Unit of competency details

Unit descriptor 

This unit of competency specifies the outcomes required to assess the greyhound or horse handling skills of license or registration applicants. It requires the ability to identify safe animal handling practices in a range of situations, including races or trials and to communicate verbally and in writing to provide appropriate feedback to applicants. The unit also requires knowledge of industry-approved gear, personal protective equipment and safe operating procedures.

This unit of competency operates in workplace environments of racing administration, kennels, stables, racecourses and public areas.

Greyhound, harness and thoroughbred racing is strictly regulated throughout Australia. All stewards are appointed under the rules of racing by the relevant racing controlling body. For this reason enrolment in this unit of competency is restricted to people currently employed as a stipendiary or cadet steward or those who have been approved by a State Principal Racing Authority to undertake this unit.

Application of the unit 

This unit of competency supports stipendiary stewards or other nominated racing officials authorised to assess the greyhound or horse handling skills of license or registration applicants.

Competencies attained in this unit apply to the greyhound, harness or thoroughbred code of the industry. Consequently when performance criteria are applied they will relate to the greyhound code or the harness code or the thoroughbred code, and statements of attainment for this unit will reflect this distinction.

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 

Review greyhound or horse handling skills required for nominated job functions.

1. Greyhound or horse handling skills  for nominated job functions are summarised.

2. Racing safe operating procedures  for nominated job functions or roles are compared to general handling skills.

3. OHS regulations are reviewed in relation to greyhound and horse handling requirements .

Observe greyhound or horse handling skills.

4. Name and use of approved racing gear  relevant to nominated job function is reviewed.

5. Fit and adjustment  by applicant of approved and relevant racing gear is evaluated by assessor.

6. Handling of greyhound or horse using racing approved practices is evaluated by assessor.

Determine if greyhound or horse handling skills are appropriate for nominated job function (where relevant).

7. Performance during handling skills tests  is assessed using objective measurements that are consistent with racing authority standards and safe operating procedures.

8. Outcome of handling and gear fitting evaluation is recorded.

9. Applicant is advised of outcome of practical assessment evaluation.

10. Recommended remedial action  is suggested where skills do not meet racing authority requirements.

11. Reasons for decision on license or registration application endorsement or rejection are recorded.

REQUIRED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE 

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

Required skills 

• applying safe work practices when approaching and moving around greyhounds or horses
• assessing license or registration applicant's ability to:

• adhere to safe work practices
• demonstrate application of safe animal handling and controlling methods
• identify and apply nominated gear correctly
• work with animals in confined spaces

• communicating with other stewards, racing officials, license and registration applicants and others using assertive communication techniques to gather, interpret and relay information related to assessing greyhound or horse handling skills
• completing duties in accordance with safe operating procedures and nominated time frame
• complying with OHS, environmental and animal welfare legislation
• complying with organisational policies and procedures and the rules of racing
• judging situations and taking appropriate action to prevent problems arising or to overcome problems before they develop further
• reading and interpreting workplace documentation and rules of racing
• recognising damaged or defective gear
• relating to people from a range of social, cultural and ethnic backgrounds and with varying physical and mental abilities
• responding quickly to requests from other stewards or racing officials
• using appropriate language and interpersonal techniques
• written communication skills to complete workplace documentation and reports.

Required knowledge 

• applicable federal, state or territory legislation and regulations relating to anti-discrimination and harassment
• approved gear
• common safe greyhound or horse handling and controlling techniques
• communication procedures for communicating with other stewards and industry personnel, including reporting lines within the workplace and wider racing industry
• ethical conduct standards of relevant racing principal authority
• greyhound or horse behaviour and communication traits
• hazard identification and risk management
• industry terminology related to animal handling, racing operations and wider racing industry
• OHS and environmental legislative requirements
• organisational policies and procedures
• principles of effective communication
• racing industry animal welfare requirements
• racing industry safety requirements, including safe operating procedures
• relevant rules of racing
• reporting requirements for irregularities and problems
• signs of animal health, ill health, injury and diseases.

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 assessing greyhound or horse handling skills of license or registration applicants
• implementation of procedures and timely techniques for the safe, effective and efficient assessment of greyhound or horse handling skills
• working with others to undertake and complete the required procedures that meet required outcomes.

Evidence should be collected over a period of time in a range of racing industry operations contexts, and include dealings with an appropriate range of situations and a variety of racing animals at different stages of preparation.

