Unit of competency details

Unit descriptor 

This unit of competency specifies the outcomes required to monitor and maintain greyhound health and welfare; undertake health management programs; ensure provision of safe, compliant and secure housing arrangements; determine health problems; decide upon and administer treatment; monitor greyhound progress; and plan greyhound health emergency procedures.

This unit also requires the practical care and management of racing greyhounds and application of OHS standards in the workplace.

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 supervisors, trainers and others in the greyhound racing industry responsible for managing greyhound health and welfare.

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

Prerequisite units 

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 

Plan greyhound health and emergency care procedures.

1. Health and emergency care protocols and programs are developed and relayed to staff.

2. Greyhounds' housing is arranged in suitable and approved premises  that are maintained to health and safety standards specified by the rules of racing and other regulations  .

3. Health status of individual greyhounds is assessed.

4. Infectious diseases  are identified and control measures implemented.

5. Signs and symptoms of distressed or injured greyhounds are identified and prioritised.

Undertake health management programs for greyhounds.

6. Vaccination programs are implemented.

7. Parasite control programs are implemented.

8. Health records  are compiled and updated.

Decide upon treatment for greyhounds.

9. Health care and managementare determined.

10. Prognosis for common illnesses and injuries is discussed.

11. Need for veterinary assistance  or other specialist advice is determined.

12. Treatment options  are evaluated and preferred option is selected for common injuries and illnesses.

Administer treatment and monitor greyhound's progress.

13. Medication and treatments  are administered according to kennel procedures, directions and industry and animal welfare regulations.

14. Greyhound recovery is monitored and health records are updated.

REQUIRED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE 

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

Required skills 

• applying OHS workplace procedures
• applying safe handling and work practices when dealing with greyhounds
• applying quarantine control measures for isolation of sick greyhounds and prevention of transference of disease by dogs, other animals and humans
• assessing vital signs of greyhounds
• assessing and responding to illnesses or injuries in greyhounds
• calming and controlling greyhounds
• communicating with kennel staff, greyhound health specialists and others using assertive communication techniques to gather and relay information related to managing health and welfare of greyhounds
• complying with animal welfare regulations in the care and management of greyhounds
• developing health and emergency care protocols and programs
• dealing with emergencies
• discussing, identifying and administering different treatments in accordance with directions
• evaluating risks associated with catching and handling greyhounds
• giving and receiving instructions
• identifying behaviour traits of individual greyhounds
• identifying illnesses and injuries in greyhounds
• planning and adhering to vaccination and parasite control program schedules
• 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
• supporting others in handling and providing treatment to greyhounds in the appropriate manner
• written communication skills to compile and maintain greyhound health records and associated procedural documentation.

Required knowledge 

• communication procedures within kennel and wider racing industry
• common greyhound behaviour, social traits and vices
• common illnesses and injuries in greyhounds
• disease control, reporting requirements and quarantine measures
• effective working relationships, including teamwork
• emergency control measures
• controlling techniques for greyhounds
• greyhound first aid
• greyhound feet and limb maintenance programs
• greyhound health record systems
• industry terminology related to handling and treating greyhounds
• parasite control programs
• racing industry animal welfare requirements
• racing industry safety requirements, including safe operating procedures
• relevant rules of racing and prohibited substances
• signs and symptoms of communicable diseases
• signs of shock in greyhounds
• signs of lameness in greyhounds
• suitable and approved greyhound housing requirements
• types of treatments
• vaccination programs.

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 apply to managing greyhound health and welfare
• delegating duties related to the care and management of greyhound health according to experience and level of responsibility
• implementation of procedures and timely techniques for the safe, effective and efficient administration of greyhound health and welfare requirements
• working with others to undertake and complete 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 relevant to assessing candidate's ability to manage greyhound health and welfare
• safe handling areas, such as commercial kennels, and training 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, for example:

• RGRCMN401A Maintain and monitor OHS procedures and environmental work practices
• RGRPSG303A Determine nutritional requirements for racing greyhounds
• RGRPSG401A Relate anatomical and physiological features to the care and treatment of greyhounds.

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 manage greyhound health and welfare. Workplaces include kennels and racecourses, training tracks and public areas.

