Whether it's organising feeding schedules, treating minor injuries or attending to daily exercise routines, animal attendants ensure that animals in zoos, pet stores and shelters are well looked after.

There are over 600 animal attendants working in Western Australia, and nearly 65% are female. Around 80% work in the Perth metropolitan area, 5% in the South West, and a smaller percentage in the remainder of the State's regions.

Each year approximately 25 full-time training places have been offered in the Certificate II in Animal Studies, Certificate II in Equine Industry and a similar number in the Bachelor of Science (Animal Science).

While many survive in the wild, animals that are kept in various sorts of enclosures rely on animal attendants to feed, water and care for them.


Not Just Pet Stores

You may be surprised to learn that animal attendants are employed by a wide range of organisations, including veterinary clinics, catteries, kennels, horse stables, zoos and animal shelters. While their tasks will vary from establishment to establishment, there are lots of similarities in their work.

And while many people may think that a love of animals is reason enough to be an animal attendant, industry sources suggest that there's so much to do that there won't be much time to actually cuddle the animals.


A Day In The Life Of...

''It's not just about playing with fluffy puppies,'' says Wonderful Pets Animal Attendant and Manager, Belinda.

Belinda, whose day starts at 7.30am, checks on the animals and then gets on with cleaning the animal enclosures. To make sure the cages are cleaned properly, the animals are moved to an empty enclosure.

As their day progresses, animal attendants prepare food for animals of all types, paying attention to feeding schedules. Some animals, such as a loving overfed family pet (these types of pets would be found in a kennel), may need a special diet, which is then prepared by the animal attendant.


Dr Doolittles

Animal attendants also monitor the health of animals in their care.

''We sometimes treat sick or injured animals. Maybe an animal has a minor cut or ear infection. Obviously in serious cases we call in a vet,'' says Belinda.

Fleas and worms are a real nuisance to dogs, cats, puppies and kittens because they're unable to do much about them. So it's an animal attendant to the rescue with preventative treatments such as flea powder, shampoo or tablets.

Whether it's to create a well groomed look for animals awaiting sale in a pet store, or to keep zoo animals reasonably clean, attendants bathe, groom or wash down animals. In pet stores, kennels or dog parlours, animals may also have their fur and nails clipped.

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) maintains a shelter for surrendered and abandoned animals, as well short stay accommodation for pets whose owners are away.

''I really wanted to look after abandoned animals and in this organisation you're caring for a large number of animals who've also been mistreated,'' says Jo, an RSPCA animal attendant.

At the RSPCA, horse stables and kennels, an important job for attendants is to make sure that animals get their daily exercise.

An interesting part of the job for animal attendants (referred to as zookeepers) at Perth Zoo is to assist with animal research projects. They also handle the on-the-spot queries about the animals from visitors and they maintain the exhibits and animal records. Like their colleagues employed at the RSPCA, zookeepers also care for injured and neglected animals.

You'll need to be interested in animals and their wellbeing, and look forward to being around them all day, if you're going to become an animal attendant. You'll also be more comfortable if you're allergy free!


The salary range for zookeepers at Perth Zoo is approximately $38,500 which goes up to approx $54,000 for those in a supervisory position. For more current figures, contact the Zoo or another employer of animal attendants such as the RSPCA or even look at the Australian Government Workplace Authority website below.

Employment prospects are best described as average. Training numbers are high and this is a small-sized occupation so there is likely to be competition for vacancies, especially for veterinary nursing positions. Perth Zoo, however, does employ approximately 50 zookeepers.

There are no specific educational requirements to become an animal attendant, however, employers such as Perth Zoo require applicants to have some work experience/qualification in animal husbandry. While training is often provided on the job, an increasing number of employers of animal attendants are seeing the benefits of employing trained persons, according to a Swan TAFE spokeswoman.

The Certificate II in Equine Industry is offered through the Geraldton campus of Central West TAFE.

Certificate courses may also be offered through registered training organisations other than TAFE. For more information, check out the NTIS site below.

Alternatively, you may be able to enter this occupation through a traineeship in Animal Studies. For more information, contact the Australian Apprenticeships Hotline on 13 38 73 (local call cost).

The four-year Bachelor of Science (Animal Science) degree is offered through the University of Western Australia. Applicants will need to have studied English or English literature and any TEE mathematics.

Potential zookeepers (Perth Zoo) can study zoology at the University of Western Australia, Veterinary Studies at Murdoch University, Environmental Managemement at Edith Cowan Unversity or Biology at Curtin University of Technology.

	Other Training Providers
	National Training Information Service website.
	TAFE Colleges
	Homepage links and contact details for all TAFE Colleges in WA.
	TAFE Handbook
	An online guide to full- time TAFE courses available throughout WA.
	Universities
	Homepage links and contact details for all Universities in WA.

Perth Zoo
20 Labouchere Road South Perth WA 6151 Ph: (08) 9474 0444 Fax: (08) 9474 4420 Email: email@perthzoo.wa.gov.au URL: http://www.perthzoo.wa.gov.au/

Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
108 Malaga Drive Malaga WA 6090 Ph: (08) 9209 9300 Fax: (08) 9248 3144 URL: http://www.rspca.com.au/

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