Application
This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to promote health and safety related to companion animals in remote Indigenous (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) communities. It focuses on basic infection prevention and control for companion animals (mainly dogs and cats) and humans and covers knowledge of cultural issues and the need to work collaboratively within remote communities.
The unit applies to individuals who provide advice related to human health, veterinary, animal management or education services in remote Indigenous communities. They work under broad direction, take responsibility for their own work, solve problems and use discretion and judgement in the use of available resources.
No 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 a remote community's basic animal environmental health and infection control requirements | 1.1 Confirm the community's attitude and relationship to companion animals 1.2 Carry out a basic assessment of human and animal disease risk and access to preventatives or treatment options within the community 1.3 Confirm applicable regulations relating to the keeping and management of companion animals in the community and their relationship to environmental health and infection control 1.4 Identify key issues related to the health and condition of animals and local community priorities 1.5 Establish rapport and trust with the local community to be able to carry out animal welfare activities within the community |
2. Handle or interact with companion animals safely within a remote community | 2.1 Observe animal behaviour before approaching or handling to assess risks to safety of self or other people or animals 2.2 Select, fit and use personal protective equipment before contact with animals and animal body fluids and excrement 2.3 Use appropriate personal hygiene practices when handling or interacting with companion animals 2.4 Apply basic animal training and behaviour principles when approaching or handling animals to ensure safety 2.5 Apply behaviours and techniques to behaviours to prevent attacks, bites and perceived threats to animals |
3. Provide animal environmental health and infection control advice to community members | 3.1 Check general condition and look for signs of health and diseases in individual companion animals within a community 3.2 Provide advice on how to access treatments and treat common animal skin and parasitic infections to individual community members, including medications which can only be administered by a veterinarian 3.3 Explain how to contact a veterinarian or local council or regional services for more serious animal health conditions 3.4 Explain the benefits to the community and promote the use of available population control and treatment services |
4. Provide hygiene and infection control advice to community members | 4.1 Identify opportunities to build awareness of the link between animal and human health and the adoption of good hygiene relating to animal care 4.2 Model appropriate personal hygiene and safety when handling or interacting with animals according to health standards 4.3 Provide advice to individual community members on basic hygiene and infection control for self and family members 4.4 Provide advice on seeking medical assistance for signs of zoonotic diseases according to available services in the region |
5. Consult to provide ongoing culturally appropriate community awareness activities | 5.1 Seek permission to interact with or handle animals according to community requirements and practices 5.2 Involve community members in activities to improve care for animals, prevent and minimise the transmission of diseases and promote responsible animal ownership 5.3 Use communication techniques and work practices that show respect for the culture of the community and other team members according to community standards 5.4 Provide feedback to supervisor and service providers to increase cross-cultural awareness in animal environmental health and management services |
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 instructions on product labels and packaging Interpret veterinary terminology and instructions received in various formats including emails and text messages (SMS) |
Oral communication | Explain information in culturally appropriate language and terms for community audience Use questioning and active listening techniques to obtain and provide information to veterinarians, health workers and others |
Numeracy | Estimate the number of community animals and changes over time Calculate medication doses from instructions on labels for routine animal treatments and/or veterinarian prescribed medications |
Navigate the world of work | Recognise the need to incorporate and respect the cultural views of different communities Understand the nature and purpose of own role and associated responsibilities relating to safety and animal welfare within the community context |
Getting the work done | Plan and prioritise work tasks, adapting to contingencies and changing circumstances to achieve outcomes, targets and timelines Use basic technologies to report and record information related to work role |
Sectors
Infection control (INF)