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    Certificate III in Animal Care Services | ACM30122

    • Animal Studies
    • Bendigo Charleston Road Campus
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    Course Snapshot

    Campus
    Code

    ACM30122
    Length

    9 months
    Days

    2 days per week
    Delivery Mode

    Blended - Internal and External
    Start Date

    July 2025
    End Date

    April 2026

    View more Info
    Apply Here
    Got a Question?
    Call 13 TAFE (8233)

    Certificate III in Animal Care Services - TAFE Bendigo

    About
    Learn the Tools of the Trade

    Have you always cared for your pets and thinking of pursuing a career in this direction? Certificate III in Animal Care Services is a general industry qualification for persons operating at an assistant level and undertaking animal care functions in an animal care workplace.

    The Food and Fibre Centre of Excellence, located at Charleston Road Campus, Bendigo provides student with access to specialist simulated facilities including:

    • Grooming rooms complete with specialised equipment including a hydro bath
    • Kennels and cattery rooms
    • Front reception desk and waiting room that replicates a veterinary clinic
    • Commercial laundry
    • Food preparation kitchen

    Our course delivery is face to face on-campus as well as digital learning and placement. This flexibility allows our students to continue to study in a safe, guided and supported manner.

    Our Certificate III in Animal Care Services is a course designed for students wanting to under study to work in a range of careers within the animal care industry (see list below) or those wanting undertake further studies in Training and Behaviour or Veterinary Nursing.

    At Bendigo TAFE, we provide students with the opportunity to experience a simulated work place where your will gain industry relevant skills. Our teachers have a broad range of industry knowledge and skills that they bring to the classroom environment ensuring that students have relevant and current understanding of industry practices. View our 3D tour of our facilities here.

    You will gain skills in animal care management, reception duties, communication, basic animal care, hygiene, animal welfare, nutrition, Occupational Health and Safety, team work, animal handling.

    Job role titles covered by this qualification may include:

    • Animal care receptionist and support officer
    • Animal control and regulation assistant
    • Animal health officer
    • Animal shelter assistant
    • Assistant animal welfare officer.

    How will I be assessed?

    You will be assessed throughout the course, assessments may include written, oral or practical assessments. These assessments are designed to show that you have achieved the skills and knowledge required in order to achieve this qualification. Your teacher will provide you information on how you will be assessed for each unit.

    There is the opportunity for re-assessment and appeal, which you can discuss with your teacher.

    What will I study?

    To achieve this qualification, competency must be demonstrated in:

    • 17 units of competency:
      • 10 core units plus
      • 7 elective units.

    In this program you will learn about animal care, workplace communication, workplace health and safety processes, infection control policies and procedures in animal work, animal hygiene, enrichment, well-being and nutrition.

    During your on campus practical classes you will be immersed in the Food and Fibre Centre of Excellence state of the art Vet Clinic that was designed with industry consultation to provide a best practice simulated workplace environment. The clinic offers real life working conditions including a reception area, consultation rooms, radiology, surgery, laundry, kennels, cattery and specialist grooming room.

    Key study areas are:

    • Infection control policies and procedures in animal work
    • Workplace communications and reception services for an animal care facility
    • Workplace health and safety processes
    • Maintain and monitor animal health and well-being
    • Enrichment
    • Hydro bathing
    • Basic care of non-venomous reptiles.

    What Skills will I have when I complete this course?

    Key study areas are:

    • Infection control policies and procedures in animal work
    • Workplace communications and reception services for an animal care facility
    • Workplace health and safety processes
    • Maintain and monitor animal health and well-being
    • Enrichment
    • Hydro bathing
    • Basic care of non-venomous reptiles.

