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A pet or companion animal is an animal kept primarily for a person’s company, protection or entertainment. Unlike service animals (primarily dogs that assist with physical or mental disability) companion animals are not individually trained to perform any specific kind of task.
The industry offers a wide variety of positions, such as animal handler, animal trainer, assistance dog trainer, cattery attendant, groomer, kennel attendant, pet exerciser, pet funeral operator, pet shop/aquarium assistant/manager, pet transporter, security dog handler, animal breeder, and others.
In Victoria there are about 10,000 paid employees in the companion animal industry and Australia-wide about 43,000.
Qualifications and occupations
Bolding indicates a qualification appears on the Victorian Funded Course List, meaning subsidies are available for eligible students. Refer to the latest Funded Course List for more information.
Pre-vocational studies that may lead to a job as an
Assistant Animal Attendant
Animal Attendant (Veterinary Clinic or Animal Shelter), Kennel hand, Cattery Attendant, Pet Shop Assistant
Animal Attendant (VET clinic, kennel/cattery, shelter), Assistant Animal Groomer, Assistant Animal Trainer, Pet Exerciser, Pet Shop/Aquarium Assistant, Wildlife Carer
Pet Shop/Aquarium Manager, Companion Animal Trainer/Behaviourist, Companion Animal Breeder, Animal Groomer, Boarding Kennel or Cattery Manager, Animal Shelter Supervisor/Manager, Pet Minding and Exercise Operator, Mobile Hydro-Bathing Operator, Animal Trainer