Certificate II in Animal Care ACM20121

If you want a career working with animals, but have no experience in the field of animal care, then this course is perfect for you.

If you are an existing worker or have experience in the related industry, please inform our enrolment consultants during your enrolment conversation. You may be eligible to enrol as an existing worker and complete your studies faster. Please note - limitations do apply.

This course will take you through the fundamentals of animal care. During your study, you will learn how to:

• Carry out animal care work using ethical and humane practices
• Prepare, present and distribute food and water for animals
• Participate in work health and safety processes
• Communicate effectively in the workplace, identify , gather and convey information
• Provide assistance when handling animals for assessment and health care treatments
• Identify both dogs and cats, and their behavioural and physical needs
• Provide daily care of animals
• Provide essential / initial response first aid for animals
• Measure current resource use effectively and carry out improvements
• Undertake office reception and administration activities
• Source, and provide information on animal care products and services

The duration for the course is maximum 18 months. As a self-paced online course, the time it will take you to complete is flexible and dependent on ability and time available.

Entry Requirements

There are no mandated education entry requirements for this qualification as per the ACM - Animal Care and Management Training Package.

To successfully complete this course, it is recommended that students:

• Be over 16 years of age (note students under 18 will need permission from a parent or guardian to enrol)
• Have language, literacy and numeracy skills that ensure the ability to work independently and use own familiar support resources, communicate effectively via email, and identify relevant information from a range of written texts. These skills are equivalent to those that would be required to successfully complete:
• Have access to a modern computer with video / audio playback capabilities and high-speed internet
• Have access to Microsoft Office or equivalent · Have basic computing skills, including ability to make a short video ·
• Have access to a digital video recording device to save and upload video/image files to OpenSpace, e.g., mobile phone/smartphone

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 or require guardian/parental consent.

Equipment and tools

This course includes a requirement to record video and/ or audio roleplays. These will require participation by 1-2 other people sourced by you.

Physical Requirements

You will need to have the requisite physical fitness to undertake work placement in an Animal Care Facility. This may involve heavy lifting up to 10kg without assistance

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.

• By undertaking a work placement you’ll get a chance to put the knowledge you’ve learned on your course into practice.
• You’ll also develop practical, on-the-job skills and could make contacts that could help you find a job once you graduate.
• Work placement is often the most rewarding part of a student’s course. Working face-to-face with clients and colleagues in your chosen field makes a huge difference to your career confidence.

You’ll need to find a work placement yourself and ensure it’s approved by Open Colleges. When looking for a suitable work placement host organisation, have a think about the following:

• Are you already working or volunteering in the industry your course is related to? You could potentially do your work placement at your current place of work or have contacts that could recommend a suitable work place. Ask around!
• If you’re entering a new industry, do some research and start thinking about organisations you could approach. We have plenty of resources available to help with approaching and finding a suitable work placement organisation.

All costs of work placement, including any placement fees charged by the host organisation (whether to the student or Open Colleges), cost of statutory checks and vaccinations, travel, accommodation, and uniforms are the responsibility of the student. These fees will vary and are dependent on your location within Australia.

• Costs for statutory checks will range between $50 - $250 dependent on the type of check you select and your state.
• Costs for vaccinations will very between practitioners, please refer to your GP for approximate costs.
• Placement fees will vary, please discuss this with your intended host organisation for approximate costs.

You will be required to complete a minimum of 120 hours of work placement in an approved host organisation. This should be completed in 2 blocks after successful completion of Modules 1-6 and Modules 8-13. You will not be able to achieve competencies until you have completed some of your work placement hours.

Module 7: Worlplacment Block 1 - 60 hours - can be completed with any species of animal, wildlife, or captive. Must have access to 2 species of animals, feeding and watering animals, cleaning housing, assist with treatment (e.g., oral/topical parasite control, bathing and/or grooming equipment.  

Module 14: Worlplacment Block 2 - 60 hours - must complete hours with Felines and Canines and have access to reception duties. 

The specific requirements of the workplace are outlined in the Workplace Assessment Guide, which can be found in OpenSpace. Open Colleges will need to ascertain whether the workplace you have chosen is appropriate before you commence your work placement hours. In some cases, you may be required to complete your hours at more than one host organisation if they do not provide all of the required services.

Please note that your host organisation may require you to provide an up to date immunisation history prior to the commencement of your work placement. Open Colleges has no control over this requirement so if you are unable to provide this, you will need to discuss it with your intended Host Organisation.

It should also be noted that some immunisations, such as Hepatitis B and COVID-19, need multiple injections to be administered over a specific time period before you are deemed immune. It is important that you consult with your GP as soon as possible to avoid delays in starting your work placement.

Your supervisor is required to have completed the Certificate II in Animal Studies (or higher) and have 3 years of relevant industry experience.