Animal Incident Management Project

Menu: Click across the green arrows to view active and completed project stages. Consultation takes place at every stage of the project.

Case for change

Incidents such as bushfires and floods in urban and rural areas have driven the need for expertise in dealing with large animals, such as horses, cattle and sheep, and large groups of animals. More workers across a number of sectors need to be properly trained in how to safely respond to these incidents in order to help minimise the risk of injury to people involved, to improve the welfare outcomes for the animals, and minimise losses.

“Knowledge of and ability to apply large animal rescue techniques in various natural or anthropogenic disasters, emergencies or accidents” was identified as a priority skill in the 2017-2020 IRC Skills Forecast and proposed Schedule of Work. A subsequent Case for Change demonstrated the reasoning for this project, setting out evidence for proposed changes to the ACM Animal Care and Management Training Package, including the scope of the research, analysis and industry engagement undertaken to collate the evidence base.

In addressing this skill priority, this project will identify and fill gaps in current qualifications, skill sets and units of competency from the ACM Animal Care and Management Training Package to provide workers with high level skills to respond to incidents involving animals, including skills in animal first aid.

Skills Impact and the Animal Care and Management Industry Reference Committee (IRC) will manage this project, consistent with the 2012 Standards for Training Package Development. This project is being carried out at the same time as the Horse Education Project.

 

Register your interest in the project

Subscribe to the Skills Impact newsletter to keep informed about project updates. Make sure to select ‘Animal Care and Management’ as your industry of interest on the subscription form.

Project Plan

This project will identify and fill gaps in current qualifications, skill sets and units of competency from the ACM Animal Care and Management Training Package to address skill needs for workers who respond to incidents involving large animals, and large groups of animals.  A focus of the project will be to develop qualifications, skill sets and units that help learners be properly trained in how to safely respond to these incidents in order to help minimise the risk of injury to people involved, to improve the welfare outcomes for the animals, and minimise any losses. This also includes developing and reviewing units around animal first aid.  

This project is being carried out at the same time as the Horse Education Project.

Scroll down to view the units that will be developed to cover gaps in job roles and skilled activities around animal first aid, and responding to incidents involving animals.  

As part of the development process, Skills Impact will conduct a number of activities to support industry involvement, including engaging with Subject Matter Experts, facilitating face-to-face consultation workshops and webinars, and conducting site visits.  

Register your interest in the project

Subscribe to the Skills Impact newsletter to keep informed about project updates. Make sure to select ‘Animal Care and Management’ as your industry of interest on the subscription form.

 

Relevant occupations
  • Animal rescue operators
  • Emergency response operators
  • Firefighters
  • Veterinary nurses
  • Farmers
  • Transporters
Key deliverables

Development of qualifications, skill sets and units of competency to provide workers with high level skills to respond to incidents involving animals, including skills in animal first aid. 

 

Timeline

July – August 2018
Initial scoping

September 2018 – February 2019
Development of draft qualifications, skill sets and units

February 2019
Drafts available for broad consultation

March – April 2019
Validation of final drafts

April – May 2019
Finalisation of Training Package components

April – May 2019
Independent Quality Assurance, and Edit and Equity review of Training Package components

June 2019
IRC consideration for sign-off and submission for endorsement

 

Project Team
Lucinda O’Brien Training Package Support Officer, Skills Impact, [email protected]
Diana McNaughton National Industry Engagement Manager, Skills Impact, [email protected]
Sue Hamilton Industry Skills Standards Contractor

 

The Animal Care and Management Industry Reference Committee (IRC) will oversee this project, as part of their responsibility to support engagement with the sector, and to ensure the project meets industry stakeholder needs.

Qualifications, skill sets and units

Below is a list of qualifications, skill sets and units proposed for development, and the units that may be impacted by this project.

Qualifications that may be reviewed or developed as part of this project include (but are not limited to): 

Skill sets that may be developed as part of this project include (but are not limited to):

  • ACMSSXXXX1 Assist in large animal rescue involved in road accidents
  • ACMSSXXXX2 Animal First Aid

This project seeks to provide workers with high level skills to respond to incidents involving animals. The following skills and knowledge requirements have been identified, which may provide the basis of new units of competency.  

