Animal Attendant
Provide care, exercise and enrichment activities to animals.
Job opportunities
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Jobs in SEEK right nowJob growth
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5-year projectionSalary
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Typical salaryJob satisfaction
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Job opportunities
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Jobs in SEEK right nowSalary
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Typical salaryJob growth
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5-year projectionJob satisfaction
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On this page
- What's it like to be an Animal Attendant?
- How to become an Animal Attendant
- Latest Animal Attendant jobs
- Top skills and experience for Animal Attendants
- Is Animal Attendant the right role for you?
- Animal Attendant role reviews
What's it like to be an Animal Attendant?
Animal Attendants work directly with animals, providing basic care, exercise and enrichment activities. They perform the daily tasks that keep animals in care happy and healthy.Shifts can vary and may require unusual hours on any day of the year.Did you find this video helpful?
Tasks and duties
- Preparing food (including special dietary supplements) and provide water to animals in care.
- Preparing comfortable bedding and sleeping arrangements for animals.
- Cleaning animal enclosures. This includes clearing away animal waste, disinfecting and cleaning, and checking locks.
- Bathing animals, cleaning ears, clipping nails and treating coats to control pests.
- Grooming animals’ coats.
- Administering basic medications under veterinary supervision.
- Treating minor injuries and notifying veterinarians of any serious health issues.
- Rescuing animals, and assisting with behavioural assessments and training.
- Transferring animals between cages and enclosures.
- Assisting with humane euthanisation and handling animals that have died.
- Observing, taking notes and maintaining animal records.
- Talking with customers, staff, and inspectors.
How to become an Animal Attendant
You can find work as an Animal Attendant without formal qualifications, but there are courses that can help you gain confidence and work experience.
- Volunteer at your local animal rescue organisation or veterinary clinic and gain experience on the job or as part of a traineeship.
- Consider a Certificate II in Animal Care (ACM20121) or a Certificate III in Animal Care Services (ACM30122) through TAFE or a registered training organisation.
- To gain experience in this industry and to boost your resume, you can also volunteer working with animals.
Compare your salary
Find out how your salary compares with the average salary for Animal Attendants.Latest Animal Attendant jobs on SEEK
Be one of the first to discover these recently listed jobs, or browse all Animal Attendant jobs on SEEK right now.Did you find this helpful?
Skills and experience employers are looking for
Having the right skills and experience can make you an in-demand applicant. Animal Attendant employers on SEEK are looking for job seekers with expertise in the following areas. Animal Care
Animal Handling
Cleaning
Animal Husbandry
Working with Animals
Welfare
Animal Science
Hygienic
Animal Behaviour
Animal Health
Source: SEEK job ads and SEEK Profile data
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Latest Animal Attendant reviews
Mar 2024
As someone with a deep passion for animals and getting my hands dirty, this job feels like a dream.
Reviewer's QualificationBachelor of Science
Experience1 – 4 years
Organisation sizeMedium (20-199 employees)
SpecialisationFarming, Animals & Conservation
The good thingsIf you are passionate about the care and wellbeing of animals it is an exceptionally rewarding career, especially if youre a hands on type of person. The animals and staff are often friendly and will ...
The challengesCommunication seems to be a large challenge as well as have a voice that is recognised and heard by superiors. The job can also have a psychological toll on individuals due to the presence of sick or ...
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Nov 2023
I love the actual work i am doing but sometimes the hours or stress can be a bit much.
Reviewer's QualificationCertificate II in Animal Care
Experience1 – 4 years
Organisation sizeSmall (1-19 employees)
SpecialisationFarming, Animals & Conservation
The good thingsI like the fact that it is around animals and that other people in the animal care industry are lovely.
The challengesThere are a lot of high pressure situations that you have to deal with.
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SEEK has not verified the truth or accuracy of these comments and does not adopt or endorse any of the comments posted on this page.SEEK collects and posts the comments for what they are worth and for information purposes only to assist candidates to find employment through www.seek.com.au
