Animal attendant job description
Where we source our data
Let’s get real. Job information online can often be overly optimistic — conveniently glossing over the raw bits. But when you’re making decisions about your future, you need all the facts.
That’s why we anonymously surveyed animal attendants about their job, with hopes of getting an honest insight into what it’s really like.
While we did our best to ensure respondents were Australians and verified their job titles with proof of employment, we can’t guarantee complete accuracy — or that your experiences in the field will reflect theirs. So, we suggest that you take these insights as a guide only and try to talk to people in the field before making an important decision.
Where we source our data
Let’s get real. Job information online can often be overly optimistic — conveniently glossing over the raw bits. But when you’re making decisions about your future, you need all the facts.
That’s why we anonymously surveyed animal attendants about their job, with hopes of getting an honest insight into what it’s really like.
While we did our best to ensure respondents were Australians and verified their job titles with proof of employment, we can’t guarantee complete accuracy — or that your experiences in the field will reflect theirs. So, we suggest that you take these insights as a guide only and try to talk to people in the field before making an important decision.
Intellectual
Based on our career survey data, these are the words that workers would use to describe their jobs.
Cooperative
Based on our career survey data, these are the words that workers would use to describe their jobs.
Physical
Based on our career survey data, these are the words that workers would use to describe their jobs.
Tasks and responsibilities for an animal attendant
As the name suggests, animal attendants tend to animals in wildlife parks, shelters, and beyond.
An animal attendant’s job description can include:
- Preparing and providing food and water to animals, as well as bedding and comfortable living conditions
- Ensuring animal enclosures, kennels and living areas are clear of animal waste, clean and hygienic
- Washing and performing basic grooming tasks to animals where needed, including the administering of pest control treatments
- Treating minor injuries and ensuring the physical welfare of the animals in your care is met
- Assisting in training animals under supervision where needed
- Assisting veterinarians in the performing of humane euthanasia where necessary
Reasons to choose this job
Based on our career survey data, these are the factors that workers said were most important to them when choosing this job.
Makes a difference
Animal attendant jobs have you at the forefront of helping vulnerable animals thrive. Every day in this role can be more fulfilling than the last (cue the warm fuzzies).
Flexible hours
Many employers are looking for part-time and casual employees. With a range of flexible options, you could even start working on the weekends if you don’t want to jump into full-time work.
Enjoyable
Spending the day attending to animals and ensuring they are well cared for is an enjoyable and rewarding career. Every day is filled with appreciative animals who can boost your mood.
Job satisfaction
Overall job satisfaction
This overall score combines the critical factors in job satisfaction. It includes fulfilment, stress levels, and opportunities for advancement, based on our career survey data.
Stress level
How stressful workers feel their job is, based on our career survey data.
Fulfilment
How personally rewarding workers feel their job is, based on our career survey data.
Skill level
The skill level required to do this job is based on both our career survey data and official data from the Labour Market Information Portal.
Job market trends for an animal attendant
The animal care industry is an essential service in Australia, gaining recognition after the 2019-2020 bushfires and COVID-19 highlighted its necessity.
Animal welfare work is stable and secure. Data from the Australian Industry and Skills Committee has shown that employment levels for animal welfare positions have more than doubled in the last 20 years. Future predictions tell us that rates are to stay relatively stable.
Median salary
Where this data comes from
Median salary
We use the median salary over the average because it’s more realistic — unusually high or low salaries don’t skew the median. It shows the true middle point, which is what your typical worker in this job earns.
This figure is from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. It’s the official median full-time adult salary for non-managers, before tax. (Includes salary sacrifice.)
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours (cat. no. 6306.0), Customised Report
Projected job growth
Job growth projections, using data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. These calculations were made before COVID-19 and may not accurately reflect the labour market. Use these numbers as a general guide only.
Where this data comes from
Median salary
We use the median salary over the average because it’s more realistic — unusually high or low salaries don’t skew the median. It shows the true middle point, which is what your typical worker in this job earns.
This figure is from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. It’s the official median full-time adult salary for non-managers, before tax. (Includes salary sacrifice.)
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours (cat. no. 6306.0), Customised Report
Projected job growth
Job growth projections, using data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. These calculations were made before COVID-19 and may not accurately reflect the labour market. Use these numbers as a general guide only.
Projected job growth
Where this data comes from
Median salary
We use the median salary over the average because it’s more realistic — unusually high or low salaries don’t skew the median. It shows the true middle point, which is what your typical worker in this job earns.