  • General Animal Rescue 
  • Animal Behaviour Awareness 
  • Apply advanced knowledge of Horse and Cattle Behaviour 
  • Transport an injured animal 
  • Manage large distressed a solo animal 
  • Manage large number of distressed herd animals 
  • Lead and Coordinate workers during animal rescue procedures 
  • Coordinate and lead remote animal rescue activities 
  • Provide assistance to manage a deceased large animal 
  • Manual handling of recumbent and compromised large animals 
  • Post rescue – follow instructions for management of the animal casualty 
  • Coordinate and lead the rescue of wild animals 
  • Undertake large scale humane killing of animals 
  • Coordinate herds or flock incidents on public roads during emergencies. 
  • Work as a team member on an incident involving an animal 
  • Perform complex large animal rescue techniques 
  • Calculate risks when undertaking large animal rescue 
  • Coordinate interagency animal rescue 
  • Establish and coordinate animal evacuation sites and procedures 

 

Stakeholder Consultation Process

A list of key stakeholder organisations has been identified for this project. Skills Impact will ensure contact is made with each of these organisations during the development of this project to seek their involvement and their views on the draft qualifications, skill sets and units. 

If you are aware of an organisation that you think should be involved, please contact the project team to ensure they are contacted by us. 

Of course, all and any interested industry participants are encouraged to engage in the consultation of this project, when the draft qualifications, skill sets and units are available for feedback via this webpage and workshops that take place around Australia. Consultation is not limited to the organisations on this list. This list simply helps us to identify those organisations that, because of their industry role, size or specialty, are likely to have a key interest in the development and outcomes of this project. 

 

Opportunities for stakeholder input:

Stakeholder input is appreciated throughout the duration of this project. The documents will be drafted in consultation with Subject Matter Experts and their networks. Opportunities to provide targeted feedback will occur when the draft materials are made available in February 2019, and again for validation of final drafts in March and April 2019. However, your feedback is welcomed at any time, and will help us in drafting the skill sets and units. It is important that training provides a skilled and flexible workforce for the future. The qualifications, skill sets and units need to reflect real work experience. So if you work in the sector, Skills Impact would love your input and help. Please feel free to register your interest for project updates and consultation opportunities by following the newsletter subscription link above. Alternatively, please feel free to contact the project manager, Danni on 03 9321 3526 or [email protected].

Development

Development work on this project is underway. In November, the team held workshops with stakeholders and subject matter experts to identify job roles and current gaps in training for safely providing workers with high level skills to respond to incidents involving animals. A key focus of discussion during these workshops was around identifying who the key audience would be for these skills. It was determined that those working in animal event organisation (including volunteers), community groups and emergency services would be most likely to undertake these units of competency. The skills identified are required at various levels and would not be suitable for one qualification. Rather, it is proposed that these skills could be delivered as standalone units, as part of skill sets, or as elective units in other qualifications.

A list of components proposed for review and development can be found below, with drafts available for review and comment in the New Year.

Click the ‘Project Plan’ menu above for more information about the project scope, timeline, deliverables and project contacts. This project is being carried out at the same time as Animal Incident Management Project.

Consultation Workshops – Registrations Open!

Thank you to those stakeholders that have been involved and provided feedback and advice so far. The revised draft skill sets and units will be made available on this webpage for public consideration and feedback from February 2019 (under the ‘Drafts Available’ menu above). Face-to-face consultation workshops will also take place across states and territories, with a webinar planned for those unable to attend in person. Registrations for these workshops are now open. Please feel free to register for a workshop near you by clicking the corresponding link.

