Application
This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to handle and house sick, injured or orphaned native wildlife safely and follow infection control guidelines to minimise the spread of diseases between wildlife, humans and the environment.
The unit applies to individuals who work or volunteer for animal welfare agencies in a range of wildlife rescue, care and rehabilitation contexts where animals are housed and cared for on a temporary basis. They work under broad direction, take responsibility for their own work, solve problems and use discretion and judgement in the selection, allocation and use of available resources.
State and territory legislation and local government by laws apply in some jurisdictions to the keeping of Australian native animals.
No other occupational licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.
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. Identify requirements for caring for sick, injured or orphaned native wildlife | 1.1 Identify state/territory regulatory requirements for wildlife rehabilitation, shelter and/or foster care 1.2 Source and interpret the key principles and requirements for infection control when working with wildlife from responsible agency 1.3 Identify roles of key personnel within the work environment relating to infection control and biosecurity 1.4 Identify common diseases and quarantine periods relating to specific species of native animals in own region or environment 1.5 Identify zoonotic diseases relevant to wildlife handled in the work environment |
2. Maintain personal safety and hygiene when handling native wildlife | 2.1 Recognise the risks of personal injury, contracting a zoonosis or other health problems, associated with working with wildlife and how these can be minimised 2.2 Maintain personal hygiene when handling animals including washing and sanitising hands and covering cuts and abrasions according to infection control guidelines 2.3 Maintain personal vaccinations/immunisations according to workplace requirements 2.4 Comply with clothing requirements and correctly select, fit, and use personal protective equipment (PPE) 2.5 Ensure personal hygiene and clean clothing when moving between captive animal enclosures to control spread of disease |
3. Safely capture and handle native wildlife | 3.1 Observe native wildlife behaviour before approaching or handling to assess risks to safety of self, or other people or animals 3.2 Use appropriate techniques, equipment and PPE to capture and handle wildlife to ensure minimum stress and avoid injuries to handlers 3.3 Recognise dangerous species and follow species-specific, safe capture and handling techniques or contact a specialist handler or organisation for assistance 3.4 Secure native wildlife in appropriate enclosure, container and/or vehicle ensuring that the animal is not able to escape or be harmed during transport |
4. Assess condition and house captured wildlife | 4.1 Recognise signs of common diseases, including handling and transport stress, and/or assess the condition of injuries affecting the captured wildlife 4.2 Carry out basic first aid or take captured wildlife to a veterinarian depending on animal condition and nature of injury 4.3 Set up enclosures in a location and environment that minimises the risk of disease and contamination 4.4 Separate animals according to zoning or protective barrier requirements to limit containment of potential disease risks 4.5 Ensure enclosures and bedding minimise potential contamination of the individual and other wildlife on the premise 4.6 Assess rehabilitation and plan release requirements for individual wildlife according to agency and regulatory requirements |
5. Care for wildlife | 5.1 Check quality of feed, supplements and water, locate away from potential sources of contamination and store in designated areas 5.2 Clean, disinfect and/or sterilise feeding bottles and containers to prevent contamination and minimise the spread of disease 5.3 Control access to different areas of the work environment and limit human contact according to infection control guidelines 5.4 Monitor the health and condition of the wildlife responding to individual needs |
6. Maintain clean and hygienic wildlife captive environments | 6.1 Select and prepare appropriate cleaning products, disinfectants and cleaning equipment for activity 6.2 Clean and disinfect animal captive environments according to infection control guidelines and cleaning product instructions 6.3 Change wildlife bedding and/or sort washable items for laundering or disposal 6.4 Ensure enclosures, feed and water are free of contaminants, rodents and vermin 6.5 Dispose of waste according to infection control and environmental practices, and local government requirements |
7. Maintain records and report infection control and biosecurity activity | 7.1 Fill in organisational records or documentation relating to infection control according to guidelines 7.2 Report infection control incidents and signs of contagious disease according to regulatory and agency requirements |
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 |
Reading | Interpret information about products such as disinfectants, cleaning agents, cleaning techniques and cleaning equipment Locate key information in procedures and workplace forms |
Oral communication | Use active listening and questioning techniques to obtain and give clear and precise information to others |
Numeracy | Identify and interpret numerical information found on cleaning product labels and safety data sheets, including quantity, temperature, mixing ratio, application rate and withholding time Measure and calculate area, weight and volume |
Navigate the world of work | Recognise the importance of infection control and associated responsibilities of own role and work |
Interact with others | Work collaboratively with wildlife care organisations or foster carers to achieve joint outcomes |
Get the work done | Plan and assemble resources and sequence activities relating to wildlife care to achieve positive outcomes |
Sectors
Infection control (INF)