Greyhound Health Assistance Services 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

“Greyhound health assistant skills”, was identified as a priority skill area in the 2018-2021 Racing IRC Skills Forecast and Proposed Schedule of Work (see page 60-63). Skills and knowledge requirements for non-veterinary providers administering complementary medicine to greyhounds/canines will be identified, reviewed and considered for inclusion in skill sets or units and competency within the RGR Racing and Breeding Training Package. Skills Impact and the Racing and Breeding Industry Reference Committee (IRC) will take this project through a process that adheres to the 2012 Standards for Training Package Development.

Download the IRC Skills Forecast (see page 60-63)

Project Plan

Project Scope

This project will explore and identify the skills and knowledge requirements of providers administering therapy practices to greyhounds and other canines, such as massage and first-aid. Relevant skill sets and units of competency from the RGR Racing and Breeding Training Package will be identified, reviewed and developed to incorporate skills requirements in the use and applicability of complementary therapies.  Scroll down to view the skill sets and units proposed for revision.

Complementary therapies can be based on the diagnosis and manipulative treatment of misalignment of the joints, especially those of the spinal column, which are believed to cause other disorders by affecting the nerves, muscles and organs.

Register your interest in the project

Subscribe to the Skills Impact newsletter to keep informed about project updates and opportunities to provide input and feedback. Make sure to select ‘Racing’ as your industry of interest on the subscription form.

 

Key Deliverables

Current units of competency and skills sets are to be reviewed and new content developed as required.

 

Timeline

August 2018
Initial scoping

September 2018
Development of draft skill sets and units

October/November 2018
Drafts available for broad consultation

February/March 2019
Validation of final drafts

April 2019
Finalisation of Training Package components

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

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

 

Project Team
Ruth Geldard Industry Skills Standards Specialist, Skills Impact [email protected]
Michelle Ingley-Smith National Industry Engagement Manager, Skills Impact [email protected]
Sue Hamilton Industry Skills Standards Contractor

 

Subject Matter Experts

Subject Matter Experts will be drawn on throughout this project to help review and draft the revised skill sets and units.

If you are interested in applying to be a Subject Matter Expert and are able to volunteer your time to this project, please email details of your expertise to [email protected].

 

The Racing and Breeding 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.

 

Units and Skill Sets

Below is a list of the units of competency and skill sets proposed for revision. Use the links below to view the components on training.gov.au.

In preparation for the review of these components, we invite you to provide your input on the current units. We would like to know what changes or updates should be made to the components so that they meet the skills needs of the industry.

Your feedback will help us in reviewing these skills sets and units and developing any new content, as required.

To provide feedback, please use our feedback form. Alternatively, you can email Ruth Geldard [email protected]

 

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 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 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 October/November 2018, and again for validation of final drafts in February/March 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 skill sets and units need to reflect real work experience. So if you work in the sector, Skills Impact would appreciate your input and help. Please feel free to register your interest for project updates and consultation opportunities by following the newsletter subscription link below. Alternatively, please feel free to contact the project manager, Ruth Geldard on 03 9321 3526 or [email protected].

Development

Consultation has begun with Subject Matter Experts to consider incorporating greyhound health assistance skills in skill sets and units of competency within the RGR Racing and Breeding Training Package.

Discussions at consultation meetings held recently in Melbourne confirmed that units proposed in a Case for Change regarding Acupuncture, Osteopathy and Chiropractic will not be considered for development at this stage. Stakeholder feedback indicated that the Australian Qualification Framework (AQF) level required would be very high – potentially post-graduate AQF8. As a result, it was viewed as a thin market with limited take up, restricted to veterinarians or other qualified health practitioners.

Proposed new greyhound health assistance units and skill sets will be considered for development and drafts materials will be made available for wide circulation and industry feedback in November.

Potential new units

  • Work as a greyhound health assistant unit
  • Relate musculoskeletal structure to greyhound movement unit
  • Assess greyhound structural and functional suitability for racing unit
  • Provide massage therapy and non-invasive treatments to greyhounds unit

Potential new skill set

  • Greyhound Health Assistant Skill Set

 

Face-to-Face Consultation Workshops – Registrations Open!

Broad stakeholder consultation is scheduled to commence in November, when draft units and skill sets will be made available for comment on this webpage (under the ‘Drafts Available’ menu above) and national consultation workshops will be held. Registration for these workshops are now open – dates and times are listed below. Please feel free to register for a workshop near you by clicking the corresponding link. A webinar is also planned for those unable to attend in person.

12 Nov 18, 10am to 12pm – Sydney, NSW (Greyhounds) – register here

15 Nov 18, 10am to 11.30am – Brisbane, QLD (Greyhounds) – register here

19 Nov 18, 10am to 12pm – Melbourne, VIC (Greyhounds) – register here

20 Nov 18, 10.30am to 11.30am – Hobart, TAS (Greyhounds) – register here

22 Nov 18, 10am to 11.30am – Adelaide, SA – (Greyhounds) – register here

28 Nov 18, 10am to 11.30am – Perth, WA – (Greyhounds) – register here

Consultation Webinar

Tue 4 Dec 18, 10am to 1pm – Webinarregister here

 

Register your interest in the project

Subscribe to the Skills Impact newsletter to keep informed about project updates and opportunities to provide input and feedback. Make sure to select ‘Racing’ as your industry of interest on the subscription form.