    Course Modules

    Module Code Module Title Nominal Hours Scope
    ACMBEH301 Identify behaviours and interact safely with animals (ACMBEH301) 60 Core
    ACMGEN303 Assess the welfare status of an animal (ACMGEN303) 60 Core
    ACMGEN304 Promote positive wellbeing in self and others in animal care workplaces (ACMGEN304) 40 Core
    ACMGEN309 Provide basic animal first aid (ACMGEN309) 40 Core
    ACMGEN315 Communicate effectively with clients and team members (ACMGEN315) 30 Core
    ACMINF301 Comply with infection control policies and procedures in animal care work (ACMINF301) 60 Core
    ACMWHS301 Contribute to workplace health and safety processes (ACMWHS301) 50 Core
    ACMBEH302 Provide enrichment for animals (ACMBEH302) 40 Elective
    ACMGEN302 Care for young animals (ACMGEN302) 40 Elective
    ACMGEN308 Walk and exercise dogs (ACMGEN308) 40 Elective
    ACMGEN310 Provide reception services for an animal care facility (ACMGEN310) 30 Elective
    ACMGEN311 Maintain and monitor animal health and wellbeing (ACMGEN311) 50 Elective
    ACMGEN312 Provide nutritional requirements for animals (ACMGEN312) 60 Elective
    ACMGEN314 Identify animal anatomy and physiology for animal care work (ACMGEN314) 100 Elective
    ACMSPE321 Provide general care of non-venomous reptiles (ACMSPE321) 40 Elective
    ACMSPE322 Provide general care of rodents or rabbits (ACMSPE322) 40 Elective
    ACMSUS201 Participate in environmentally sustainable work practices (ACMSUS201) 20 Elective
    Course Dates
    Launch Your Career
    Campus Location Start Date(s) End Date(s) Days and Time

    Bendigo Charleston Road Campus

    July 2025

    April 2026

    2 days per week
    Career Opportunities
    Qualification Details
    Career Opportunities

    Employment Opportunities

    This course may lead to employment as a:

    • Animal care receptionist and support officer
    • Animal control and regulation assistant
    • Animal health officer
    • Animal shelter assistant
    • Assistant animal welfare officer

    Qualifications

    On successful completion of the course you will be awarded the nationally recognised Certificate III in Animal Care Services (ACM30122).

    Fees

    Training is delivered with Victorian & Commonwealth Government funding.

    Some or all of this training is provided with State or Federal Government funding. Are you eligible for Government Subsidised fees? Find out now!

    You may be eligible for concession. Find out now!

     To you check your eligibility click here.

     The fees listed below relate to 2025 courses and are indicative pricing only as total costs vary depending on the units you elect to study.

     Payment plans are available. Click here to find out more.
    Course availability is subject to enrolment numbers.

    Your total course fee will typically include your tuition fee (table 1), any applicable consumables and/or material fees (table 2).

    Tuition Fees

    Enrolment type Government Subsidised Indicative total tuition fee# Concession Indicative total tuition fee# Full Fee Indicative total tuition fee#
    Standard $3520 $704 $12978
    Traineeship $3520 $704 $12976

    Other Fees

    Enrolment Type Average course material fees Average course consumable fees
    Standard $480 $120
    Traineeship $80 $80

    #The student tuition fees as published are subject to change given individual circumstances at enrolment.

    * Materials/Consumables fees may vary for each individual based on the units they are studying.

    Average tuition fees are based on the typical number of student contact hours undertaken by a student to complete this course. Average fees displayed are purely indicative and may not be your actual fee. Fees vary based on the number/hours of electives chosen by the student.

    Click here to view maximum tuition fees. We strongly urge you to contact us for a more exact calculation of your fees. Additional fees may apply.

    Your total course fee will typically include your tuition fee and non-tuition fees (table 1) and any applicable consumables and/or material fees (table 2).

    Student Contact Hours

    Total hours^ Indicative hours* Government Subsidised $/SCH Indigenous Concession $/SCH Full Fee Indicative total tuition fee $/SCH
    800 800 $4.4 $0.88 $16.22
    800 800 $4.4 $0.88 $16.22

    What costs and other fees should I expect?

    There may be extra costs for reference books, protective clothing or specialised materials.

    ^This is based on the maximum number of student contact hours for the total duration of the course. Hours may vary depending on electives chosen by the student.

    *This is based on the maximum number of student contact hours for the calendar year of 2025. Hours may vary depending on electives chosen by the student. If you have to undertake training as part of Skills Recognition, your tuition fees are charged according to the applicable rate per Student Contact Hour depending on your eligibility for government subsidised, concession or full fees.

    For more information about our fees structure, click here.

    Entry Requirements
    Can I Apply?

    There are no pre-requisites for this course. However you will be required to:

    • Attend an individual interview with teaching staff
    • Complete a Language, Literacy and Numeracy (LLN) assessment
    Apply
    Lets Get Started

    How Will I Be Selected?

    All applicants for this course will complete an assessment to evaluate their language, literacy and numeracy (LLN) skills. This helps to ensure that you enrol in a course that is the right level of study for you.

    You may also be required to have an interview with the teaching staff before completing your enrolment.

    How Do I Apply?

    Click on the 'Apply Now' button to start.

    For course information, please call 13 TAFE (13 8233) or fill our enquiry form.

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    For information on disability support at Bendigo TAFE, click here.