To find out more about this course enter your details below to register your interest. When it becomes available we'll be in touch with the full course information.
Career Commitment T&C's
This commitment enables Open Colleges students who do not achieve the objective specified during their enrolment (e.g. Enter the workforce, career change, promotion, learning new skills/hobby) within 6 months of completing their course, to receive a second Open Colleges course or module selected by Open Colleges of equal or lesser value for no additional course fee (the Commitment Course), in order to assist the student to gain additional training necessary to achieve their specified outcome.
The conditions of the commitment are:
The Commitment only applies to online courses offered by Open Colleges
The Commitment does not apply to face-to-face courses offered by the School of Health
It only applies to Australian domestic students.
The student must have successfully completed or graduated from their initial course within the maximum course duration
The commitment will only apply if the student has paid their course fees in full
If course pre-requisites and/or eligibility criteria apply for the Commitment Course, the student must meet these conditions to be enrolled in the Commitment Course
The commitment will only apply if the student has made reasonable efforts to achieve their specified objective during their course and within the 6 months’ post course completion. Open Colleges will assess and determine whether the student has made reasonable efforts based on evidence of effort provided by the student. Examples of this include:
Proof of job applications in an industry related to their course of study
Proof of applications within the same employer for promotion or other jobs related to their course of study
Students that enrol as a hobbyist will need to let us know what skills were not learned in their course (to help us close the skill gap)
To accept the commitment, the student must contact Open Colleges within 6 months after the date which is 6 months after completion date of the initial course, after which the commitment expires.
The commitment applies to any course of equal or lesser value. If the second course is more expensive the student will need to pay the difference in the course fees.
The offer is limited to one Commitment Course
The commitment is non-transferrable
The commitment is only valid for new enrolments after (July 3rd, 2017).
Open Colleges reserves the right to cease to offer the commitment at any time without notice, provided that the commitment will remain in place for any student enrolled prior to the commitment offer being cancelled.
Certificate in Animal Care
Certificate in Animal Care
**Open Colleges does not currently offer this course. The information on this page is indicative only. Register your interest now, and when the course becomes available, we'll be in touch with more details.**
Make sure your pet gets the care it deserves, by mastering the fundamentals of animal nutrition, grooming and first aid, with Open Colleges’ Certificate in Animal Care.
If you haven’t achieved the career outcome you hoped for 6 months after graduating, we’ll give you another course to ensure you get the extra skills you need to succeed.
To find out more about this course enter your details below to register your interest. When it becomes available we'll be in touch with the full course information.
Potential career outcomes
Animal Care Attendant
Pet Shop Employee
Course Description
Get a working knowledge and practical understanding of animal handling, nutrition, grooming, first aid and health, with Open Colleges’ Certificate in Animal Care.
This course is designed to give pet owners (or potential pet owners) a better understanding of how to properly care for their animals. You'll also learn how to apply this knowledge to start working in a pet store or kennel.
What you'll learn
The online animal care certification covers the most common domestic animals including dogs, cats, horses, fish and birds. You will learn about nutrition, health and disease, first aid, grooming animal care products and pet shows and competitions.
The Certificate also covers pet store operations, making it a great qualification for anyone wanting to work in a pet store or kennel.
Why study this course?
With the knowledge you gain from this online animal care course, you can rest assured that your pet will always be in the best hands. You will understand proper nutrition, you will be able to expertly wash, clip and groom your pet, and you will know what health signs to look out for, and what you should do if things do go wrong.
The course is also a great launch pad into further animal care studies, for beginners looking to build up a resume and skillset before launching their career.
With Open Colleges’ flexible online study, you can fit learning around your life. There’s no need to give up your job, or sacrifice your lifestyle, you just log on and make your way through your learning materials when you want, where you want.
There are no formal education entry requirements for this course.
Minimum age
You will need to be at least 16 years old. If you are under 18 your enrolment form will need to be signed by a parent or guardian.
English
This course involves reading and undertaking a range of written assessments, as well as engaging in online forums and discussions. Furthermore, the delivery mode relies on the extensive use of written communication. As such, entry to the course requires the successful completion of English to Year 10 level.
If you haven't successfully completed English at Year 10 level, you can demonstrate equivalency through one of the following:
Successful completion of a Nationally Recognised Training qualification at Certificate II level or higher; or
2 years relevant industry experience in a role that requires the use of written documentation and communication
Open Colleges recognises that not all people are able to read, write and perform calculations to the same standard. See the Language, Literacy and Numeracy Considerations section for more information on tools, resources and support services provided to you by Open Colleges.
Computing
You will need access to a computer and the internet and have basic computing skills. Minimum specifications for your computer are:
All users:
Microsoft Office 2010 or equivalent
Broadband internet connection
2GB of RAM
CD-ROM or DVD drive
Adobe Reader XI or equivalent
Adobe Flash Player 10 or higher
Access to printer and associated software
Access to scanner and associated software
Digital imaging software
File compression software
Windows users:
Microsoft Windows 7 or higher (Windows 8 recommended)
1 Ghz or faster processer (2GHz recommended)
Mac OS users:
Mac OSX v10.5 or higher (Mac OSX v10.6 recommended)
1 Ghz or faster processer (2GHz recommended)
Language, Literacy and Numeracy
Our free online assessment tool can help give you an idea of the language, literacy and numeracy skills needed to study a VET course. This tool can also help you determine your learning level and help you plan your future studies. You can access the Language, Literacy and Numeracy tool here.
If you pay your course fees up-front in full, you’ll benefit from a discount. When you pay in full, we don’t have to spend extra money on administration for tasks such as payment plan processing. Instead, we get to pass this saving onto you in the form of a discount.
zipMoney Payment Plan
If you need a little more flexibility in your finances, and want to pay off your course fees over a longer period of time, we can assist by organising zipMoney to pay your course fees directly to us on your behalf, and you pay this loan back to ZipMoney over a period of agreed time with them. zipMoney provides you flexible options of selecting a 24, 36 or 48 months interest-free* payment plan (dependant on which course you are enrolling into) to suit your lifestyle, giving you more flexibility than ever before.
Payment Plan
Pay for your course in weekly or fortnightly instalments. By paying in instalments, you can schedule your payments around your regular outgoings and get ahead without breaking the bank. Open Colleges payment plans are interest-free.
Catherine has been a veterinary nurse for over 30 years and has been involved in many areas of the industry and worked with many different species. Her first position in the industry was working with the Animal Welfare League as an animal attendant, where she enrolled in a course called Animal Care, today known as Animal Studies, and Veterinary Nursing.
Catherine’s career has included working at a variety of specialist hospitals, as well as Waratah Park, Abbott Animal Health and TAFE. She is also involved in the Greyhound Adoption Program.
If you haven't achieved the career outcome you hoped for 6 months after graduating, we'll give you another course to ensure you get the extra skills you need to succeed.
Read more...
Flexibility
Fit study around your family or work commitments
There are no classes to attend and no deadlines - start whenever you like and study anytime, anywhere.
Support
Get support from staff and students - online or over the phone
Get help with everything from managing your studies and staying motivated, to understanding your course content.
Affordability
Find a payment option that works for you
Choose to pay in full, or in weekly or fortnightly instalments that fit around your regular outgoings.
Quality
Get a nationally recognised qualification online
Study nationally recognised qualifications; get the same quality of education you would at a college campus.
Register Your Interest
To find out more about this course enter your details below to register your interest. When it becomes available we'll be in touch with the full course information.