 

 

Drafts Available

Thank you to all those who provided feedback on the qualification, six skill sets and 11 units of competency. The drafts were made available on this webpage for broad stakeholder review from 30 October – 9 December 2018. They have been revised to incorporate the skills and knowledge requirements of providers administering therapy practices to greyhounds and other canines, such as massage and first-aid.

Feedback was sought on whether the draft qualification, skill sets and units reflect the current skills standards and practices of industry, and whether job functions are accurately described. Feedback will inform the work on the final drafts, which will be available for industry validation in early 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. 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.

Consultation with industry stakeholders possessing broad experience and knowledge in health assistance services for greyhounds occurred during September and October. This has informed the revision of the qualification, skill sets and units of competency that identify skill requirements for individuals undertaking these roles, including the development of one new skill set and four new units.

 

Qualifications

This qualification supersedes RGR40418 Certificate IV in Racing (Greyhound Trainer). New RGR units (listed in drop down menu below) have been added as electives, with the addition of specialisations. Changes have also been made to the core and packaging rules.

RGR40419 Certificate IV in Greyhound Racing Industry (Trainer or Health Assistant or Transition to Pet specialisation) View qualification

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

Skill sets

Greyhound Health Assistant Skill Set View skill set and provide feedback

 

Alternatively, you can email your feedback to Ruth Geldard [email protected].

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

RGRSS00027 Greyhound Breeding Skill Set View skill set
RGRSS00025 Animal Welfare for Greyhound Racing Skill Set View skill set
RGRSS00031 Greyhound Rearing Skill Set View skill set
RGRSS00033 Greyhound Whelping Skill Set View skill set
RGRSS00029 Greyhound Primary Educator Skill Set View skill set

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

Units of competency

Unit code and name Proposed changes Link to view and feedback
RGRPSGXX7 Work as a greyhound health assistant To be included in Certificate III in Racing (Greyhound) Release 2, Certificate IV in Greyhound Racing Industry (new) and Greyhound Health Assistant Skill Set. View unit
RGRPSGXX8 Relate musculoskeletal structure to greyhound movement To be included in Certificate III in Racing (Greyhound) Release 2, Certificate IV in Greyhound Racing Industry (new) and Greyhound Health Assistant Skill Set. View unit
RGRPSGXX9 Assess greyhound structural and functional suitability for racing Includes pre-requisite units RGRPSG201 Handle greyhounds and RGRPSGXX8 Relate musculoskeletal structure to greyhound movement. To be included in Certificate III in Racing (Greyhound) Release 2, Certificate IV in Greyhound Racing Industry and Greyhound Health Assistant Skill Set. View unit
RGRPSGX10 Provide massage therapy and non-invasive health treatments for greyhounds Includes pre-requisite units RGRPSG201 Handle greyhounds and RGRPSGXX8 Relate musculoskeletal structure to greyhound movement. To be included in Certificate III in Racing (Greyhound) Release 2, Certificate IV in Greyhound Racing Industry and Greyhound Health Assistant Skill Set. View unit

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

Unit code and name Proposed changes Link to view and feedback
RGRPGS203 Promote and enhance greyhound behavior Minor change to performance evidence and new performance criteria 2.3. View unit
RGRPSG208 Promote and enhance greyhound welfare No changes recommended at this stage. View unit
RGRPSG302 Assess health and provide first aid for greyhounds No changes recommended at this stage. View unit
RGRPSG305 Coordinate greyhound breeding No changes recommended at this stage. View unit
RGRPSG306 Determine care and treatment needs of racing greyhounds No changes recommended at this stage. View unit
RGRPSG309 Educate a greyhound No changes recommended at this stage. View unit
RGRPSG308 Whelp greyhounds No changes recommended at this stage. View 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 and opportunities to provide input and feedback. Make sure to select ‘Racing’ as your industry of interest on the subscription form.

 

Validation

Thank you to those who participated in the validation process for the final draft qualifications, skill sets and units of competency relating to greyhound health assistance services. The documents were made available on this webpage for validation and comment from 8 – 31 March 2019.

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 Racing and Breeding 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 of competency were made available on this webpage for broad stakeholder review, from 30 October – 9 December 2018, under the ‘Drafts Available’ stage menu above. During this time, feedback was collected via the online feedback hub, national face-to-face consultation workshops and webinars. A description of how this feedback has been consideration and applied in these final drafts can be downloaded below.

Stakeholder feedback and consultation has confirmed the units of competency proposed in the original case for change regarding Acupuncture, Osteopathy and Chiropractic treatments for greyhounds will not for be considered for development at this stage. Stakeholder feedback indicated that the AQF level required would be very high – potentially post-graduate AQF8. As a result, it was viewed as a thin market with limited take up restricted to veterinarians or other qualified health practitioners.

