Certificate III in Animal Care Services
Sorry, this course is not available for international students.
If you are a local student you may be eligible.
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Overview
12 months full time
February, July
Become a sought-after animal care expert with a Certificate III in Animal Care Services ACM30122
Australia has one of the highest rates of pet ownership in the world, with 65% of households owning a pet. Our animal care industry is massive and growing every year. Caring for our furry friends can be a rewarding career for animal lovers. Melbourne Polytechnic’s Certificate III in Animal Care Services ACM30122 equips you with the necessary skills and knowledge to take care of animals in a professional setting.
Learn essential skills from industry experts
As part of Melbourne Polytechnic's Certificate III in Animal Care Services ACM30122, you will develop key animal care skills in practical work environments. You’ll be taught by highly experienced teachers with industry connections in the animal care field. Melbourne Polytechnic has a range of well-equipped laboratories, a dog hydrobathing room, dedicated animal care facilities and simulated veterinary clinic, so you’ll receive practical experience with a variety of animals as part of your studies. Learn skills such as providing hydrobathing services, completing animal care hygiene routines, carrying out simple breeding procedures and maintaining and monitoring animal health and wellbeing.
Follow your own path in a diverse industry
Once you’ve graduated from our Certificate III in Animal Care Services ACM30122, you’ll have the skills to work with a range of animals. You might find work in a variety of areas including animal welfare shelters, local government animal services, pet retail, boarding or breeding facilities, pet grooming and other animal services.
Career Pathways
Where will the Certificate III in Animal Care Services ACM30122 take me?
You will be eligible for employment in a wide range of industries including pet shops, boarding facilities (welfare and retail), aquariums and grooming services.
- Boarding Facility Assistant
- Pet Shop Assistant
- Animal Shelter Assistant
- Pet Groomer
- Aquarium Assistant
- Animal Pound Assistant
Study Pathways
On completion of this course you may choose to pathway to other certificates from the ACM Animal Care and Management Training Package.
Course Details
Delivery methods
As part of your studies, you may choose to complete a work placement in an animal care environment. This would add to your practical experience and knowledge, so you can enter the diverse animal care field with confidence.
- Placement
How you will study
Each course has a dedicated learning method that is designed to let you thrive in your studies.
On-campus / Virtual classroom
A blend of both face-to-face and virtual learning with scheduled classes taking place on-campus and in virtual classrooms. Visit the How You'll Study page for more information.
Class Schedule
Timetable: 2 days per week
Assessment Methods
Various forms of assessment may be used including written and oral activities, assignments, group participation, practical demonstrations or exercises, and projects
Units of Study
The hours displayed are nominal, actual classroom hours delivered may differ. Please contact us for the latest student contact hours information.
| Code | Subject | Elective | Hours |
| ACMBEH301 | Identify behaviours and interact safely with animals | Core | 60 |
| ACMBEH302 | Provide enrichment for animals | Elective | 40 |
| ACMGEN205 | Source and provide information for animal care needs | Elective | 40 |
| ACMGEN303 | Assess the welfare status of an animal | Core | 60 |
| ACMGEN304 | Promote positive wellbeing in self and others in animal care workplaces | Core | 40 |
| ACMGEN309 | Provide basic animal first aid | Core | 40 |
| ACMGEN310 | Provide reception services for an animal care facility | Elective | 30 |
| ACMGEN311 | Maintain and monitor animal health and wellbeing | Elective | 50 |
| ACMGEN312 | Provide nutritional requirements for animals | Elective | 60 |
| ACMGEN314 | Identify animal anatomy and physiology for animal care work | Elective | 100 |
| ACMGEN315 | Communicate effectively with clients and team members | Core | 30 |
| ACMINF301 | Comply with infection control policies and procedures in animal care work | Core | 60 |
| ACMSPE316 | Provide general care of domestic dogs | Elective | 40 |
| ACMSPE317 | Provide general care of domestic cats | Elective | 40 |
| ACMSPE322 | Provide general care of rodents or rabbits | Elective | 40 |
| ACMWHS301 | Contribute to workplace health and safety processes | Core | 50 |
| HLTAID011 | Provide First Aid | Elective | 18 |
Animal Studies courses at Melbourne Polytechnic
Important Note: The Associate Degree of Veterinary Nursing will not be taking new enrolments for 2023. All new intakes for 2022 will be into the Bachelor of Veterinary Nursing (a Latrobe University qualification delivered by Melbourne Polytechnic).
