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Taronga Training Institute
A career in zookeeping. Offerings at Richmond College of TAFE.
By Graeme Phipps, Teacher, Animal Care.
I am delighted to post something onto the ASZK website about what we offer at Richmond TAFE, because apart being a supporter of what the Society is about, I believe that if you are reading this on the website, then you are already making the right moves. ASZK membership is highly regarded in the captive animal industry.
I will walk you through the main points and if after reading this you want further clarification, contact me: graeme.phipps@tafensw.edu.au
To get detailed and up to date information on all courses on offer visit
http://wsi.tafensw.edu.au
click on Courses
click on Course Search
type in “Captive Animals”
Captive Animals, Certificates 3 and 4 are not only for zookeepers. Workers in circuses, theme parks, marine parks, mobile zoos, traditional zoos, open range zoos, wildlife parks, fauna parks, earth sanctuaries and rescue and rehabilitation facilities also study these certificates. The thing which they all have in common is working with wild native or exotic animals, not primarily domestic animals or pets. We approach the certificates with considerable flexibility.
The main certificate people study is Certificate III (AQF) in Captive Animals. Course number 1068. The National Course Code is RUV30204.
Entry requirements
NSW School Certificate (or equivalent). You must have documented proof of concurrent access to wild animals in captive animal care workplace/s, through full or part time employment or workplace practise for a minimum 2 days/week. Many modules in this course require assessment in an appropriate workplace (see above). Pet shops and veterinary clinics, dog pounds and shelters are not appropriate wild animal facilities.
Please note that this is not an entry level course for applicants without full-time industry experience. We have an equal duty of care to the wild animals that we care for as we have to you, so you do need to know something about animals. Our experience is that if you have no significant prior experience with wild animals, you are advised to commence study in the Certificate II in Animal Studies course 1045 and obtain concurrent voluntary or paid work in a captive animal facility. Cert II is a really good foundation course.
However if you have something such as Veterinary Nursing, or a great deal of experience with wild animals, discuss it with us. Credit (or recognition) for modules/units may be granted based on any combination of previous learning, studies, work and/or life experiences.
Proposed timetable
(subject to change) Part-time day:1 day per week for 3 semesters (plus 2 days per week in workplace). Currently the course is offered face to face at Richmond. More flexible blended learning options are currently being developed, but you do need time to develop your skills and competencies and your network.
What do you study? You need to complete 10 core modules and 4 electives.
Core modules (subject to change)
RUV3101A/ 1045CA Carry out workplace OHS Procedures
RUV3402A/ 1045CK Work with captive animal institution
RUV3406A/ 1045CP Prepare & maintain animal housing
RUV3408A/ 1045CR Prepare animal diets & monitor feeding
RUV3410A/1045CT Capture, restrain& assist in moving animals
RUV3409A/ 1045CS Monitor & maintain animal health
RUV3412A/ 1045CV Monitor animal reproduction
RUV3414A/ 1045CX Id. behavioural needs & implement improved husbandry
RUV3403A/ 1045CL Public Presentations
RUV3404A/ 1045CM Assist with collection management
Elective modules (subject to change)
RUV3407A/ 1045CQ Maintain exhibits & assist with design
RUV3411A/1045CU Care for young animals
RUV3405A/ 1045CN Develop an institutional husbandry manual
RUV3413A/ 1045CW Condition animals
RUV3401A/ 1045CJ Rehabilitate and release native wildlife
Further study
When you finish this course you can apply for advanced standing in Certificate IV in Captive Animals, 1089.
Certificate IV (AQF) in Captive Animals. Course number 1089. The National Course Code is RUV40204.
Entry requirements
NSW Higher School Certificate (or equivalent) and 10 core units from Certificate III in Captive Animals (RUV30204). Must have access to a workplace that houses wild captive animals, through full-time or part time employment or workplace practise at supervisory level.
Recognition of prior learning (RPL)
Credit (or recognition) for modules/units may be granted based on any combination of previous learning, studies (e.g. previous Zookeeping Certificate), work and/or life experiences. Please discuss this with the teaching section when you enrol.
Proposed timetable
(subject to change) Part-time day:1 day per week for 2 semesters (face to face at Richmond). We are also looking at offering Flexible delivery: Selfpaced/workshop/online for Certificate IV.
Group 1.Core modules (subject to change)
RUV3101A/ 1045CA Carry out workplace OHS Procedures
RUV3402A/ 1045CK Work with captive animal institution
RUV3406A/ 1045CP Prepare & maintain animal housing
RUV3408A/ 1045CR Prepare animal diets & monitor feeding
RUV3410A/1045CT Capture, restrain& assist in moving animals
RUV3409A/ 1045CS Monitor & maintain animal health
RUV3412A/ 1045CV Monitor animal reproduction
RUV3414A/ 1045CX Id. behavioural needs & implement improved husbandry
RUV3403A/ 1045CL Public Presentations
RUV3404A/ 1045CM Assist with collection management
RUV4101A/1045DA Implement & monitor OH&S
RUV4402A/1045DM Implement collection management
RUV4403A/1045DN Manage enclosures & exhibits
RUV4404A/1045DP Develop animal diets
RUV4406A/1045DR Dev. Monitor & rev. behavioural management strategies.
Group 2.Elective modules (subject to change)
RUV4401A/1045DL Design & evaluate interpretive.& learning programs
RUV4405A/1045DQ Assist in establishing & maintaining a plantation
Group 3: At least 1 and no more than 3 modules must be completed. Elective choices for this group are currently under review.
Certificate II (AQF) in Animal Studies. Course number 1045. National Course Code RUV20104 .
This course is entry level for people wanting to work as an animal attendant or carer in kennels and catteries, pounds and welfare centres, quarantine establishments, zoological and fauna parks, wildlife refuges, animal facilities, research centres, pet shops and commercial animal production enterprises
Entry requirements
Year 10 Certificate (No employment required). Applicants should be aware that class groups are programmed according to career plans.
The course is offered Full-time for 2 days per week for 1 semester; part-time for 1 day per week for a year or part-time evening which is 2 evenings per week for a year. Currently it is only offered face to face.
For more details, please access the website as indicated above.
Charles Sturt University in NSW - Graduate Certificate in Captive Vertebrate Management
One year and by distance education. You'll do 'Zoo Curatorship' in first semester and 'Wildlife Ecology and Management' in second semester.
Check it out at: http://www.csu.edu.au/faculty/science/savs/cvm/
Zookeeping Education Programs - for comprehensive list of many other courses in Australia and worldwide http://wonderferret.com/zooed/
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