Conditions that apply to all commercial wildlife licence holders, including wildlife demonstrators, as specified in the Wildlife Regulations
Employees
Commercial wildlife licences – conditions relating to employees
WILDLIFE REGULATIONS 2024, REG 58 |
Objective
To ensure all employees are aware of the requirements under the licences and maintain wildlife welfare under the licence.
How to comply
You are required to take reasonable steps to ensure employees are trained to prevent conduct that is in breach of your licence. You are liable as the licence holder for the conduct of your employees unless you have taken reasonable steps to ensure they avoid this conduct.
Provide a copy of your licence to your employees prior to them undertaking any activity on your behalf. Train your employees in all activities they will undertake under the licence, including the specific requirements outlined in this guide. This ensures they can undertake demonstrations and possess wildlife lawfully.
Employees should also be trained in the skills of capture, handling and management of the wildlife in your care. It is recommended that employees undertake an appropriate course for the handling of animals. You can attach certificates of courses your employees have completed to your licence.
Additionally, employees should be trained in first aid for both animals and humans. When possessing or displaying venomous snakes, it is particularly important that staff are capable of applying the correct first-aid treatment for snakebite.
If the licence holder is not present, they should ensure an employee has responsibility for:
- Daily feeding, watering and inspection of animals
- Daily cleaning of facilities
- Monitoring animal welfare and taking appropriate steps to care for sick or injured animals
- Generally assisting in maintaining the environmental quality in each enclosure
- Maintaining appropriate records of any transactions or demonstration under the licence.
Provide your employees with adequate safeguards to protect their health. This may include, but is not limited to, appropriate handwashing facilities, protective clothing and equipment, tetanus immunisation and access to antivenenes. You must also implement appropriate hygiene measures to prevent the transmission of disease-causing organisms which can be transmitted to humans (zoonoses). This is particularly important for species known for harbouring zoonoses.
If your employees change, you must notify the Conservation Regulator. Refer to Change of staff below.
Change of staff
WILDLIFE REGULATIONS 2024, REG 37 |
Objective
To maintain oversight of all persons in Victoria engaging with wildlife under a licence.
How to comply
An employee is a person registered under the business to carry out activities on behalf of the licence holder.
You must notify the Conservation Regulator within 10 business days of any changes to the employment status of employees who undertake activities in accordance with your wildlife licence.
You can notify us by completing the Changes to Employee Employment Status form on our website.
Download the Changes to Employee Employment Status form(opens in a new window)
Volunteers
Volunteers are not the same as employees.
Volunteers do not have authority to possess wildlife being demonstrated with. This means they are not permitted to directly undertake licensed activities on behalf of the licence holder. Volunteers can assist at demonstrations where they are directly supervised by the licence holder or an employee. This includes volunteers assisting a demonstration by holding wildlife so long as the volunteer is under direct supervision. Direct supervision means that the number of volunteers and wildlife being supervised is kept to manageable numbers and are always within sight and hearing of the licence holder or employee.
Volunteers can also carry out animal husbandry under direct supervision of the licence holder or employee when wildlife is off-display, including cleaning enclosures, feeding, watering and inspection of wildlife.
If you are unsure, call or email us. Refer to the Employees section above for guidance on staff capability.
Signage requirement
WILDLIFE REGULATIONS 2024, REG 59 |
Objective
To prevent the illegal possession of wildlife and illegal take of wildlife from the wild. Signage provides the community assurance that wildlife at the premises is responsibly sourced and safeguarded under an appropriate licence. It also educates the public on the existence of the licensing system, and that it is illegal to take any wildlife from the wild.
How to comply
You must have a sign or signs that are positioned at the main entrance point of your demonstration. Nothing should be obstructing or placed in front of the signs.
Your signs should be easy for visitors to read. Ensure the sign/s are printed on white paper, in a block font and with a font size at least 30mm in height. A good option is Arial font in size 72.
You are required to keep the sign/s in good condition. If the sign/s are stained, damaged or torn you will need to replace them.
Download template sign for wildlife demonstrators
You can download and print the PDF below to meet the requirements of Regulation 59, Signage requirement.
The sign must be easily readable and located at an obvious location at the main entrance to your display or demonstration.
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