Face-to-face consultation workshops

Tues 5 Feb ‘19, 1pm – 3pm AEDT – Hobart – register here

Thurs 7 Feb ’19, 1pm – 3pm ACST – Darwin – register here

Tues 12 Feb ’19, 1pm – 3pm AEST – Brisbane – register here

Thurs 14 Feb ’19, 1pm – 3pm AEDT – Canberra – register here

Tues 19 Feb ’19, 1pm – 3pm AWST – Perth – register here

Thurs 21 Feb ’19, 1pm – 3pm ACST – Adelaide – register here

Wed 27 Feb ’19, 1pm – 3pm AEDST – Sydney – register here

Mon 4 March ’19, 1pm – 3pm AEDST – Melbourne – register here

Consultation webinar

Wed 6 Feb ’19, 1pm – 3pm ACST – Webinar register here

 

*updated* Proposed units of competency and skill sets for development and review

Following input during workshops with subject matter experts, the following skill sets and units of competency are proposed for development and review. Drafts of these documents will be made available in February 2019.

Proposed new skill sets

*Note: new skill set titles to be confirmed

  • Educate horses for driving
  • Educate pack equines

Proposed new units
*Note: new unit titles to be confirmed

  • Apply knowledge of animal incidents (and situational awareness)
  • Develop a large animal incident response and casualty plan for an organisation
  • Safely handle and manually move large animals
  • Apply large animal technical lifting techniques
  • Establish and coordinate animal evacuation sites and procedures
  • Assist with large animals at evacuation sites/Participate in evacuations of large animals
  • Transport large animals with special needs
  • Carry out casualty and post-rescue management of large animals
  • Participate in a team responding to a large animal incident
  • Coordinate response to a large animal incident
  • Manage a multi-team response to a large animal incident
  • Sedation and anaesthesia for veterinarians working in emergency situations.

Register your interest in the project

Subscribe to the Skills Impact newsletter to keep informed about project updates. Make sure to select ‘Animal Care and Management’ as your industry of interest on the subscription form.

Drafts Available

Thank you to all those who provided feedback on the additional changes to the unit of competency for ACMAIMX12 Manage sedation and anaesthesia of large animals in emergency field situations. The revised unit was available on this webpage for broad stakeholder review from 7 – 21 March 2019.

The changes to this unit were based on feedback that was received on the draft version that was made available between 30 January – 5 March 2019.

Feedback suggested the unit ACMAIMX12 Manage sedation and anaesthesia of large animals in emergency field situations should be broadened to reflect the role of incident management teams which collaborate and work together to determine the optimal chemical restraint for a safe rescue and the welfare of the animal. As such, this unit has been significantly modified to reflect these requirements.

Revised Unit

The table below provides an overview of the key changes that have been made to ACMAIMX12 Manage sedation and anaesthesia of large animals in emergency field situations as a result of feedback from the national consultation workshops and the Skills Impact Feedback Hub. This unit was originally written for veterinarians only. Please note minor wording edits/suggestions have not been listed below.

Revised unit code & title Previous draft code & title Key feedback / change Link
ACMAIMX12 Collaborate in planning sedation and anaesthesia of large animals in emergency field situations ACMAIMX12 Manage sedation and anaesthesia of large animals in emergency field situations Feedback suggests that although the veterinarian makes the final decision and performs sedation, anaesthesia or euthanasia, key experienced personnel play a significant role in assisting with the planning of the large animal incident or rescue. The unit has been edited to make it applicable to a broader group of personnel working at the incident scene. These may include emergency services, veterinary nurses and other personnel with relevant skills and knowledge. The focus is on collaboration in a team rather than the focus being on the veterinarian only as originally written. View unit

Click here to download the Microsoft Word version of the unit. 

 

Previous Drafts

Thank you to those who provided feedback on the draft units of competency and skill sets addressing responding to incidents involving animals. They were made available on this webpage for feedback from 30 January – 4 March 2019. To view the draft documents, including comments that were made on them from people using the feedback hub, please click on the expandable document menus below.

Feedback was sought to determine whether the draft documents accurately reflect the skills required to respond to incidents that may involve large animals/large groups of animals in different environments and of varying complexity. A key focus of these documents is maintaining the safety and wellbeing of both the animals and the people involved in these incidents.

