Employment prospects

The Animal Care and Training industry employs 3,300 South Australians, which is around 0.4% of the State’s workforce.

About 500 new jobs are expected to open up over the next five years due to industry growth and replacement of people who will retire.

Most people in this industry work in jobs that relate to farms, i.e. working with cattle, sheep and horses, while the remainder work with domestic animals.

Around half of the jobs in this industry are in rural areas, and the other half are in the southern, northern, eastern and western metropolitan areas and the Barossa Valley.

• Themajorityofpeopleworkfull-time.

• ThemostcommonqualificationheldbyworkersinthisindustryiseitheraCertificateIIIqualificationorauniversitydegree.

• Therearemorewomenthanmenworkinginthisindustry.

• Peopleworkingintheindustryaregenerallyyoungerthaninotherindustries.

• Toworkinthisindustryyouneedtobepatientandcalm,freefromallergiestoanimalfur,andhaveakeeninterestinanimals.

• Veterinariansearnaround$1,100perweek,whileVeterinaryNursesearnbetween$400and$800perweek.

• ZookeepersandAnimalTechniciansearnbetween$600and$1,000perweek.

Quick facts about this industry

Animal care and trainingIf you are at school

For vocational education in SACE, ask your VET coordinator at school, and visit www.sace.sa.edu.au to check the VET recognition register. Check the following industries to see which qualifications can be recognised in the SACE. Some of the Certificate III qualifications may be available for Training Guarantee for SACE Students.

• AnimalCare

• Racing

If you are thinking about VET, Vocational qualifications include:

• CertificateIandIIinAnimalStudies

• CertificateIIIandDiplomainAnimalTechnology

• CertificateIIIandIVinCaptiveAnimals

• CertificateIIIandIVinCompanionAnimal Services

• CertificateIVinAnimalControlandRegulation

• CertificateIVandDiplomaofVeterinaryNursing,withspecialisationsinsurgical,dental and emergency and critical care

• CertificateI,II,III,IVandDiplomainRacing,specialisationsinstablehand,kennelhand,racing administration, track maintenance, steward, trackrider, racehorse trainer, jockey, harness race driver and greyhound trainer.

For more information about the qualifications and where to go, check the job guide: www.jobguide.thegoodguides.com.au Check www.skills.sa.gov.au to see what courses are available under Skills for All.

Top job openingsVeterinaryNurses

Veterinarians

AnimalAttendantsandTrainers

Shearers

skills.sa.gov.au 1800 506 266 12

If you are thinking about university, degrees include:

• BachelorofAnimalBehaviour• BachelorofAnimalScience• BachelorofScience(AnimalScience).

CheckthethreeSouthAustralianuniversitywebsitesandSouthAustralianTertiaryAdmissionsCentre(SATAC)listedatthefrontofthisguide.Formoreinformationaboutthequalificationsandwheretogo,checkthejobguide:www.jobguide.thegoodguides.com.au

Occupations in this industry

Occupationsinthisindustrycanbedividedintotwogeneralstreams–peoplethatworkwithdomesticandfarmanimals,andpeoplethatworkwithanimalsinthesportandrecreationindustry.

Working with domestic and farm animalsVeterinariansdiagnoseandtreatsickness,diseaseandinjuryinalltypesofanimals.Theyadviseonmeasurestopreventtheoccurrenceorspreadofdiseasesandtoimprovethehealthandproductivityofanimals.

Veterinarynursesassistveterinariansinthetreatmentandcareofanimalsneedingmedicaland/orsurgicalattention.

Theyprepareanimalsfortreatment,administermedication,monitorandexercisehospitalisedanimals,steriliseinstruments,cleancagesandadviseclientsongoodnutritionandanimalbehaviour.Theyalsoperformreceptionandadministrativetasksfortheveterinaryclinic.

Shearerscutwoolfromsheep,goatsandalpacasusingpowerdrivenhandpieces,whicharefittedwithcombsandcutters.

Expeditionshearersworkinateamandtravellongdistancesfrompropertytopropertytowork.Othersmayworkwithintheirowndistrictandtraveldailyfromhometotheshearingshed.

Dogtrainersworkingwithdomesticanimalsusuallyfocusoncorrectingbadbehaviourandtrainingdogstoobeycommandsandperformspecifictasks.TrainersalsoworkwithGuideDogsandotherassistanceanimalsforpeoplewithadisability,orwithpolicedogsandcustoms‘sniffer’dogsforPoliceandBorderProtection(Customs).

ZoosZookeepershelpcareforanimalsinzoosandwildlifeparks,providingenrichmentactivitiesfortheanimals,assistancetoveterinarystaff,andinformationtothepubliconanimalsandconservation.

Animaltechnicianshelpveterinary,medical,pharmaceutical,agriculturalandgeneralscientistsandstudentstocareforandcheckonanimalsusedforresearch,breedingandscientificpurposes.

Sport and recreation, including racingDogandhorseracingincludestrainingservices,operatingracingkennelsandstables,maintaininghorseanddogracingtracks,andadministrativeservicesofferedbyracingauthoritiesandboards.

Horsetrainersandjockeysusuallyspecialisein:

• thoroughbredsforgallopingraces• standardbredsforpacingortrottingraces• performancehorsesforevents,showjumping anddressage.

Stablehandsassistwithmaintainingandcleaningstablesandhandlinghorses.Withexperience,andsometimesfurthertraining,astablehandmayprogresstostablesupervisor.Somestablehandswhoshowpotentialandarelightinweightmaybecomeapprenticejockeys.

Dogtrainersinthesportandrecreationindustryusuallyspecialiseinenhancingtheperformanceofracingdogs.Therearealsoasmallnumberofpeoplewhoworkwitharangeofanimals,trainingthemforentertainmentperformancesinthemeparksorfortelevision.

Occupations in this industry include:

AnimalAttendantsandTrainersAnimalTechniciansBoardingKennel/CatteryOperatorsCustomsDogHandlersDogTrainersGuideDogInstructorsHorseTrainersJockeysShearers

Stablehands/StableSupervisorsVeterinariansVeterinaryNursesWoolHandlersWoolClassersZookeepers.

Need more info?

PrimaryIndustriesSkillsCouncilSAIncwww.pisc.org/au/careers.html

AgrifoodSkillsCouncilSectorreportwww.agrifoodskills.net.au/publications/scan/2011

AgrifoodCareerswww.agrifoodcareers.com.au/home.php?id=1

www.thejoboutlook.gov.au

www.jobguide.thegoodguides.com.au

Occupations in this industry link to the:• AgricultureandFishingindustry

• Scienceindustry

• SportandRecreationindustry.

Career information about specific occupations has been sourced from www.myfuture.com.au and industry skills bodies. South Australian labour market information has been sourced from ABS Catalogue 6291.0.55.003 Labour Force, average of 4 quarters to November quarter 2011. South Australian information on Age, Region and Income has been sourced from the Australian Census of Population and Housing 2006. Job Openings information is sourced from the South Australian Training and Skills Commission, (unpublished) 2011.© Copyright 2012 Minister for Employment, Higher Education and Skills

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