Kennel Attendant Courses
A Kennel Attendant cares for dogs in a boarding kennel, ensuring they are fed, exercised, and their environment is clean while liaising with owners.
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).
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How do I become a Kennel Attendant
Get qualified to work as a Kennel 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
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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
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ACMSS00030
The Animal Shelter Worker Skill Set equips students with the skills and knowledge required to work in animal shelters or holding facilities. This course covers animal care, health and safety procedures, and handling techniques. Students will learn to assist in feeding, cleaning, and providing general care for animals in shelter environments. Ideal for those passionate about animal welfare, this skill set prepares students for roles in animal shelters, rescue organisations, or other animal care facilities.
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RGR10118
Study mode
Distance, On Campus
Do you want to work with horses? The nationally recognised RGR10118 Certificate I in Racing (Stablehand) will get you started in the horse racing industry as a trainee stable hand. The course begins with an introduction to horse behaviour and you’ll learn to handle quiet horses under supervision. At the same time you’ll be performing basic stable duties and gaining riding skills. As the course progresses you may also learn to handle the racehorses at trackwork. Enquire now for entry requirements, horserac...
Career opportunities
Study mode
Distance, On Campus
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Related career opportunities
Browse occupations related to Kennel Attendant.
Common questions
How much does a Kennel Attendant earn?
In Australia, a full time Kennel Attendant generally earns $1,050 per week ($54,600 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 a Kennel Attendant?
The number of people working as a Kennel Attendant is expected to increase over the next five years. There are currently 16,500 animal attendants in Australia and a small percentage of these workers are employed as Kennel Attendants. Kennel Attendants can be found in all areas of Australia.
Source: The Labour Market Information Portal – 2019 Occupation Projections
How do I become a Kennel Attendant?
If you’re interested in a career as a Kennel Attendant you could start by enrolling in a Certificate II or III in Animal Studies. This is a great course if you’re working with animals and it covers animal nutrition, health care and grooming. You could also consider a Certificate III in Companion Animal Services.
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Browse here online for the latest courses in horse care, animal grooming, equestrian sports, veterinary nursing, animal behaviour, and pet shop management.
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Gain practical skills to work in kennels or catteries, providing love, grooming, and safety to animals. Check your funding eligibility and apply today.
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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.
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These nationally recognised qualifications will teach you the finer points of animal behaviour and refine your skills in behaviour correction.
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More information
A career as a Kennel Attendant can be a lot of fun but it’s also hard work. You’ll look after pet dogs staying in a boarding kennel while their owners are away. You’ll usually have quite a few dogs in the kennel at any one time and you’ll have to make sure they are fed with nutritionally sound meals and given plenty of fresh water. You’ll also have to keep the facility clean, including their bedding and enclosures. Kennel Attendants make sure dogs have plenty of exercise during their day and give each dog some individual attention. A Kennel Attendant also liaises with dog owners during check in and check out times.
Kennel Attendants will need to be energetic and have plenty of patience. You’ll be dealing with all breeds of dogs and you’ll need to be confident in all aspects of their care. It’s quite a physical job and you’ll often work long days and some weekends. It also involves people skills so you’ll need to be good at teamwork and communication.
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