Feedback will inform the work on the final drafts which will be available for industry validation in March 2019.

Summary of consultation to date

Feedback on the draft documents was collected via the online feedback hub, face-to-face consultation workshops and webinars throughout February and early March.

Face to face meetings and webinars were held with subject matter experts in November and December to identify who the key audience would be for the skills being addressed in these draft materials, how to address the various level of skills required. Ongoing targeted consultation with subject matter experts has been undertaken throughout the development of the draft materials to assist with industry-specific language and content requirements.

Initial feedback from subject matter experts suggested the development of a specific qualification for responding to incidents involving large animals was required. As a result of consultation it is now proposed that these skills could be delivered as standalone units, as part of skill sets, or as elective units in other qualifications.

The following ACM Animal Care and Management qualification has been identified as a qualification that would benefit from the addition of new (AIM) Animal Incident Management units of competency to its elective bank. Suggestions for other qualifications that could also benefit from these additions are welcomed.

The draft document can be downloaded in Microsoft Word format by clicking here.

ACM40117 Certificate IV in Animal Control and Regulation View qualification

These skill sets address targeted skills areas in responding to incidents involving large animals, and provide pathways to a number of ACM Animal Care and Management qualifications.

Draft skill set What the skill set is about Link
ACMSSXXXX3 Large Animal Incident Induction Skill Set Contributing to safety at incidents involving large animals at workplaces, event sites or other situations. View the skill set
ACMSSXXXX4 Large Animal Incident Team Member Skill Set Safely participating in a team responding to a large animal incident, including assessing risks and hazards, working safely and using recognised manual manipulation techniques with compromised animals at incident scenes. View the skill set
ACMSSXXXX5 Large Animal Incident Responder Skill Set Safely participating in a team responding to a large animal incident involving lifting operations and potentially complex technical rescues of large animals from a variety of situations. View the skill set
ACMSSXXXX7 Large Animal Incident Manager Skill Set Managing complex incidents involving single animals or groups of large animals, including complex technical rescues, responding to emergency incidents and management of multiple teams. View the skill set
ACMSSXXXX8 Large Animal Incident Veterinarian Skill Set Written for registered veterinarians, this skill set covers the knowledge and skills required to assess and manage sedation and anaesthesia of large animals in emergency field situations. View the skill set

The draft documents can be downloaded in Microsoft Word format by clicking here.

These new units have been developed to address gaps in skills required to respond to incidents involving large animals/large groups of animals.

Draft unit What the unit is about  Link
ACMAIMXX1 Complete induction for incidents involving large animals An introduction to large animal behaviours, safety, situational awareness and an overview of incident management processes. View the unit
ACMAIMXX2 Participate in a team responding to an incident involving large animals Identifying and monitoring common risks and hazards at large animal incident scenes and working safely with others around compromised or distressed animals. View the unit
ACMAIMXX3 Use manual techniques to safely move compromised large animals Using recognized manual manipulation techniques and a rescue glide to move a recumbent or compromised large animal. View the unit
ACMAIMXX4 Perform technical large animal rescue Using a range of recognized techniques and specialized equipment to extricate a compromised large animal from an incident scene, including lifting operations and complex rescues of large animals from a variety of situations. View the unit
ACMAIMXX5 Move large animals to new locations Catching, restraining and moving large animals from one location to another. It covers moving animals safely using species appropriate techniques and establishing the animals in secure holding areas. View the unit
ACMAIMXX6 Coordinate large animal movement and evacuation Planning and controlling the movement of animals to safe, secure and suitable sites, including planning resource requirements, managing biosecurity hazards and ensuring the safety of animals and people. View the unit
ACMAIMXX7 Transport injured large animals Transporting injured or special needs animals and providing first aid to them where required. The unit also covers checking regulatory standards and guidelines (including Animal Welfare Standards) for transporting injured animals. View the unit
ACMAIMXX8 Carry out casualty and post-rescue management of animals Carrying out an initial assessment and caring for animals at an incident scene, and working with and assisting veterinarians during and after a rescue incident. View the unit
ACMAIMXX9 Develop a large animal incident response plan Researching, developing and promoting a plan for an organisation to respond to incidents involving a large animal at a workplace or event site. View the unit
ACMAIMX10 Lead a team responding to a large animal incident Leading a team to respond to a range of potential large animal incidents at a workplace or event site, including basic incident scene command and control processes, and responding to a compromised large animal using a range of recognized techniques and equipment. View the unit
ACMAIMX11 Manage complex large animal incident operations Managing complex incidents involving animals, including complex technical rescues, responding to emergency incidents and management of multiple teams. View the unit
ACMAIMXX12 Manage sedation and anaesthesia of large animals in emergency field situations Specifically for registered veterinarians, this unit is about assessing and managing sedation and anaesthesia needs of large animals in emergency field operations. View the unit

