Orientation: Monday 12th February 2024 9am - 1pm

Block 1: Monday 19th February till Friday 23rd February 2024
Block 2: Monday 18th March till Friday 22nd March 2024
Block 3: Monday 6th May till Friday 10th May 2024
Block 4: Monday 24th June till Friday 28th June 2024
Block 5: Monday 12th August till Friday 16th August 2024
Block 6: Monday 14th October till Friday 18th October 2024
Block 7: Monday 11th November till Friday 15th November 2024

Times & Dates subject to change with notice.

By completing this application you acknowledge the following conditions:

1. Your application will be evaluated and if you are successful, you will be offered a position in the Certificate III in Wildlife and Exhibited Animal Care with the Taronga Training Institute. The course fee can be paid in four equal instalments with the first instalment due on acceptance of a position in the course OR fees can be paid in full upon acceptance of a position in the course.  NOTE: No payment of course fees is required until you are offered a position in the course and the offer being accepted at which time payment of course fees will be required
2. The completion of your application does not constitute enrolment in the course. All applications will be reviewed based on eligibility and merit. Applicants deemed most suitable, based on their response to the selection criteria questions contained within the application will be invited to attend an onsite or online interview approximately 4-6 weeks after applications close. You may withdraw your application at any stage, prior to being offered/accepting a position.
3. You understand that if you are successful in being offered a position in the course in Melbourne, you will be assigned to 3 x 2-week blocks of practical placement. Practical days will start as early as 7.30am and finish by 5pm. Classroom lessons will be held in 6 x -1 week blocks. Classes will commence at 8am and conclude by 5pm each day.
4. Students are required to attend ALL practical days; any that are missed will need to be rescheduled and may incur an administration fee.
5. Attendance is expected at ALL classes; attendance of less than 80% of classes may result in the missed unit/s of competency needing to be repeated at the student's expense prior to being eligible for the issue of a qualification.
6. You understand that during the placement at Zoos Victoria, all instructions given by Zoos Victoria zoo staff must be adhered to for your welfare and that of the animals.
7. You understand that in order to be eligible to study with the Taronga Training Institute you must be an Australian Citizen, permanent resident of Australia or a New Zealand Citizen residing in Australia.
8. You understand that it is a requirement of this course that you wear the Taronga Training Institute student uniform when you attend classes and onsite practical days. The uniform consists of a polo shirt and jumper. The course fee includes the cost of your uniform. one polo shirt and one jumper (two polo shirts at the Dubbo, Adelaide, Perth & Melbourne Campus). 
9. The Taronga Training Institute is committed to minimising its use of paper. As such you confirm you have access to a computer to access course material, and upload assessments. The use of a laptop (preferred) or tablet in the classroom is necessary. You must be computer literate and can access the internet to upload and download assessments and course work when required.
10. You understand if you enrol into a course with Taronga Training Institute you will be required to access the online student management system on a regular basis to receive and send communication to the institute.
11. You will answer all questions truthfully and to the best of your ability and you acknowledge that you have completed the application questions and you have not had any other person complete the application on your behalf.

Work Health and Safety considerations:

1. Taronga Training Institute is required and committed to ensure that all prospective students satisfy the inherent requirements and job demands of the course for which they are being considered and that all students are safe in fulfilling the practical components of their course. This information is required for the purpose of assessing your fitness for participation in the course. Please Note: medical clearance may be required if requested by Taronga’s WHS Manager or the Taronga Training Institute Manager.
2. Zoos Victoria may require students to be vaccinated at their own expense and you will be required to comply with any vaccination requirements of Zoos Victoria.
3. Taronga Training Institute also reserves the right to include any other vaccinations as required.
4. Taronga’s Veterinary and Animal Health Team in consultation with Taronga’s Work Health and Safety Manager would like to advise you that working in some areas of the Zoo poses a risk to both animals and humans in the transfer of tuberculosis. Taronga requires you to provide TB clearance prior to commencement if you are identified as being in a high-risk category for tuberculosis. You will need to provide TB clearance if you fit into any of the following categories:

• Born overseas in a high TB incidence country
• Lived overseas in a high TB incidence country for longer than 3 months
• Have known exposure to a TB positive person

NOTE: TB clearance is not required prior to acceptance of a position in the course

Please be advised that the risk of contracting TB is very low. However, you may choose to seek further advice from your health professional.

Course assessments are a combination of written answers, reports, case studies, projects, practical activities, observations of students performing tasks, self-assessments and supervisor reports.

Accredited training through the Taronga Training Institute involves mandatory classroom sessions, tutorials, workshops and practical placement and practical assessment sessions. In addition to these mandatory dates, you will have independent study and research, learning activities and other course related activities. We would expect that you will need to spend 25 hours per week completing your course requirements.  

Under our obligations as a Registered Training Organisation (RTO), students of the Taronga Training Institute must be an Australian citizen, permanent resident of Australia or a New Zealand citizen residing in Australia or hold an acceptable visa (with no study restrictions) and be approved by Taronga Training Institute. 

Accordingly, Taronga Training Institute does not currently deliver to students outside of these criteria and we do not delivery any accredited training via overseas or international partnerships. 

When on site, Taronga Training Institute students are required to wear the Taronga Training Institute polo shirt and jumper which is provided and included in your course fees. Additional uniform items may be purchased at the start of the course. Please speak to your Support Officer during orientation for further details.

Taronga Training Institute, Registered Training Organisation No. 91359, is the course provider. Taronga is a leading wildlife tourism attraction and operates both Taronga Zoo Sydney and Taronga Western Plains Zoo Dubbo. All qualifications gained will be issued by Taronga Training Institute.

Students will be asked about their ability to travel to our other properties – Healesville Sanctuary or Werribee Open Range Zoo. The majority of placements are held at Melbourne Zoo, but for students with the capacity and willingness to travel to either of our other properties, they may be allocated a placement block at other sites. This is not guaranteed.

We have captured most of the questions we have previously received either on our website or in our Student Handbook. Please thoroughly read both and if you still have questions, you can email us at tti@zoo.nsw.gov.au.