Certificate III in Captive Animals
 

Traineeship
National Code
: 
ACM30310
Short Course Guide
CRICOS Code:  
Centre:
Biotechnology and Animal Sciences
Location:
Workplace, Off Campus
Study Area: Animal Studies;
Study Area Sub Category:  
Career Card:
Animal Attendant
Jump to:
Units of Competency

What does this course involve?

This course will give you the formal industry qualification to care for captive animals. It is designed for those already working as an animal keeper in a zoo, theme park, aquarium or wildlife park.

You will learn how to effectively work within a captive animal institution, prepare and present information to the public and comply with relevant legislation.

You will learn how to capture, handle, care and display animals for educational and conservation purposes. You will also prepare animal diets, monitor feeding and identify animal behavioural needs.

What employment opportunities will I have?

This course may provide you with employment opportunities as a; zookeeper, wildlife park worker or reserve worker.
As a student, the Institute’s Employment Service is your first port of call for advice on gaining employment in this field, and can be contacted on 1300 BOX HILL (1300 269 445).

Accreditation

This course is Government accredited and has National recognition.

What further study options will I have?

Completion of this course can lead to further studies at higher educational organisations.

Can I apply?

  • You must be currently employed as an animal keeper in a zoo, theme park (with animals), aquarium or wildlife park for a minimum of 15 hours per week.
  • Your workplace must hold a minimum of four of the six major animal groups.
  • Have an appropriately qualified workplace supervisor in your workplace.

How do I apply?

Direct entry - rolling enrolments.
If you have any queries, please contact the Institute on 1300 BOX HILL (1300 269 445).

How will I be selected for this course?

  • No selection process required

Length of course

Part time - self paced on the job.

Where will I study?

Workplace, Off Campus

What costs and other fees should I expect?

For this course, there are two fee structures. Visit the Government Subsidised Place Eligibility page to see if you are eligible for a Government subsidised place.

Government Subsidised Fees

  1. Tuition Fee - $2.17 per hour *
  2. Concession Tuition Fee - $187.50
  3. Service and Amenities Fee - $65.00 or 90.00
  4. Material Fees - contact the Institute

*Annual indicative tuition fee for full-time commencing students, and maximum for continuing students		Fee For Service Fees

Fee for Service - this course will cost $7,416.00 if you aren't eligible for government subsidised training.

If you are an employer seeking training for groups of employees, contact the Institute for a customised package.

How will I be assessed?

  • Written assessment
  • Practical assessment
  • Project work
  • Online assessment
  • Workplace assessment

Will my previous experience or study count?

Advanced Standing is approved recognition of prior learning that is displayed as an Exemption (EX) on the student’s academic record. Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) or Recognition of Current Competencies (RCC) takes into account the knowledge and skills you’ve already gained through your previous education and work. This may be through formal or informal training, paid or unpaid work experience, and can earn you credit if relevant to your chosen course.

 
Units of Competency

Core Units (Must be completed)
ACMCAN301A
Work Within a Captive Animal Facility
60.00 hr

This unit of competency covers the process of working effectively within a captive animal facility, complying with legislative requirements and facility policy and procedures and identifying animals in the workplace.

ACMCAN302A
Prepare And Present Information To The Public
40.00 hr

This unit of competency covers the process of preparing and presenting information to internal staff members and members of the public, and participating in other interpretative and learning functions within an animal care facility.

ACMCAN303A
Support Collection Management
40.00 hr

This unit of competency covers the process of supporting collection management for captive animals.

ACMCAN304A
Prepare And Maintain Animal Housing
50.00 hr

This unit of competency covers the process of determining housing that meets the behavioural and physical requirements of a particular animal species and includes the preparation, cleaning and routine maintenance required to maintain the hygiene and appearance of an enclosure or exhibit.

ACMCAN305A
Assist With Capturing, Restraining And Moving Animals
60.00 hr

This unit of competency covers the process of assisting with capture and restraint of animals that may need rescue and/or moving from one location to another.

ACMCAN306A
Monitor Animal Reproduction
40.00 hr

This unit of competency covers the process of facilitating and monitoring reproduction needs in accordance with the institution's breeding plan. Animals in the reproduction program may be either naturally or artificially reared.

ACMGAS301A
Maintain And Monitor Animal Health And Wellbeing
50.00 hr

This unit of competency covers the process of following animal health management practices to monitor animal health via daily observations of behaviour and condition.

ACMGAS302A
Provide Enrichment For Animals
40.00 hr

This unit of competency covers the process of providing behavioural management and enrichment to stimulate, replenish and maintain appropriate behavioural patterns of animals.

ACMGAS303A
Plan For And Provide Nutritional Requirements For Animals
60.00 hr

This unit of competency covers the process of calculating rations based on animal species needs and availability of feedstuffs.

ACMOHS301A
Contribute To OHS Processes
50.00 hr

This unit of competency covers the process required by an employee to contribute to occupational health and safety (OHS) processes where there is responsibility for own work outputs and possibly limited responsibility for the work output of others.

ACMSUS201A
Participate In Environmentally Sustainable Work Practices
20.00 hr

This unit of competency covers the process required to measure current resource use effectively and to carry out improvements, including those that will reduce the negative environment impacts of work practices.

Elective Units (Must choose 5)
ACMCAN307A
Rehabilitate Native Wildlife
40.00 hr

This unit of competency covers the process of providing immediate care for rescued native wildlife and rehabilitating animals.