Fees & Costs
| Concession | Government subsidised fee | Non-subsidised fee | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition fee | $970 | $4850 | $10450 |
| Maximum annual amenities | $175 | $250 | $250 |
| Total payable | $1145 | $5100 | $10700 |
| Per year | $0 |
| Per semester | $0 |
The student tuition fees as published are subject to change given individual circumstances at enrolment.
Displayed course fees are indicative only. There are many variables that impact the total amount of your full course costs including qualification for government subsidies, concessions or recognition of prior learning. Tuition fees do not include the cost of student amenities or material costs.
This training is delivered with Victorian and Commonwealth Government funding. Contact us to find out if you’re eligible for a Government subsidy.
Melbourne Polytechnic offers a range of payment options to help you pay your tuition fees, so you can get on with your studies.
Fees displayed are effective for new applications received on or after 1st of November. Tuition fees do not include textbooks, course materials or overseas student health insurance and visa fees.
After initial deposit, international students are able to pay tuition fees in installments, four times per year.
For more detailed information please read the International Student Fees.
Fees explained
The fees for those ineligible for a government-funded enrolment.
The cost of tuition for those eligible for government funding.
Concession fees are charged at 20 per cent of the standard fees for enrolments in Certificate I to IV courses. To be eligible students must meet Skills First eligibility criteria and present a valid:
- Commonwealth Health Care card, or
- Pensioner Concession card, or
- Any dependent spouse or dependent child of one of the above cardholders, or
- Veterans Gold card.
The following groups are eligible for concession fees from Certificate I to Advanced Diploma level:
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students
- Asylum Seekers and victims of human trafficking
Additional expenses
The Student Services and Amenities Fee is charged at forty cents (40 cents) per student contact hour and is capped over a twelve (12) month period, effective from the enrolment date, to:
- $250 for full fee-paying students; and
- $175 for concession-paying students studying Certificate I, II, III, or IV.
Amenities fees are used to improve non-academic services including libraries, counselling services, student support, and recreational activities.
Scholarships on offer
'We’d been discussing what projects we had coming up that we needed to go and buy materials for. And so then the scholarship came and it was just a sigh of relief.'
Requirements
There are no formal entry requirements for this courseNext Steps
The first step to enrolling is completing the application short form from the Apply Now page.
After you complete that form we will send you an email with a link to an application form webpage. If you don’t receive the email, check your spam and junk folders.
Complete the application form on the application form webpage.
You will be required to complete an online literacy and numeracy assessment.
Once you are ready to enrol, you will be invited to attend an enrolment appointment over the phone or on campus.
For certificate-level courses, you can pay by weekly or fortnightly direct debit using our Tuition Payment Plan. Read more about Tuition Payment Plans here.
If you need assistance with your application and the next steps, you can contact one of our Education and Course Advisors on 1300 635 276 or follow a step-by-step guide to enrolling for vocational education local students.
We're Victoria's Large Training Provider of the Year
Study with Melbourne Polytechnic, proud winner of Victoria’s 2024 Large Training Provider of the Year! Recognised for our innovative programs, industry partnerships and commitment to student success, we’re here to help you build the skills for a thriving future.
Recognising Organisations
Nationally Recognised Training This course is government accredited and has national recognition.
Local student means; you are an Australian citizen or permanent resident, a New Zealand citizen or a permanent humanitarian visa holder.