Animal Attendant Courses
An Animal Attendant cares for animals by providing food, monitoring health, cleaning, and grooming. Patience and observation skills are essential.
AI Exposure
Low
Core skills such as social intelligence and complex physical tasks remain beyond the capabilities of current AI.
AI exposure data adapted from Felten, Raj & Seamans (2021). Shortage data sourced from Jobs and Skills Australia (2024).
View all courses
How do I become a Animal Attendant
Get qualified to work as a Animal Attendant with a course recognised across Australia. Speak to a training provider to learn more.
ACM20121
Duration
10 weeks - 12 months
Study mode
Apprenticeship, Blended, Distance, On Campus, Online, RPL, Traineeship
Get started as an animal carer with the ACM20121 Certificate II in Animal Care. This nationally recognised training course qualifies you for support roles at animal shelters, kennels, pet shops, and wildlife centres. The course covers: feeding and watering animals, cleaning pens and enclosures, assisting with animal health care, communicating with co-workers, keeping safe at work, assisting with animal enrichment and welfare, providing animal first aid, basic grooming, and much more. Enquire now for the f...
Career opportunities
Duration
10 weeks - 12 months
Study mode
Apprenticeship, Blended, Distance, On Campus, Online, RPL, Traineeship
Find a provider
ACM30122
Duration
7 months - 21 months
Study mode
Blended, On Campus, Online, Traineeship
Get a job at a pet shop, rescue shelter, or grooming organisation with the ACM30122 Certificate III in Animal Care Services. This nationally recognised qualification allows you to choose specialist electives in animal care and welfare, pet grooming, or customer service. Career competencies include: understanding animal behaviour, interacting safely with animals, providing basic animal first aid, communicating with clients and your work team, staying safe at work, ensuring the health and wellbeing of anima...
Career opportunities
Duration
7 months - 21 months
Study mode
Blended, On Campus, Online, Traineeship
Find a provider
ACM10121
Duration
6 months - 12 months
Study mode
Blended, On Campus, Online
The ACM10121 Certificate I in Animal Care Industry Pathways provides foundational knowledge and skills for work in the animal care and management sector. Students will assist with routine tasks in an animal care facility, including feeding, cleaning enclosures, and grooming a variety of small domestic and wild animals. The course also covers animal behaviour and proper handling techniques, preparing students for initial work, community involvement, or further study in the industry.
Enquire now for the ful...
Career opportunities
Duration
6 months - 12 months
Study mode
Blended, On Campus, Online
Find a provider
ACMMIC401
Study mode
Blended, On Campus, Online
The ACMMIC401 Implant Microchip in Cats and Dogs course is ideal for animal care professionals such as attendants, veterinary nurses, and management officers. It covers both theoretical knowledge and practical skills required for aseptic microchip implantation in cats and dogs, ensuring minimal discomfort to the animals. Practical assessments involve microchipping under a veterinarian’s supervision. This unit is essential for those involved in animal identification and traceability, including veterinary s...
Career opportunities
Study mode
Blended, On Campus, Online
Find a provider
View all
Related career opportunities
Browse occupations related to Animal Attendant.
Common questions
How much does an Animal Attendant earn?
In Australia, a full time Animal Attendant generally earns $1,190 per week ($61,880 annual salary) before tax. This is a median figure for full-time employees and should be considered a guide only. As you gain more experience you can expect a potentially higher salary than people who are new to the industry.
What are the job opportunities for an Animal Attendant?
There are currently 16,500 Animal Attendants in Australia and this number is expected to increase in coming years. There will be 18,200 animal attendants in five years’ time. Animal Attendants can be found in all areas of Australia.
Source: The Labour Market Information Portal – 2019 Occupation Projections
How do I become an Animal Attendant?
If you’re thinking of embarking on a career as an Animal Attendant you could enrol in a Certificate II or III in Animal Studies. These courses address the health, nutrition and hygiene information you need to succeed in this industry. You could also consider a Certificate III in Companion Animal Services.
Choose a field of study
Browse here online for the latest courses in horse care, animal grooming, equestrian sports, veterinary nursing, animal behaviour, and pet shop management.
All courses
Gain practical skills to work in kennels or catteries, providing love, grooming, and safety to animals. Check your funding eligibility and apply today.
Career opportunities
View all
These courses don’t just teach you how to catch and euthanise stray animals, you will learn underpinning state legislation and local government regulations, safety management approaches, and incident response.
Career opportunities
View all
These nationally recognised qualifications will teach you the finer points of animal behaviour and refine your skills in behaviour correction.
Career opportunities
View all
All courses
More information
An Animal Attendant works with animals to ensure their needs are met while in their care. You’ll make sure animals have proper nutrition and fresh water and monitor all aspects of their health. You’ll clean their enclosures and make sure they have appropriate bedding. You might have to exercise animals or organise enrichment activities for them. Bathing and grooming animals will be part of your daily duties and you might be involved with their training or have to address problem behaviours. Animal Attendants work in a range of settings like animal shelters, pet shops and kennels or catteries.
Being an Animal Attendant requires some manual labour and possible heavy lifting. You’ll need to be confident with all sorts of animals and be able to handle various temperaments. Animal Attendants need to be patient, flexible and have good observation skills. It’s important that you are organised because you’ll usually be looking after many animals at one time.
Courses by location