The draft documents can be downloaded in Microsoft Word format by clicking here.

These units have had minor updates to make them flexible enough to cover incidents involving large animals.

Draft unit What the unit is about What has changed in the unit Link
ACMACR403 Identify and respond to animal behaviour Identifying and interpreting animal body language and behavior, including responding appropriately to behavior. Minor updates to clarify abnormal animal behavior and strengthen animal welfare and wellbeing. View the unit
ACMACR405 Assist with the euthanasia of sick, injured or unwanted animals Assisting with the humane euthanasia of sick, injured or unwanted animals in pounds or when assisting with animal incidents in the field, including addressing ethical, welfare and legislative requirements. Minor changes made to Application and Title to allow for assisting with euthanasia in the field as a result of an animal incident. View the unit
ACMACR408 Coordinate seizure of animals Coordinating and implementing a plan for the seizure of animals that may be aggressive, dangerous, injured or large. Minor changes in Assessment Requirements to reduce duplication of Performance Criteria in Performance Evidence and clarify Knowledge Evidence. View the unit

The draft documents can be downloaded in Microsoft Word format by clicking here.

The following units of competency were flagged for possible review in this project, however initial analysis indicates these units may not need to be updated.

These units have not had any changes made to them. Rather, Skills Impact is seeking further feedback as to whether any changes are required to the units to ensure they address skills needs in undertaking tasks involved with responding to incidents involving large animals.

Unit code and title What the unit is about Link
ACMACR401 Comply with animal control and regulation requirements Identifying and applying relevant industry, legislative and organisational requirements in an animal control and regulation workplace. View the unit
ACMACR402 Assess and impound animals Seizing, handling and transporting animals according to relevant legislative and organisational requirements in an animal control and regulation environment, including compliance with legal and ethical responsibilities. (It does not include the use of firearms, chemicals or drugs in the process of seizing an animal.) View the unit
ACMACR404 Manage conflict situations in an animal control and regulation environment Resolving disputes and conflict situations that may arise when working in animal control. View the unit
ACMACR406 Carry out pound procedures Providing appropriate management of impounded and surrendered animal, including receiving animals, maintaining pound hygiene, and providing appropriate care for animals. View the unit
ACMACR407 Conduct community awareness programs Preparing, delivering and evaluating programs to increase community awareness on matters relating to animal control and regulation. View the unit
ACMACR409 Prepare and present animal control and regulation case Conducting interviews, and preparing and presenting evidence for animal control and regulation cases. View the unit

The draft documents can be downloaded in Microsoft Word format by clicking here.

 

Register your interest in the project

Subscribe to the Skills Impact newsletter to keep informed about project updates. Make sure to select ‘Animal Care and Management’ as your industry of interest on the subscription form.

 

Validation

Thank you to those who participated in the validation process for the final draft qualification, skill sets and units of competency for responding to incidents involving animals. The final drafts were available on this webpage for feedback and comment from 25 March – 7 April 2019.

They have been revised to keep consistent terminology, strengthen health and safety and animal welfare regulations and requirements. The final draft qualification, skill sets and units that were available for industry validation are listed below.