This figure is from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. It’s the official median full-time adult salary for non-managers, before tax. (Includes salary sacrifice.)
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours (cat. no. 6306.0), Customised Report
Projected job growth
Job growth projections, using data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. These calculations were made before COVID-19 and may not accurately reflect the labour market. Use these numbers as a general guide only.
Where this data comes from
Median salary
We use the median salary over the average because it’s more realistic — unusually high or low salaries don’t skew the median. It shows the true middle point, which is what your typical worker in this job earns.
This figure is from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. It’s the official median full-time adult salary for non-managers, before tax. (Includes salary sacrifice.)
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours (cat. no. 6306.0), Customised Report
Projected job growth
Job growth projections, using data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. These calculations were made before COVID-19 and may not accurately reflect the labour market. Use these numbers as a general guide only.
Pathway options
Job pathways are drawn from the Australian Apprenticeships Pathways site.
Because animal attendants are required in many workplace settings, opportunities for your career path are aplenty.
From animal shelters to wildlife parks, there are many opportunities to climb the ladder.
Junior
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Animal shelter attendant
Most common qualification: Certificate III in Animal Studies (ACM30117)
Mid
-
Animal health officer roles in Indigenous communities
Most common qualification: Certificate III in Animal Studies (ACM30117)
-
Animal management officer
Most common qualification: Certificate IV in Animal Facility Management (ACM40221)
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Animal management officer
Most common qualification: Certificate IV in Animal Facility Management (ACM40221)
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Wildlife carer
Most common qualification: Certificate IV in Animal Facility Management (ACM40221)
Senior
-
Senior animal attendant
Most common qualification: Certificate III in Animal Studies (ACM30117)
Skills you might already have
Based on our career survey data, the soft skills that workers said were most needed to do their job well.
You may be more ready than you think to start a job in animal care. The natural soft skills you have acquired in life or past employment are as essential as anything you might need to bring to the table.
Empathy
Being naturally compassionate, empathetic and having a love of animals not only means you are good at animal care — it means that you enjoy it. An innate ability to comfort and soothe goes a long way with distressed or anxious animals.
Confidence around animals
Having confidence around animals is essential and can be achieved by having had a household pet, working in a pet shop or having experience with animals during your life. Reading an animal’s body language equips you with the skills to deal with situations before they arise.
Patience
This one’s crucial because animals can be unpredictable, and they don’t always do what we want them to do. Many animals (especially captive animals) fear people, vets, and other animals and require carers with a calm nature.
Teamwork
Being a team player with excellent communication skills is a critical element of this role. If you like to be surrounded by like-minded people with a common goal of bettering animals’ lives, you are in a strong position already.
Hard skills
The job-specific skills that workers said were most important, supplemented with data from JobOutlook and online job advertisements.
Being an animal attendant requires specific knowledge and experience in caring for animals.
While many of these skills can be learned on the job, having prior training can help you get your foot in the door.
Knowledge of animal behaviour and anatomy
Animals tell us a lot by the way they behave and their body language. Therefore, having a firm understanding of these behaviours and knowledge of their anatomy is a huge part of the job in animal care.
Disease recognition
Animals are susceptible to specific illnesses, disorders and parasites. In a role as an animal attendant, you’re expected to know the warning signs of anything that might be wrong physically.
Safe handling of animals
The handling of animals is specific to each species and needs to be learned thoroughly. This is especially important when dealing with injured, anxious or afraid animals for the safety of the animal and anyone else involved.
Administration
Like any industry, animal care can have a lot of admin. If you clearly understand the processes required for keeping animal records and other administrative practices, you can hit the ground running when you start your job.
How to become an animal attendant
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Volunteer
Contact your local RSPCA, cattery, zoo or veterinary clinic and enquire about volunteering. This might put you at the front of mind for traineeships or job opportunities that become available. At the very least, it allows you to gain valuable experience in the industry.
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Study
Completing a Certificate II or III in Animal Studies with a TAFE or Registered Training Organisation (RTO) is a great way to elevate your skillset and prepare you for an animal care attendant role. Employers look favourably upon individuals who take the time to upskill.
Explore related qualifications
Certificate II in Animal Studies
Subjects include those studied in the Certificate II course with added electives and can provide a pathway to a veterinary nursing career or other animal care roles.
