BETA This site is undergoing constant refinement. Email your feedback to joboutlook@employment.gov.au, this will help us to improve it.
Animal Attendants and Trainers train, feed, groom and care for animals.
Teaches dogs to obey commands and undertake specific tasks.
Prepares horses for riding, breeding, racing, work, show or competitions. Registration or licensing may be required.
Specialisations: Horse Breaker
Washes, dries, brushes, combs, cuts and styles pets' coats, clips their nails and cleans their ears.
Feeds, provides water for and monitors the health of animals in zoos, aquaria and wildlife parks, cleans, fixes and maintains animal cages, and informs visitors about animals.
Specialisations: Aquarist
Provides routine care for dogs, including feeding, exercising, monitoring their health and cleaning kennels.
Includes Crutching Contractor, Muleser
Earnings are for full-time workers before tax, excluding superannuation. Earnings are a guide only and can vary greatly.
Likely change in the number of jobs over the next 5 years, based on the Department of Jobs and Small Business projections.
Skill Level is the education or training usually needed to do well in this job. Relevant experience is sometimes viewed just as highly.
Employment Size is the number of people who work in this job in Australia.
An above average unemployment rate shows people who do this job are more likely to be out of work than people who do other jobs.
Full-time workers usually work 35 hours or more a week (in all their jobs combined).
This is a medium sized occupation employing 22,200 workers. The number of workers has grown very strongly over the past 5 years. Over the next 5 years (to May 2022) the number of workers is expected to grow strongly to 24,800. Around 18,000 job openings are likely over this time from workers leaving and new jobs being created (a large number for an occupation of this size).
A Certificate III including at least 2 years of on-the-job training, or a Certificate IV, or at least 3 years of relevant experience, is usually needed. Around half of workers have not completed any post school qualifications (that is, they have finished Year 10, 11 or 12). Sometimes experience or on-the-job training is needed in addition to a qualification.
If you are interested in this style of work, there are a wide range of training options available that could lead to this or a similar job. The pathway that is right for you will depend on your skills and interests.
It is a good idea to speak to industry bodies, employers, and workers to learn more about the skills and qualifications you will need.
Employers look for Animal Attendants and Trainers who are reliable, work well in a team and have a strong work ethic.
The topics, subjects, or knowledge areas workers rate as most important are shown below.
Customer and personal services. This includes understanding customer needs, providing good quality service, and measuring customer satisfaction.
English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, how they rely on and work with each other and the environment.
Teaching and course design.
Machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
Skills can be improved through training or experience. The skills workers rate as most important are shown below.
Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
Keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements.
Looking for ways to help people.
Figuring out the pros and cons of different options and choosing the best one.
Reading work related information.
The physical and social abilities workers rate as the most important are shown below.
Notice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong, even if you can't solve the problem.
Communicate by speaking.
Listen to and understand what people say.
Keep your hand or arm steady.
Use rules to solve problems.
O*NET is a trademark of the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration.The importance ratings on this page are derived from the US Department of Labor O*NET Database Version 21.2, 39-2021.00 - Nonfarm Animal Caretakers.
Learn about the daily activities, and physical and social demands faced by workers. Explore the values and work styles that workers rate as most important.
The work activities workers rate as most important are shown below.
Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
Looking for, getting and understanding different kinds of information.
Using information to work out the best solution and solve problems.
Doing things that use of your arms and legs and whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.
Providing personal assistance, medical attention, or emotional support to people such as co-workers, customers, or patients.
The physical and social demands workers face most often are shown below.
How often do you talk with people face-to-face?
How often do you talk on the telephone?
How much do you have contact with people (face-to-face, by telephone, or any other way)?
How much freedom do you have to decide on tasks, priorities, and goals?
How often are you there sounds and noise levels that are distracting or uncomfortable?
Work values are important to a person’s feeling of satisfaction. All six values are shown below.
Serve and work with others. Workers usually get along well with each other, do things to help other people, and are rarely pressured to do things that go against their sense of right and wrong.
Work alone and make decisions. Workers are able to try out their own ideas, make decisions on their own, and work with little or no supervision.
Supportive management that stands behind employees. Workers are treated fairly by their company, they are supported by management, and have supervisors who train them well.
Results oriented. Workers are able to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment.
Job security and good working conditions. There is usually a steady flow of interesting work, and the pay and conditions are generally good.
Advancement and the potential to lead. Workers are recognised for the work that they do, they may give directions and instructions to others, and they are looked up to in their company and their community.
Interests are the style or type of work we prefer to do. All interest areas are shown below.
Practical, hands-on work. Often with plants, animals, and materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
Following set procedures and routines. Working with numbers and details more than with ideas, usually following rules.
Working with people. Helping or providing service to others.
Starting up and carrying out projects. Leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes require risk taking and often deal with business.
Ideas and thinking. Searching for facts and figuring out problems in your head.
Working with forms, designs and patterns. Often need self-expression and can be done without following rules.