Code of Conduct

Why we have one

Our courses put you alongside live cattle, sharps, liquid nitrogen and other participants, often all in the same day. Everyone learns more, and goes home safely, when the group works to the same standard. This is what we ask of you while you are with us.

What we expect

• Arrive on time and ready for the day, including for early starts in the yards.
• Follow the instructor's directions, particularly around animals and equipment. If you are unsure, ask before you act.
• Wear the clothing and footwear advised for the session, and use the protective equipment provided.
• Treat other participants, instructors and support staff with respect. Everyone is at a different stage and questions are welcome.
• Tell your instructor about any injury, illness, allergy or medication that could affect your safety on course.

Animal welfare

The animals in our care are not teaching props. Handle them calmly, use the minimum restraint the procedure requires, and stop if an animal is distressed. Only carry out a procedure you have been shown and cleared to attempt, and only under supervision.

If you have a concern about an animal at any point, raise it with the instructor immediately.

Safety

Cattle work carries obvious risks, and the laboratory carries less obvious ones. Follow the safety briefing for each session, dispose of sharps in the containers provided, and treat liquid nitrogen with the care it needs.

Report any injury, near miss or equipment fault straight away, no matter how minor it seems.

Drugs and alcohol

Do not attend any part of a course affected by alcohol or drugs. This is not about what you do in your own time. It is that handling livestock, using sharps and working with liquid nitrogen are unforgiving of slow reactions and poor judgement, and the consequences fall on the animals and the people around you as much as on you.

Alcohol is not to be consumed during course hours, including breaks. If you take prescription or over-the-counter medication that may cause drowsiness or affect your coordination, let your instructor know before the practical sessions begin so the day can be adjusted.

An instructor who believes a participant is impaired will stand them down from the practical work. This is a safety judgement made on the day, and it is not open to negotiation at the time.

Biosecurity and health

Come in clean clothing and footwear, and follow the washing and disinfection routine on site. If you have been on another property with a health concern in the days before your course, tell us before you arrive.

We recommend vaccination against Q fever for anyone working with cattle. It is not a condition of enrolment, but it takes several weeks to arrange because a screening test comes first, so speak with your doctor well before your course date.

Photography and privacy

Ask before photographing or filming other participants. Some sessions involve animals belonging to client herds, and the details of those animals and their owners stay within the course.

If the code is not followed

Most issues are settled with a quiet word, and that is how we would prefer to handle them. Where conduct puts an animal, a participant or a staff member at risk, we may stand you down from part of a course or ask you to leave the site.

Where someone is asked to leave on those grounds, the course fee is not refunded. Our refund terms are set out in the cancellation policy.

Raising a concern

If something happens on course that you are not comfortable with, tell your instructor at the time if you can. If you would rather raise it afterwards, or with someone else, email us at office@crtraining.au and we will come back to you.