Zookeepers feed, provide water for and monitor the health of animals in zoos, aquaria and wildlife parks, cleans, fixes, and maintains animal cages, and informs visitors about animals.

Skill Level

3

Specialisations

• Aquarist

Unless you are exempt in very limited circumstances, you are required to have a positive Skills Assessment to apply for the visas listed above.

Skills Assessment authority for Zookeeper is Vocational Education and Training Assess (VETASSESS). To have a positive skills assessment, you must meet the following criteria:

• AQF Certificate IV Qualification in a highly relevant field of study AND at least one year of post-qualification highly relevant employment at an appropriate skill level in the last five years; or
• AQF Certificate IV Qualification that is not a highly relevant field of study AND at least two years post-qualification highly relevant employment at an appropriate skill level in the last five years; or
• AQF Certificate III Qualification in a highly relevant field of study AND at least three years of post-qualification highly relevant employment at an appropriate skill level in the last five years.
• To achieve a positive skills assessment, the applicant must meet the qualification and employment experience requirements.

Important

According to VETASSESS, pre-qualification experience for Zookeepers may be considered in a skills assessment if the experience meets the following requirements:

• Three years of relevant employment;
• One year of highly relevant employment performed at the required skill level; and
• The employment experience was gained in the last five years

Train, feed, groom and care for animals.

Tasks

• Teaching animals to obey verbal and non-verbal commands and addressing behavioural problems
• Training animals to accept riders and pull vehicles
• Training animals to perform in competitions
• Bathing, cutting, combing, blow-drying and styling pets’ coats, clipping their nails and cleaning their ears
• Inspecting, preparing, cleaning, disinfecting and maintaining comfortable animal cages and enclosures
• Transporting food, filling water troughs and feeding animals according to their individual needs
• Maintaining animal health records, treating minor injuries and reporting serious conditions to Veterinarians
• Exercising and playing with animals, answering visitor questions, and transferring animals between enclosures by leading or carrying them
• Dusting and spraying insecticides on animals and immersing them in insecticide baths, to control insect pests

Skill Level

Most occupations in this unit group have a level of skill commensurate with the qualifications and experience outlined below.
In Australia:
AQF Certificate III including at least two years of on-the-job training, or AQF Certificate IV (ANZSCO Skill Level 3)

In New Zealand:
NZ Register Level 4 qualification (ANZSCO Skill Level 3)

At least three years of relevant experience may substitute for the formal qualifications listed above. In some instances relevant experience and/or on-the-job training may be required in addition to the formal qualification.
Registration or licensing may be required.

Occupations in this Group

• 361111 Dog Handler or Trainer
• 361112 Horse Trainer
• 361113 Pet Groomer
• 361114 Zookeeper
• 361115 Kennel Hand
• 361116 Track Rider
• 361199 Animal Attendants and Trainers nec