Qualifications

This qualification supersedes RGR40418 Certificate IV in Racing (Greyhound Trainer). New RGR units (listed in drop down menu below) have been added as electives, with the addition of specialisations. Changes have also been made to the core and packaging rules.

RGR40419 Certificate IV in Greyhound Racing Industry (Trainer or Health Assistant or Transition to Pet specialisation) View final draft qualification

Skill sets

RGRSSXXXXX4 Greyhound Health Assistant Skill Set View final draft skill set

Click here to download a zipped folder of all skill sets in this group.

RGRSS00027 Greyhound Breeding Skill Set View final draft skill set
RGRSS00025 Animal Welfare for Greyhound Racing Skill Set View final draft skill set
RGRSS00031 Greyhound Rearing Skill Set View final draft skill set
RGRSS00033 Greyhound Whelping Skill Set View final draft skill set
RGRSS00029 Greyhound Primary Educator Skill Set View final draft skill set

Units of competency

Click here to download a zipped folder of all skill sets in this group.

Unit code and name Proposed changes Link to view and feedback
RGRPSGXX7 Work as a greyhound health assistant To be included in Certificate III in Racing (Greyhound) Release 2, Certificate IV in Greyhound Racing Industry (new) and Greyhound Health Assistant Skill Set. View final draft unit
RGRPSGXX8 Relate musculoskeletal structure to greyhound movement To be included in Certificate III in Racing (Greyhound) Release 2, Certificate IV in Greyhound Racing Industry (new) and Greyhound Health Assistant Skill Set. View final draft unit
RGRPSGXX9 Assess greyhound structural and functional suitability for racing Includes pre-requisite units RGRPSG201 Handle greyhounds and RGRPSGXX8 Relate musculoskeletal structure to greyhound movement. To be included in Certificate III in Racing (Greyhound) Release 2, Certificate IV in Greyhound Racing Industry and Greyhound Health Assistant Skill Set. View final draft unit
RGRPSGX10 Provide massage therapy and non-invasive health treatments for greyhounds Includes pre-requisite units RGRPSG201 Handle greyhounds and RGRPSGXX8 Relate musculoskeletal structure to greyhound movement. To be included in Certificate III in Racing (Greyhound) Release 2, Certificate IV in Greyhound Racing Industry and Greyhound Health Assistant Skill Set. View final draft unit

Click here to download a zipped folder of all skill sets in this group.

Unit code and name Proposed changes Link to view and feedback
RGRPSG203 Promote and enhance greyhound behavior Minor change to performance evidence and new performance criteria 2.3. View final draft unit
RGRPSG208 Promote and enhance greyhound welfare No changes recommended at this stage. View final draft unit
RGRPSG302 Assess health and provide first aid for greyhounds No changes recommended at this stage. View final draft unit
RGRPSG305 Coordinate greyhound breeding No changes recommended at this stage. View final draft unit
RGRPSG306 Determine care and treatment needs of racing greyhounds No changes recommended at this stage. View final draft unit
RGRPSG309 Educate a greyhound No changes recommended at this stage. View final draft unit
RGRPSG308 Whelp greyhounds No changes recommended at this stage. View final draft unit

 

Register your interest in the project

Subscribe to the Skills Impact newsletter to keep informed about project updates and opportunities to provide input and feedback. Make sure to select ‘Racing’ as your industry of interest on the subscription form.

 

Finalisation

Racing greyhounds have unique health and welfare requirements. In recent years, there has been an increase in the range of health services on offer, such as massage and other non-invasive therapies. These alternative therapies, coupled with veterinary care can have positive physical and mental health benefits for racing greyhounds. They can help to prevent injury, improve range of motion and alleviate pain or stiffness.

The national skills standards for the Greyhound Health Assistant job role have been identified as part of this project. Greyhound Health Assistants require knowledge and skills relating to the greyhound musculoskeletal system, conducting physical examinations and applying massage and non-invasive treatments.

All owners, trainers, breeders and other registration holders have a duty of care to their greyhounds to ensure the best greyhound welfare outcomes are achieved.” Greyhound Welfare & Integrity Commission

Thanks to the contributions of industry, a qualification and skill set is now available to support the training of those wishing to specialise in greyhound health assistance.

Key outcomes

In close consultation with industry, the skills and knowledge requirements for this job role have been documented as part of four new units of competency and seven revised units. A specialisation for greyhound health assistant has been created within the Certificate IV in Greyhound Racing Industry as well as a specific Greyhound Health Assistant Skill Set.

The revised Certificate IV in Greyhound Racing Industry, a new Greyhound Health Assistant Skill Set and associated units of competency were approved by the Racing and Breeding Industry 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 RGR Racing and Breeding 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.

Summary of consultation

Consultation with industry has taken place across Australia. A Subject Matter Expert Working Group was established to identify the job role and functions of Greyhound Health Assistants 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

RGR40419 Certificate IV in Greyhound Racing Industry (Trainer or Health Assistant or Transition to Pet specialisation)