging as appropriate
• treating illness or injury as directed
• understanding individual greyhound behaviour.

Checking and cleaning vehicle and trailer  may include:

• removing faeces to correct area
• removing, cleaning and storing gear and equipment
• cleaning matting or removing if wet
• locking vehicle and trailer.

Unit Sector 

Greyhound racing code

Co-requisite units 

Functional Area 

Racing performance services