If you’re looking to turn your love for animals into a rewarding and satisfying career, your future looks bright.

Australian pet owners have become increasingly willing to spend more on vet procedures to prolong their pets' lives, primarily due to higher incomes and insurance uptake. The Animal Care and Management industry has expanded over the past five years due to higher average expenditure on companion animal vet care.

Studying an Animal Care and Management course at TAFE NSW will get you the hands-on, practical training to set you up for success and become qualified for your career committed to animal welfare, wellbeing and health.

Spotlight on essential skills

Despite this career area dealing with the health and wellbeing of animals, one of the most crucial skills an aspiring job applicant can possess is interpersonal people skills.

When you consider that animal owners will be the ones making the big decisions, and are the ones paying for the services, it stands to reason that professionals in this industry need the ability to speak to people in a relatable and empathic fashion.

And it’s not only animal owners that you will have to deal with on a daily basis. There are your co-workers and other veterinary specialists whose instructions and communications will have to be interpreted correctly and fully understood, for you to perform your role to the best of your ability.

 Other essential skills include:

• science and mathematics skills
• fine motor and coordination skills
• critical thinking skills
• administrative and organisational skills
• language, literacy and numeracy skills
• intellectual autonomy and self-management skills
• customer service and marketing skills.
• managerial and leadership skills
• communication, collaboration, and social intelligence skills.

Spotlight on industry segment: The racing industry

The Australian racing industry incorporates a diverse range of businesses surrounding breeding, racing, and the management of the facilities used specifically for those activities.

In 2017–18, horse and greyhound racing contributed approximately $1.4 billion to the Australian economy, with breeding, sales, prize money, and wagering generating even more income for the economy.

Almost all job roles within racing require relevant industry licenses. While these licenses are coordinated through the industry’s regulatory bodies, by enrolling the relevant TAFE NSW courses, you will become equipped with the skills and knowledge needed to obtain your license. Racing occupations which have licensing requirements include:

• trainers
• jockeys
• stable hands and kennel hands
• transportation drivers
• farriers
• handlers

Spotlight on job growth: Veterinary services

The career areas within the Animal Care and Management sector, that are projected to experience the greatest increase in employment opportunities are within the scope of veterinary services. It is projected that they will grow from 22,100 workers in 2018, to 24,800 in 2023.

Working in areas all throughout Australia, veterinarian and veterinary nurse jobs will come from an increase in pet and animal ownership causing new jobs to be created. However, many vet and vet nursing jobs will also come from worker turnover. Between new roles, and job turnover, there are likely to be about 3,200 vet and vet nurse job openings each year.

Veterinarian average weekly salary: $1,384
TAFE NSW veterinarian pathway courses:

• Certificate II in Animal Studies (ACM20117)
• Certificate III in Animal Studies (ACM30117)
• Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing (ACM40412)
• Diploma of Veterinary Nursing (Emergency and Critical Care) (ACM50412)

Spotlight on industry occupations: Pet grooming

Behind veterinary services, the next largest forecast of employment growth within the Animal Care and Management sector, is in pet grooming.

A 2018 survey found that Australians are spending $743 million a year on their pets, which is 90% more than they did two years prior. People are eager to spoil their cats and dogs, and new (and more extensive) services are beginning to emerge to fulfil this need.

And despite the elaborate ways that Australians are pampering their pets, the most common, and fastest growing, service is grooming. With the skills learned in a TAFE NSW course, you could make your mark in this growing industry.

Pet groomer average weekly salary: $986
TAFE NSW pet groomer pathway course: Certificate III in Pet Grooming (ACM30617)

Spotlight on top careers

The following jobs are some of the most popular career choices for people studying animal care and management courses:

TAFE NSW has a great range of popular courses for people looking to get into these job roles. Some of our courses include:

• Certificate IV in Companion Animal Services (ACM40317)
• Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing (ACM40412)
• Certificate II in Animal Studies (ACM20117)
• Certificate IV in Captive Animals (ACM40217)
• Certificate IV in Racing (Racehorse Trainer) (RGR40118)
• Certificate III in Racing (Trackwork Rider) (RGR30518)

There is also a wide variety of other Animal Care and Management courses, so to find the course to suit your career dreams, visit the TAFE NSW website.

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