Animal Care Courses

Animal care covers every job that keeps Australia’s pets, working animals and wildlife healthy and safe. It spans grooming salons, boarding kennels, shelters, vet clinics and zoos. Jobs and Skills Australia (2025) counts 27,200 people working in this field nationally. The workforce is 74% female, with a median age of 36. Around half work part time, which suits people balancing study, family or a second job.

Demand holds steady because pet ownership keeps climbing across the country. Workers feed, groom and exercise animals, keep health records and support vets during treatment. Many roles also involve public-facing work, such as answering questions at a shelter or explaining aftercare to a pet owner. That mix of hands-on care and clear talk is what most employers look for first.

Training follows the national ACM package on training.gov.au. Most people start with a Certificate II in Animal Care. It covers handling, feeding and basic welfare in under a year. From there, a Certificate III in Animal Care Services builds toward supervisory or specialist roles, including grooming and kennel management. Some places on these courses qualify for government-funded training, which can lower the cost of getting started.

Courses run on campus, online and in blended formats, so study can fit around work or family life. Anyone who enjoys hands-on, animal-focused work will find plenty of ways in here, with a clear path to build skills over time.

FAQs