The extra elements covered in this course could be more attractive to a potential employer and propel your career more quickly.
The average duration for a Certificate III in Animal Studies is one year. Study can be completed on campus or online and has flexible learning options.
3 providers offer this course
Related subjects
Jobs that exercise your ability to nurture and care for others come in all shapes and sizes. Other roles in veterinary and animal care are abundant, and there is always a need for empathetic team players in the healthcare industry.
Reviews
How we collect reviews
Reviews are from Australian workers with this job title or a very closely related one.
Is this your job title?
Share your thoughts and help people decide if this job is right for them.
How we collect reviews
Reviews are from Australian workers with this job title or a very closely related one.
Is this your job title?
Share your thoughts and help people decide if this job is right for them.
- All
- Positive
- Negative
Bronwyn
Aug 27 2021Working in a positive team environment and helping animals makes my job rewarding.
What are the best parts of the job?
As an animal attendant I've learnt to understand all basic animal care needs and can apply my skills to any animal in other fields of work. I've also gained an understanding of animal behaviour which I again can take into other animal-related fields of work. All while working in a team environment!
What's the most challenging part?
Caring for multiple animals is a team effort, so communication is key. If communication falls short anywhere, it's the animals that suffer the consequences. Understanding multiple communication methods and what works best for your team goes a long way.
Stefano
Aug 28 2021I enjoy being able to help animals everyday.
What are the best parts of the job?
Helping animals — it sounds obvious but this is exactly why I work in animal care. It's rewarding being able to care for so many different animals.
What's the most challenging part?
Having to adapt can be challenging. Sometimes you need to pivot quickly to give an animal the best care.
Lily
Aug 29 2021Enjoy working with all sorts of animals.
What are the best parts of the job?
Getting to work with all kinds of animals means everyday is interesting and different.
What's the most challenging part?
Quick decision making is a key skill in animal care but it can be stressful.
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Job cluster: The Carer
What are job clusters?
The seven job clusters are sets of closely related jobs that share skills, making it easy to apply skills learned in one career to another.
The idea of the seven job clusters first appeared in a 2016 research report by the Foundation for Young Australians, titled “The New Work Mindset”. Researchers analysed thousands of online job advertisements and found that jobs are more similar than commonly thought — and the skills you gain in one position are easy to bring to another. In fact, they can help you get 13 other closely related jobs.
This model is a great way to think about 21st-century careers, where the average person changes career five times. We’ve used this framework (along with the much-loved Holland Codes model) to build a career quiz.
Why not take it and find out which job cluster feels like home?
What are job clusters?
The seven job clusters are sets of closely related jobs that share skills, making it easy to apply skills learned in one career to another.
The idea of the seven job clusters first appeared in a 2016 research report by the Foundation for Young Australians, titled “The New Work Mindset”. Researchers analysed thousands of online job advertisements and found that jobs are more similar than commonly thought — and the skills you gain in one position are easy to bring to another. In fact, they can help you get 13 other closely related jobs.
This model is a great way to think about 21st-century careers, where the average person changes career five times. We’ve used this framework (along with the much-loved Holland Codes model) to build a career quiz.
Why not take it and find out which job cluster feels like home?
Working in a role that looks after vulnerable animals is best suited to the career personality of The Carer.
The Carer has a personality that lends itself to helping others, employing a humane approach to life and work. The Carer is suited to a role with direct contact with people or animals, requiring compassion and empathy.
Take the Career Quiz to discover what jobs are a great fit for you.
Frequently asked questions
What does an animal attendant do?
Animal attendants look after all kinds of animals in shelters, wildlife parks, kennels and more. They do everything from basic grooming, cleaning, feeding and watering animals to performing first aid and assisting vets.
What qualifications do I need to work with animals?
The best qualification to get started in an animal care career is the Certificate II in Animal Studies. The course can also be a pathway into more advanced training in specialised areas such as vet nursing and animal behaviour studies.
What is a pet care attendant?
A pet care attendant is an animal attendant that works specifically with pets in places like kennels and pet boarding houses. They look after the pet’s basic needs like food, water and bedding, and basic grooming and first aid.
How much does an animal attendant earn?
Animal attendants earn an average salary around $51K per year.
How can I be a good animal attendant?
To be a good animal attendant, you need to have a love for animals and want to care for them. You also need to have patience and be able to work in a team. If you love what you’re doing, odds are you’ll be good at it!