Support the wellbeing of animals in care.

While many animals live in the wild, the ones kept in enclosures rely on you, the animal attendant for daily care. You might be surprised to discover just how many places need your skills: veterinary clinics, catteries, kennels, horse stables, zoos and animal shelters. Your tasks will vary depending on where you work, but the essentials stay the same, feeding, watering, cleaning, monitoring health and making sure animals are safe and well. A love of animals is a great start, but industry insiders say there’s so much hands-on work, you won’t have much time for cuddles.

TAFE SA offers courses relevant to this occupation including Certificate II in Animal Care, Certificate III in Animal Care Services, Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing and Diploma of Animal Technology.

Studying at TAFE SA is one of the easiest and most successful pathways towards a University Degree. Dual offer courses are available to TAFE SA and Flinders University in the Diploma of Animal Technology/Bachelor of Science (Animal Behaviour).

Still unsure? Then try a short course also offered through TAFE SA - check the website for short courses available.

Job turnover is average, training numbers are high and it is a small occupational area so there is likely to be competition for vacancies. Veterinary services are starting to offer boarding kennel facilities so the demand for attendants in this area will also rise. There are no specific educational requirements to become an animal attendant, and training is usually provided on the job. However, an increasing number of employers of animal attendants are seeing the benefits of employing trained animal attendants.

Animal attendants may pursue private business opportunities such as:
Dog Clipper/Groomer - washes, dries, brushes and combs dogs, and clips their fur and nails. They may work with pure-bred dogs, preparing them for dog shows.
Kennel/Cattery Owner – receives and looks after dogs and cats from their owners, exercises, feeds, grooms and handles them for short- or long-term arrangements.
Pet Shop Owner - selling pet food and accessories as well as animals to customers.

Animal attendants don’t just play with fluffy puppies. They have serious responsibilities and may perform the following tasks: prepare food (including special diets), transport it to feeding areas, and deliver food and water to animals, clean and prepare comfortable sleeping quarters for animals, clear away animal waste, clean, disinfect and look after animal enclosures and cages, and check locks, bathe and groom animals, and treat them with insecticide to control insect pests, treat minor injuries and report serious health problems to veterinarians, transfer animals between enclosures. They may also be involved in the rescue of injured and neglected animals as well as assist with humane killing of animals and handling of animals that have died.

Animal attendants feed, water and care for animals. They also monitor the health of animals in their care. They need to enjoy practical and manual activities. Since they handle animals of different sizes, they also need to be physically fit as some form of lifting may be undertaken. Animal attendants must also be observant and methodical. It is essential that they have confidence and patience in handling animals. They must also be free from allergies aggravated by animal hair, fur, feathers and dust. Working conditions vary depending on place of work. Some attendants have to work on weekends and public holidays. Many work outdoors. Considerable contact with the public is involved when accepting donations and lost and unwanted animals and when selling animals. Overall, they need to show an interest in animals and their welfare.