The final drafts will shortly progress through to the Finalisation stage of the project which includes quality assurance of the documents and review and feedback from the State/Territory Training Authorities. They will then be forwarded to the Animal Care and Management Industry Reference Committee for consideration and sign off, before being submitted to the Australian Industry and Skills Committee (AISC) to consider and approve for publication on training.gov.au.

Validation  means checking and confirming that the documents are logical and factually accurate.

Summary of consultation

Prior to the Validation period, the draft units and skill sets were available on this webpage for broad stakeholder review, from 30 January – 5 March 2019, under the ‘Drafts Available’ stage menu above. Further feedback was sort on ACMAIMX12 Collaborate in planning sedation and anaesthesia of large animals in emergency field situations between 7 March – 21 March 2019 due to additional changes. During this time, feedback was collected via the online feedback hub, national face-to-face consultation workshops and webinars, and via phone call and email. The units were drafted with guidance from Subject Matter Experts (SMEs), made up of workplace experts and industry.

As a direct result of feedback received, a number of changes were made to the documents under review. Mostly notably:

  • Terminology revised for consistency (see general section for units)
  • Titles to some units have changed
  • Changes to application statement, performance criteria, performance evidence and knowledge evidence in most units
  • Prerequisite units added to ACMAIMXX3 Use manual techniques to safely move compromised large animals and ACMAIMX11 Undertake complex operations in incidents involving large animals.

A description of how feedback has been considered and applied in these final drafts can be downloaded below. Please click the ‘Download Summary of Feedback, Responses and Actions’ button.

 

Only minor changes have been made to the Certificate IV in Animal Control and Regulation with the addition of some of the new AIM units to the electives.

Qualification code and name Changes made to previous draft Link to document
ACM40117 Certificate IV in Animal Control and Regulation New AIM units added to elective bank. Link to final draft qualification

 

Skill set titles and units updated in view of feedback.

Skill Set code and name Changes made to previous draft Link to document
ACMSSXXXX3 Large Animal Incident Induction Skill Set Pathways clarified. View final draft skill set
ACMSSXXXX4 Large Animal Incident Team Member Skill Set Pathways clarified. Prerequisite units added. View final draft skill set
ACMSSXXXX7 Large Animal Incident Manager Skill Set Pathways clarified. Prerequisite units added. View final draft skill set

 

Terminology and content has been revised to ensure clarity, consistency and to remove duplication.  

Unit code and name Changes made to previous draft Link to document
ACMAIMXX1 Contribute to safety at incidents involving large animals Title change from ACMAIMXX1 Complete induction for incidents involving large animals. Minor edits to Performance Criteria, Performance Evidence, Knowledge Evidence and Foundation Skills. View final draft unit
ACMAIMXX2 Participate in an incident involving large animals Title change from ACMAIMXX2 Participate in a team responding to an incident involving large animals. Minor edits to Performance Criteria, Performance Evidence and Knowledge Evidence. View final draft unit
ACMAIMXX3 Use manual techniques to safely move large animals Title change from ACMAIMXX3 Use manual techniques to safely move compromised large animals. Addition of prerequisite unit. Minor changes to Performance Criteria, Knowledge Evidence and Assessment Conditions. View final draft unit
ACMAIMXX4 Perform technical large animal rescues Minor edits to Performance Criteria, Performance Evidence and Knowledge Evidence. View final draft unit
ACMAIMXX5 Move large animals to new locations Minor changes to Application, Performance Criteria and Knowledge Evidence. View final draft unit
ACMAIMXX6 Coordinate large animal movement and evacuation Minor changes to Performance Criteria, Knowledge Evidence and Assessment Conditions. View final draft unit
ACMAIMXX7 Transport injured large animals Minor changes to Performance Criteria and Knowledge Evidence. View final draft unit
ACMAIMXX8 Carry out casualty and post-rescue management of animals Minor changes to Performance Criteria and Knowledge Evidence. View final draft unit
ACMAIMXX9 Develop a large animal incident response plan for an organisation Title change from ACMAIMXX9 Develop a large animal incident response plan. Minor changes to Performance Criteria and Knowledge Evidence. View final draft unit
ACMAIMX10 Lead a team responding to a large animal incident Minor changes to Performance Criteria and Knowledge Evidence. View final draft unit
ACMAIMX11 Undertake complex operations at incidents involving large animals Title change from ACMAIMX11 Manage complex large animal incident operations. Focus shift from “manage complex operations” to “undertake complex operations. View final draft unit
ACMAIMX12 Collaborate in planning sedation and anaesthesia of large animals in emergency field situations Unit audience has expanded to be applicable to all attendees at a large animal incident rather than veterinarians or vet nurses alone. Further changes to Performance Criteria, Knowledge Evidence and Assessment Conditions. View final draft unit

