"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 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.

Key Deliverables

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

Timeline

August 2018 Initial scopingSeptember 2018 Development of draft skill sets and unitsOctober/November 2018 Drafts available for broad consultationFebruary/March 2019 Validation of final draftsApril 2019 Finalisation of Training Package componentsApril/May 2019 Independent Quality Assurance, and Edit and Equity review of Training Package componentsMay 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].

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.

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.

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.