Context of and specific resources for assessment 

Competency must be assessed in a racing workplace that provides access to the required resources. 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 range of greyhounds and harness or thoroughbred horses
• materials and equipment relevant to assessing candidate's ability to assess greyhound or horse handling skills of license or registration applicants
• safe handling areas, such as kennels or stables, 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.

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, at least one of whom should be approved by the State Principal Racing Authority.

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 assess greyhound or horse handling skills of license or registration applicants. Workplaces include greyhound kennels, harness and thoroughbred stables, racecourses, training tracks and administration buildings.

Stewards oversee the conduct of all racing-related activities within the responsibilities and powers described under the rules of racing. The conditions under which this unit is delivered and assessed must take into consideration these powers and responsibilities. These powers and responsibilities are further described in the rules of racing for the relevant racing code. It is strongly recommended that training facilitators and learners refer to these powers and responsibilities as part of the range of conditions for all units covered in the steward specialist area of the Training Package.

Greyhound or horse handling skills  may include:

• considering working environment where greyhounds or horses may be caught and controlled in kennels, stables, yards, tracks, public places, racecourses, paddocks and on beaches
• considering variables that influence behaviour of greyhounds or horses, such as:

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

• ensuring handler is next to other handler when leading or passing horses in the opposite direction (person to person)
• ensuring only one horse per handler
• ensuring reflective vest is worn by handler and reflective tape affixed to horse's gear when walking in the dark
• maintaining two horse lengths between horses
• using anti-rearing bit, or bridle headpiece with bit, with double clip lead when horses are lead at racecourses, training tracks and in public place
• using muzzles and leads on greyhounds
• using personal protective equipment
• using well-maintained and safe gear
• walking in single file when leading greyhounds or horses.

Racing safe operating procedures compared to general handling skills  may include:

• observing applicant's handling skills and testing knowledge of impact of environmental changes on the racing animal, including:

• animal location, for example:

• kennels, stables or stalls
• marshalling area or enclosure
• stirrup area

• crowds
• enclosed spaces, including:
• barriers or boxes
• inclement weather conditions, such as:

• extreme heat
• wind

• loud noises
• other greyhounds or horses
• pre or post-race activity and biochemical changes
• signs of distress, excitement or nervousness in greyhounds or horses, such as:

• agitation and sweating up
• charging forward
• kicking
• pulling back or sideways
• rearing
• reluctance to move forward
• turning in circles.

OHS regulations related to animal handling requirements  will include:

• employers and self-employed:

• completing risk assessments
• conforming to rules of racing
• ensuring all employees follow safe operating procedures
• ensuring workplace is a safe and healthy place in which to work
• ensuring personal protective equipment is worn, including:

• approved helmets
• approved vests
• boots
• gloves

• keeping health and safety records of all incidents and near misses
• providing training, supervision and information that help people handle animals safely

• employees:

• working safely to ensure self, other people and greyhounds or horses are protected
• conforming to kennel or stable rules and regulations, including safe operating procedures
• reporting any unsafe practices and equipment, including handling gear
• wearing and maintaining personal protective equipment.

Greyhound and horse handling requirements  will include:

• approaching greyhound or horse from near side front
• avoiding sudden movement
• assuming control of greyhound or horse
• leading greyhound or horse person to person
• maintaining at least two lengths between greyhounds or horses being led
• speaking calmly to greyhound or horse.

Approved racing gear  may include:

• bandages
• bits
• blinkers
• boots
• bridles
• breastplates
• collars
• cross over nosebands
• girths
• hobbles
• hopples
• leads
• muzzles
• overchecks
• pacifiers
• reins
• rings
• saddles
• shadow roll
• stirrup leathers
• surcingles
• tongue ties.

Assessment of gear for fit and adjustment  may include:

• assessing comfort of the animal
• being aware of animal behaviour
• checking durability of gear
• following rules related to gear application
• moving safely around the animal
• using approved gear.

Performance during handling skills test  assessments may include:

• developing checklists and using safe operating procedures to assess tasks, including:

• catching animals
• fitting a range of approved gear relevant to code and task
• identifying and responding to behaviour in animals
• leading and controlling animals.

Recommended remedial action  may include:

• attending recognised training programs
• extending period of time as registered person before applying for license
• working with or under other trainers for additional guidance or mentoring.

Unit Sector 

Greyhound, harness and thoroughbred racing codes

Co-requisite units 

Functional Area 

Racing common