ACMCAN308A
Release Native Animals To Natural Environment
30.00 hr

This unit of competency covers the process of preparing and successfully releasing native wildlife into their natural environment.

ACMCAN309A
Develop Institutional Husbandry Guidelines
20.00 hr

This unit of competency covers the process of researching, consulting with others and writing institutional husbandry guidelines for a particular species.

ACMCAN310A
Assist With Exhibit Design And Renovation Planning
50.00 hr

This unit of competency covers the process of assessing current exhibit status and contributing to exhibit design and renovation planning.

ACMCAN311A
Care For Young Animals
40.00 hr

This unit of competency covers the process of monitoring the general health and wellbeing of young animals that may be either rescued native wildlife or captive animals being naturally or artificially reared.

ACMGAS305A
Rescue Animals And Apply Basic First Aid
30.00 hr

This unit of competency covers the process of rescuing and restraining animals and providing basic first aid.

ACMGAS306A
Assist With Conditioning Animals
40.00 hr

This unit of competency covers the process of conditioning animals in order to modify their behaviour through assisting with formulating and demonstrating a conditioning plan based on operant conditioning techniques.

ACMSPE301A
Provide Basic Care Of Amphibians
40.00 hr

This unit of competency covers the process required by an employee to contribute to occupational health and safety (OHS) processes where there is responsibility for own work outputs and possibly limited responsibility for the work output of others.

ACMSPE302A
Provide Basic Care Of Birds
40.00 hr

This unit of competency covers the process of identifying birds and their behavioural and physical needs, providing daily care requirements, assisting with behavioural requirements and basic preventative health measures.

ACMSPE303A
Provide Basic Care Of Common Native Mammals
40.00 hr

This unit of competency covers the process of identifying common native mammals, their behavioural and physical needs, providing daily care requirements, assisting with behaviour requirements and basic preventative health measures.

ACMSPE306A
Provide Basic Care Of Marine Fish
40.00 hr

This unit of competency covers the process of identifying marine fish and their behavioural and physical needs, providing daily care requirements and assisting with behavioural requirements and preventative health measures.

ACMSPE307A
Provide Basic Care Of Freshwater Fish
40.00 hr

This unit of competency covers the process of identifying freshwater fish and their behavioural and physical needs, providing daily care requirements as well as assisting with behavioural requirements and preventative health measures.

ACMSPE308A
Provide Basic Care Of Marine Aquatic Invertebrates
40.00 hr

This unit of competency covers the process of identifying marine aquatic invertebrates and their behavioural and physical needs, providing daily care requirements as well as assisting with behavioural requirements and preventative health measures.

ACMSPE309A
Provide Basic Care Of Terrestrial And Freshwater Invertebrates
40.00 hr

This unit of competency covers the process of identifying terrestrial and freshwater invertebrates and their behavioural and physical needs, providing daily care requirements as well as assisting with behavioural requirements and preventative health measures.

ACMSPE310A
Provide Basic Care Of Mammals
40.00 hr

This unit of competency covers the process of identifying mammals and their behavioural and physical needs, providing daily care requirements, assisting with behavioural and basic preventative health measures.

ACMSPE311A
Provide Basic Care Of Non-Venomous Reptiles
40.00 hr

This unit of competency covers the process of identifying reptiles and their behavioural and physical needs, providing daily care requirements for non-venomous reptiles as well as assisting with behavioural requirements and preventative health measures.

RTD2502A
Maintain Wildlife Habitat Refuges
40.00 hr

This competency standard covers the process of maintaining wildlife habitats and refuges to protect desirable animal species from predators. It requires the ability to assess the scope of the refuge maintenance job, prepare for the work, maintain wildlife habitat refuges, and clean and store equipment and materials. Maintaining wildlife habitat refuge for protection of desirable animal species requires knowledge of relevant legislation and regulations, common law principles relating to property, stock, duty of care and due diligence, vertebrate pest life cycles and behaviours, harbours used by vertebrate pests, and harbours used by desirable animal species.

RTD3125A
Respond To Wildlife Emergencies
70.00 hr

This competency standard covers the process of evaluating and coordinating a response to natural resource emergencies involving fauna. It requires the ability to evaluate the type of emergency, implement and coordinate a response to the emergency, care for affected animals, determine management options, remove animal carcasses and complete debrief and prepare reports. Responding to wildlife emergencies requires knowledge of animal biology and general behaviour, health risks associated with animals, public relations and media management, incident management systems, state/territory emergency procedures and networks and machinery and equipment operation.

All fees quoted are annual indicative fees and are correct at the time of publishing. The Victorian state government recently announced a series of government funding and fee policy changes for TAFEs. As a result, the advertised tuition fee rates are subject to change, for students commencing their course from 1 July 2012. In subsequent calendar years, fees may be subject to a small increase in line with annual Institute fee pricing reviews. The student tuition fee is indicative only and subject to change given individual circumstances at enrolment. Additional fees may apply such as student services and amenities fees. This qualification may have prerequisites, co-requisite or bridging units from lower or higher level qualifications. An offer of a place is always subject to places being available. The Institute reserves the right to close applications when the course is full. Where minimum course numbers are not met, the course may be cancelled at short notice. In such instances and only when possible, an alternative option may be suggested for accredited courses. For further clarification please seek advice from the Institute.

Course Enquiries

Local Students
1300 BOX HILL (1300 269 445)

International Students
+61 3 9286 9425

Please click here to see the list of courses offered to International students