Health and emergency care protocols and programs  may include:

• advice to other organisations related to disease control or other issues as required by rules and regulations
• advice to stewards of greyhound health or injury status
• greyhound management:

• routine health checks
• equipment and gear cleanliness
• handling and monitoring greyhounds
• husbandry practices
• hazard identification
• maintaining first aid and treatments stores
• monitoring seasonal status of bitches
• notifiable diseases
• permissible treatments
• record keeping for personal use and rules of racing compliance
• vaccine and parasite control programs
• veterinary or specialist advice and assistance
• kennel and yard cleanliness

• risk control measures:

• controlling insects or rodents
• disinfection and hygiene measures
• emergency care procedures
• faeces and waste disposal
• fire drills
• health programs
• isolation or quarantine of sick or new greyhounds
• monitoring movement of greyhounds

• staff management:

• access to and administration of treatments
• communication procedures
• emergency drills.

Suitable and approved premises  will require:

• access to and exit from kennels that can accommodate emergency situations
• accommodation suitable for a mix of sexes to cater for dominant and submissive behaviours
• all areas free from sharp or dangerous protrusions
• kennels of appropriate size, sited according to prevalent climatic conditions and adequately ventilated
• kennel size, construction materials and security comply with industry standards and rules of racing.

Rules of racing and other regulations  may include:

• Australian rules of racing and local rules of racing of the state or territory regulatory racing body, including kennel establishment:

• building structure and maintenance
• cleanliness and hygiene
• husbandry practices
• security

• local government regulations, for example:

• buildings
• disposal of faeces and waste
• noise pollution

• national and state codes of practice; federal, state and territory legislation; and local government regulations covering animal welfare, including:

• operation of dog training establishments
• operation of breeding and rearing establishments

• OHS legislation and regulations
• race club and training track regulations.

Health status of individual greyhounds  is assessed:

• by observing changes in normal behaviour or performance
• during daily and routine health checks
• prior to and after travelling or racing
• upon first entering kennels
• when parasite presence, illness or injury is suspected.

Infectious diseases  may include:

• canine coronavirus
• canine distemper
• canine influenza
• canine parvovirus
• hepatitis
• herpes virus
• hydatid infection
• kennel cough
• leptospirosis
• myocarditis
• rabies.

Vaccination programs  will include:

• adherence to regulations relating to interstate or overseas travel
• ensuring scheduled vaccinations are administered, including vaccines determined by the racing regulatory authority that may include:

• distemper
• hepatitis
• parvovirus.

Parasite control programs  will include:

• scheduled regular inspections
• identification indicators and conditions related to presence of internal or external parasites
• management procedures for internal or external parasites, including:

• accurate measurement of dosages
• administering topical washes to manufacturer specifications
• kennel cleaning and disinfection procedures to prevent transmission of external parasites from animal to animal
• meeting and maintaining regulations related to use of pharmaceutical substances
• using drenches or worming medications to manufacturer specifications or veterinary instructions

• relating treatment to climatic and local conditions that may attract parasite infestation.

Health records information  will include:

• dates and times of:

• application of treatments, including parasite control treatments
• arrival at kennels
• assessing vital signs
• illness or injury incidence
• vaccinations

• features of greyhound identification
• name of greyhound
• name of person administering treatment
• prescribed treatments administered
• treatment instructions
• vital signs at rest
• weight of greyhound.

Need for veterinary assistance  may include:

• greyhound may:

• be insured
• have to be treated with racing competition prohibited substance
• have to be withdrawn from competition
• require prescription medication
• require stitching or specialist injury management or treatment

• illness may be:

• contagious condition
• notifiable disease
• passed on to humans

• illness or injury may be:

• life threatening or have consequences to ongoing career of greyhound
• the result of neglect or non-compliance with duty of care.

Treatment options  may include:

• acupuncture
• chiropractic
• exercise, for example walking or swimming
• hydrotherapy
• ice and heat
• laser
• massage
• pharmaceutical
• rest
• ultrasound.

Medication and treatments  may include:

• applying bandages
• balms or poultice treatment
• medications that must adhere to animal welfare guidelines and the rules of racing, including:

• inhalants
• injectable medications
• oral medications
• topical medications.

Unit Sector 

Greyhound racing code

Co-requisite units 

Functional Area 

Racing performance services