Assessment Requirements for ACMBEH403 Evaluate animal conditioning methodology and program design

Release: 1

Assessment Requirements for ACMBEH403 Evaluate animal conditioning methodology and program design

Modification History

Release	Comments
Release 1	This version released with ACM Animal Care and Management Training Package Version 4.0.

Performance Evidence

An individual demonstrating competency must satisfy all of the elements and performance criteria in this unit.

There must be evidence that the individual has:

prepared an ethogram for two animal species

evaluated two approaches to animal conditioning for behaviour management and/or modification, involving different levels of intrusiveness, against the principles of animal welfare and ethics, and effectiveness

designed and documented a conditioning program for behaviour management and/or modification for one animal, including:

decision making process for selecting the training methodology and level of intrusiveness

program goals

indicators of success

equipment or tools

annotations and responses to feedback provided by a mentor or more experienced trainer

implemented and evaluated the conditioning program for behaviour management and/or modification.

Knowledge Evidence

An individual must be able to demonstrate the knowledge required to perform the tasks outlined in the elements and performance criteria of this unit. This includes knowledge of:

species-specific animal behaviour, including:

key concepts of ethology and features of ethograms

body language and communication, including vocalisations and gross and fine body movements

personality and common coping strategies, including proactive and reactive behaviours

information about senses and perception

core emotional states and motivations for behaviour

objective behavioural observation, recording and interpretation, and anthropomorphism

features of current, scientifically validated animal conditioning methodologies, including:

impact of physical health conditions, pain and compromised welfare on animal behaviour

features of current, scientifically validated animal conditioning methodologies, including:

positive reinforcement conditioning

alignment with learning theory and animal welfare

levels of intrusiveness in conditioning for behaviour management and/or modification approaches

features of outdated approaches to animal conditioning, and possible consequences

key features, benefits and limitations of guidelines for animal trainers, including:

Least Intrusive Effective Behaviour Intervention (LIEBI model)

Least Intrusive, Minimally Aversive (LIMA) training

Hierarchy of Procedures for Humane and Effective Practice

key concepts of animal learning and conditioning, including:

associative learning – operant and classical conditioning, including extinction, desensitisation and counter-conditioning and differential reinforcement

non-associative learning – habituation and sensitisation

primary and secondary reinforcers

schedules of reinforcement, including continuous, intermittent, variable ratio, variable interval

positive reinforcement conditioning and training techniques, including:

luring

targeting

capturing and shaping (prompted and free)

safe, low stress handling techniques and humane equipment/restraints

use of personal protective equipment for safety and infection control.

Assessment Conditions

Assessment of the skills in this unit of competency must take place under the following conditions:

physical conditions:

a workplace or an environment that accurately represents workplace conditions

resources, equipment and materials:

live animal as specified in the performance evidence

access to resources on animal behaviour, learning theory and current, scientifically validated training methodologies

relationships:

mentor or experienced trainer.

Assessors of this unit must satisfy the requirements for assessors in applicable vocational education and training legislation, frameworks and/or standards.

Links

Companion Volumes, including Implementation Guides, are available at VETNet: - https://vetnet.gov.au/Pages/TrainingDocs.aspx?q=b75f4b23-54c9-4cc9-a5db-d3502d154103