This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to manage animals and facilitate human-animal interactions during animal-assisted services. It involves organising animal care, access to facilities and interactions with people including participants (clients, students, patients) and qualified practitioners (education, medical and/or health care). This unit does not cover the skills and knowledge required to train assistance animals.

This unit applies to animal-handlers working in a team situation with practitioners who use animals as part of their professional practice to support people with a range of special needs or disabilities. They work autonomously and apply specialist knowledge and skills to provide solutions for predictable and unpredictable problems.

All work must be carried out to comply with workplace procedures according to Commonwealth and state/territory health and safety and animal welfare regulations, legislation and standards that apply to the workplace.

No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.