Application
This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to provide daily care of animals, including the cleaning of animal housing, and grooming or cleaning of animals under supervision.
This unit is applicable to new entrants to the animal care and management industry. Animal care may occur in a wide variety of workplaces, including retail pet stores, kennels and catteries, shelters, veterinary practices, zoos, animal research facilities and others.
This unit applies to individuals who work under general supervision and exercise limited autonomy. They undertake defined activities and work in a structured context.
No occupational licensing, legislative or certification requirements are known to apply to this unit at the time of publication.
NOTE: The terms 'occupational health and safety' (OHS) and 'work health and safety' (WHS) generally have the same meaning in the workplace. In jurisdictions where the national model WHS legislation has not been implemented, RTOs must contextualise the unit of competency by referring to current OHS legislative requirements.
Elements and Performance Criteria
Elements | Performance Criteria |
Elements describe the essential outcomes. | Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. |
1. Prepare to work | 1.1 Identify daily, weekly and periodical workplace routine schedules, and confirm work to be undertaken with supervisor 1.2 Confirm personal workplace responsibilities with supervisor 1.3 Collect workplace schedule and recording documents and update as required 1.4 Identify hazards and risks according to WHS and talk to supervisor about concerns 1.5 Select appropriate personal protective equipment and ensure correct fit |
2. Check animals | 2.1 Confirm which animals are to be under personal responsibility during shift 2.2 Verify the animal’s status via records or verbal reports 2.3 Count animals and note basic behaviour at beginning of shift 2.4 Tell supervisor about changes in animal numbers, behaviour or condition 2.5 Check any animals under personal responsibility and tell supervisor of the status |
3. Maintain a clean workplace | 3.1 Clean floors, benches and other flat areas according to workplace protocols 3.2 Clean animal housing areas according to workplace protocols 3.3 Dispose of waste and soiled bedding 3.4 Identify damage to housing and equipment and tell supervisor 3.5 Complete post-cleaning procedures |
4. Complete hygiene practices for animals | 4.1 Identify and practice hygiene control methods for a range of animals 4.2 Perform basic animal hygiene inspection, and identify cleaning needs of nominated animals 4.3 Bathe or clean animals under supervision 4.4 Confirm grooming techniques required for individual animals according to animal requirements 4.5 Groom animals under supervision and according to individual needs |
5. Complete post-hygiene care of animals | 5.1 Return animals to housing 5.2 Clean and store washing equipment according to workplace policies and procedures 5.3 Clean, check and store grooming tools according to workplace policies and procedures and manufacturers’ requirements 5.4 Inform supervisor if there are damaged tools 5.5 Audit and document supplies according to workplace policies and procedures 5.6 Update workplace documents according to workplace policies and procedures |
Foundation Skills
This section describes those language, literacy, numeracy and employment skills that are essential for performance in this unit of competency but are not explicit in the performance criteria.
Skill | Description |
Writing | Complete basic workplace forms accurately, using legible writing |
Numeracy | Complete basic workplace forms accurately, using accurate times, dates and measurements |
Sectors
General Animal Studies (GAS)