 

These units have had minor updates to strengthen animal welfare and wellbeing.

Unit code and name Changes made to previous draft Link to document 
ACMACR401 Comply with animal control and regulation requirements No changes made. View unit
ACMACR402 Assess and impound animals No changes made. View unit
ACMACR403 Identify and respond to animal behaviour Minor changes to performance criteria and knowledge evidence for clarity. View final draft unit
ACMACR404 Manage conflict situations in an animal control and regulation environment No changes made. View unit
ACMACR405 Assist with the euthanasia of sick, injured or unwanted pound animals Title reverted back to original. Minor changes to Application, Performance Criteria and Assessment Criteria. View final draft unit
ACMACR406 Carry out pound procedures No changes made. View unit
ACMACR407 Conduct community awareness programs No changes made. View unit
ACMACR408 Coordinate seizure of animals Minor changes to Assessment Requirements to reduce duplication of performance criteria in performance evidence and clarify knowledge evidence. View final draft unit
ACMACR409 Prepare and present animal control and regulation case No changes made. View unit

 

 

Register your interest in the project

Subscribe to the Skills Impact newsletter to keep informed about project updates. Make sure to select ‘Animal Care and Management’ as your industry of interest on the subscription form.

 

Finalisation

Rescuing large animals or groups of animals during an emergency requires unique skills and knowledge. Fire and rescue, veterinarians, farmers, council rangers and transporters routinely deal with incidents involving domestic animals or wildlife. The safety and welfare of people and animals in these circumstances is paramount, and training is essential to achieving this.

Thanks to the contributions of experts in the field, a qualification and three skills sets have been developed and endorsed which incorporate the specific skills standards for managing incidents involving large animals or groups of animals.

The Certificate IV in Animal Control and Regulation, three skills sets and associated units of competency were approved by the Animal Care and Management Reference Committee (IRC) and endorsed by the Australian Industry and Skills Committee (AISC), at their meeting on 13 August 2019 (see here).

The new materials are published on the training.gov.au website, within the ACM Animal Care and Management Training Package. They are available for use by registered training organisations (RTOs). RTOs can find information to help them adopt to the new changes in the Companion Volume, which provides additional information about the impacts of regulation and licensing implications and workplace health and safety on their training.

Key outcomes
  • Fifteen new units have been developed, along with three new skill sets to support skills in safety, participating in a team, and complex incidents involving large animals, including skills at a management or specialist level.
  • The Certificate IV in Animal Control and Regulation has been revised to include two new animal incident management units.
  • Three units related to animal control and regulation were also updated, to strengthen animal welfare regulations and requirements.
Summary of consultation

Across a 10 month period, 51 stakeholders provided feedback on the draft qualifications, skills sets and units. A Subject Matter Expert Working Group was established to identify the job role or functions and what skills and knowledge are required. Consultation took place via public face-to-face consultation workshops, webinar, site visits, email and phone.

The broader industry was consulted on the draft documents at two different stages – the ‘Drafts Available’ and ‘Validation’ stages. The ‘Finalisation’ stage includes the development and publishing of a validation summary for each project.

A summary of feedback and how it has been considered and applied at each stage can be downloaded below.

Please find below links to the final documents, that are published on the training.gov.au website.

Click here to download the Case for Endorsement