The following projects have been endorsed and published on the national training register.
Companion Animal Incident Management Project
As a result of the contributions of everyone involved in this project, units and skill sets that capture the skills required for companion animal incident management are now endorsed and published on the national training register (training.gov.au).
A coordinated effort is required to manage the safety of pets and their owners during a flood, fire or other incident. Following the 2019-20 Australian Bushfires, the Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements made recommendations for ‘national consistency in training and competency standards’ to encourage resource and information sharing, and to enable ‘someone trained in one state or territory to work effectively in another’.
Your input into this project has resulted in the development of seven units and the review of one, so that they describe the skills involved in all stages of companion animal rescue. Four skill sets were also developed to capture the skills required for different roles performed in companion animal incident management.
For more information, visit the project page
Trainers of Assistance Dogs Project
As a result of your contributions to this project, national skills standards have been developed for trainers of assistance dogs. The units, skill sets and updated qualifications are now published on the national training register (training.gov.au).
As evidence and awareness of the benefits of assistance animals is increasing, they are being used to support a wider range of conditions. Professionals with the skills to train assistance dogs and potential handlers are in high demand and many people are turning to independent dog trainers.
Thanks to the input of all involved in this project, five units and two skill sets were developed to reflect the skills required to train assistance dogs and work with handlers and dogs to achieve the best outcomes for all involved. The Certificate IV in Animal Behaviour and Training was also updated to include the new units and a specialisation for assistance dog training was added. This will support greater consistency in training for assistance dogs and their handlers around the country.
For more information, visit the project page
