Animal Attendants and Trainers

Animal Attendants and Trainers train, exercise, feed, groom, and care for animals.

**Indicative skill level:**

The occupations Dog Handler or Trainer, Horse Trainer, Zookeeper and Track Rider in this unit group have a level of skill commensurate with the qualifications and experience outlined below.

#### In Australia:

- AQF Certificate III including at least two years of on-the-job training, or AQF Certificate IV or at least three years of relevant experience (ANZSCO Skill Level 3)

#### In New Zealand:

- NZQF Level 4 qualification, or at least three years of relevant experience (ANZSCO Skill Level 3)

In some instances relevant experience and/or on-the-job training may be required in addition to the formal qualification.

The occupations Pet Groomer, Kennel Hand and Animal Attendants and Trainers nec in this unit group have a level of skill commensurate with the qualifications and experience outlined below.

#### In Australia:

- AQF Certificate II or III, or at least one year of relevant experience (ANZSCO Skill Level 4)

#### In New Zealand:

- NZQF Level 2 or 3 qualification, or at least one year of relevant experience (ANZSCO Skill Level 4)

In some instances relevant experience and/or on-the-job training may be required in addition to the formal qualification.

Registration or licensing may be required.

**Tasks include:**

- teaching animals to obey verbal and non-verbal commands and addressing behavioural problems - training animals to accept riders and pull vehicles - training animals and conditioning horses to perform in competitions - reporting to trainers on horses’ progress and performance - bathing, cutting, combing, blow-drying and styling pets' coats, clipping their nails and cleaning their ears - inspecting, preparing, cleaning, disinfecting and maintaining comfortable animal cages and enclosures - transporting food, filling water troughs and feeding animals according to their individual needs - maintaining animal health records, treating minor injuries and reporting serious conditions to Veterinarians - exercising and playing with animals, answering visitor questions, and transferring animals between enclosures by leading or carrying them - dusting and spraying insecticides on animals and immersing them in insecticide baths, to control insect pests