Unit of competency details

Unit descriptor 

This unit covers the process of mustering pest animals and defines the standard required to: confirm the species and type of pest animals to be mustered; plan the muster to optimise the catch and minimise stress and risk of breakouts of pest animals; carry out safe mustering as part of a team; handle and process mustered animals and collect equipment; and ensure environmental impacts of mustering are minimised.

Application of the unit 

This unit applies to mustering pest animals and is usually conducted within established routines, methods and procedures.

Prerequisite units 

Employability skills 

This unit contains employability skills.

ELEMENT 

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA 

1. Assess the scope of the mustering job

1.1. Target pest animal range and behaviour are confirmed.

1.2. Location for the muster is determined.

1.3. Time required to complete the muster is estimated.

1.4. Hazards associated with the muster are identified according to Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) standards.

1.5. Environmental risks associated with the mustering job are identified according to statutory and local authority requirements.

1.6. Resources required to complete the muster are identified.

2. Prepare for mustering

2.1. Location and boundaries for the muster are mapped to be consistent with the target pest animal behaviour and according to the pest animal management strategy and monitoring program.

2.2. Time and duration of the muster are checked and relevant personnel notified.

2.3. Precautions to minimise hazards associated with muster are identified according to OHS standards.

2.4. Precautions to minimise environmental risks associated with the muster job are identified according to statutory and local authority requirements.

2.5. Vehicles, equipment and materials are checked for serviceability according to manufacturer specifications and relevant policies.

2.6. Central point of muster is established and agreed with all participants.

2.7. Holding yards are set up.

2.8. Horses and dogs, where used in the muster, are checked for fitness.

3. Muster pest animals

3.1. Muster is conducted at the appropriate time of day.

3.2. Actions are taken to minimise stress to animals during the muster.

3.3. Water and feed are provided to mustered animals and horses and dogs where they have been used in the muster.

3.4. Animals are treated in accordance with the Code of Practice for Care, Handling and Capture of Feral Animals.

3.5. Mustered animals are held, transported or destroyed according to enterprise guidelines.

4. Clean and store equipment and material

4.1. Animals used during the muster are cared for according to industry practices.

4.2. Equipment and materials are cleaned and stored according to relevant standards and policies.

4.3. Job completion is reported or recorded according to relevant policies and procedures.

REQUIRED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE 

This section describes the skills and knowledge required for this unit.

Required skills 

• identify hazards and adopt safe work practices
• assess the scope of the mustering job
• prepare for mustering
• conduct mustering operations
• clean and store equipment and materials
• use literacy skills to follow sequenced written instructions and record information accurately and legibly
• use oral communication skills/language competence to fulfil the job role as specified by the organisation, including questioning, active listening, asking for clarification and seeking advice from supervisor
• use numeracy skills to estimate, calculate and record routine workplace measures
• use interpersonal skills to relate to people from a range of social, cultural and ethnic backgrounds and with a range of physical and mental abilities.

Required knowledge 

• OHS, environmental and pest management legislative and enterprise requirements
• common law principles relating to property, stock, duty of care and due diligence
• risks to land users posed by pest animals, including exotic diseases and zoonoses
• pest animal life cycles and behaviours
• animal welfare codes of practice
• emergency procedures related to work in isolated and remote areas.

EVIDENCE GUIDE 

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.

Overview of assessment 

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit 

The evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit must be relevant to workplace operations and satisfy holistically all of the requirements of the performance criteria and required skills and knowledge and include achievement of the following:

• confirm the species and type of pest animals to be mustered
• plan the muster to optimise the catch and minimise stress and risk of breakouts of pest animals
• carry out safe mustering as part of a team
• handle and process mustered animals
• collect equipment and ensure environmental impacts of mustering are minimised.

Context of and specific resources for assessment 

Competency requires the application of work practices under work conditions. Selection and use of resources for some worksites may differ due to the regional or enterprise circumstances.

RANGE STATEMENT 

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole.

Animals may include:

• kangaroos
• goats
• horses
• deer
• camels
• cattle
• water buffalos
• donkeys.

Unit sector 

Vertebrate pests

Co-requisite units 

Competency field