Core Units

• ACMWHS201 Participate in Workplace Health Safety processes
• ACMGEN201 Work in the animal care industry
• BSBCMM211 Apply communication skills
• ACMGEN202 Complete animal care hygiene routines
• ACMGEN203 Feed and water animals
• ACMGEN204 Assist in the health care of animals
• ACMSUS201 Participate in environmentally sustainable work practices

Elective Units

• ACMGEN309 Provide basic first aid for animals
• BSBOPS203 Deliver a service to customers
• ACMGEN205 Source and provide information for animal care needs
• ACMBEH301 Identify behaviours and interact safety with animals
• ACMGEN314 Identify animal anatomy and physiology for animal care work

NOTE: All 12 units (7 core and 5 elective) must be completed successfully to gain the qualification of ACM20121 Certificate II in Animal Care.

Course duration: 12 months self-paced

Class format: Online learning with four (4) days onsite at the Zoo for practicals and assessments.  

Time commitment: approx. 25 hours per week

Online component: The course is presented in an engaging and easy to navigate learning management system which provides access to content, videos, resources, activities, quizzes, and theory assessments.  

Onsite component: Students will be required to complete practical assessments onsite at Taronga Zoo Sydney, Taronga Western Plains Zoo, Dubbo or Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, Gold Coast in real live animal exhibits. 
There will be a total of four (4) onsite practical assessment days – two (2) x facilitated practical days and two (2) x onsite assessment days.  

• The two Facilitated Practical days are identical and based on the same schedule of activities, however, students will need to rotate the species of animal they are working with to ensure they fulfil all requirements. The students will then spend three hours in the afternoon with guest services observing and experiencing the customer service units eg. retail, ticketing, wayfinding.  
• The two Practical Assessment days are largely classroom based, include a requirement for simulation and role play and there are also some requirements to complete assessments in groups.  

• Students must be a minimum of 16 years of age on commencement of the course
• Students are expected to attend, in person, all four (4) mandatory practical assessment days at Taronga Zoo Sydney, Taronga Western Plains Zoo, Dubbo or Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, Gold Coast.
• Students must be an Australian Citizen, Australian Permanent Resident New Zealand Citizen residing in Australia or hold an acceptable visa (with no study restrictions) and be approved by Taronga Training Institute.
• Students must have a good level of health and fitness to fully participate in the practical assessment days.
• Students must demonstrate good English and communication skills, both written and verbal, and basic numeracy skills and will be required to undertake a Language, Literacy and Numeracy skills test to ensure they have the necessary skills to complete the course requirements. 

This is a full-fee-paying course with no subsidies or funding available. Once enrolled, you will be required to pay 50% of your course fees shortly after acceptance to secure your place.

$3,870 - Full course value

Pay in full on acceptance or by 2 equal 50% instalments (first payment due on acceptance).

Course fee covers costs of undertaking practical assessments on site at Taronga's Zoos.

Pricing as at 1st August 2023, subject to change.  

Successful completion of this course prepares you for entry level and support roles in the animal care and management industry, where workers provide care for animals in workplaces such as animal shelters, boarding care facilities, sanctuaries and veterinary clinics. 

In addition, further study options are available to continue your career in Animal Care, including:

• ACM30321 Certificate III in Wildlife and Exhibited Animal Care;
• Certificate III in Animal Technology;  
• Certificate III in Companion Animal Services;
• Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing 

Please note Taronga Training Institute only offers Certificate III Wildlife and Exhibited Animal Care. The other qualifications listed above can be completed at other registered training organisations.

Please refer to Australian Training Sector website for further details on available courses.

By completing your 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 ACM20121 Certificate II in Animal Care (Online Self-paced) with the Taronga Training Institute.  Course fees can be paid in full or in two equal instalments. The first instalment is due within one week of the offer being made. A $300 acceptance and administration fee will be retained out of the 1st Instalment of fees paid in the event that the student withdraws their enrolment during the two-week cooling off period. 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 requested to complete a LLN skills test. 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 you are committed to attending four (4) non-consecutive practical assessment days at Taronga Zoo Sydney, Taronga Western Plains Dubbo or Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, Gold Coast 
4. You understand that to be eligible to study with the Taronga Training Institute you must be an Australian Citizen, permanent resident of Australia, New Zealand Citizen residing in Australia or hold an acceptable visa (with no study restrictions) and be approved by Taronga Training Institute. Please note: Visa holders are encouraged to contact Taronga Training Institute prior to lodging an application to confirm their eligibility to study with us.
5. You understand that it is a requirement of this course that you wear the Taronga Training Institute uniform (issued polo) when you attend practical assessment sessions. This will be provided for use on the day. You will be required to provide and wear neutral coloured shorts or pants and work boots
6. 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 are computer literate and can access the internet to upload and download assessments and course work when required.
7. You understand if you enrol into a course with Taronga Training Institute you will be required to access the online student management system and online learning management system on a regular basis to receive and send communication to the institute.
8. You will answer all Selection Criteria 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 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.Taronga may require students to be vaccinated at their own expense and you will be required to comply with any vaccination requirements of Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary.
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
Please 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.

As a course requirement, all students must be assessed for specific practical requirements. To complete these requirements, it is necessary for students to be observed in a real working environment. A facilitated practical day involves students attending Taronga and completing these practical requirements under the supervision of a qualified assessor. Morning routines of keeping staff are followed which means students will need to be on site ready for commencement as early as 7.00am.

Accredited training in the Certificate II in Animal Care online self-paced course through the Taronga Training Institute involves independent online study and assessment days. In addition to these mandatory dates and completing course content and theory assessments online, you will have independent study and research, workbooks and other course related activities. We would expect that you will need to spend between 20-25 hours per week completing your course requirements depending upon your previous knowledge and skills.

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 which is provided and worn on the day. 

Taronga Training Institute, Registered Training Organisation No. 91359, is the course provider. Taronga Training Institute, as the RTO, is responsible for the quality of training and assessment in compliance with the Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) 2015, and for the issuance of the AQF [Australian Qualification Framework] certification documentation.

For more information about any of our Certificate courses, take a look at our student handbook or send us an email at tti@zoo.nsw.gov.au alternatively give our team a call at (02) 9978 4746.