Certificate III in Companion Animal Services

Training package entry requirements

There are no training package entry requirements for this course.

GOTAFE preferred entry requirements

Before being accepted into the course applicants must:

• Undertake a Pre-training Review to document previous work experience and qualifications and assess suitability for the course.
• Complete a Core Skills Profile for Adults (CSPA) test to ensure the required language, literacy and numeracy levels are met for the course.
• Register with the Australian Apprenticeship Support Network (Apprentices/Trainees only).
  

Applicants must also:

• Be 17 years of age or over (16 for SBAT).
• Be employed in an animal care workplace.
• Have the physical stamina to safely handle a variety of animals.
• Have a basic level of digital literacy to undertake the online component of the course.
• Have access to a computer with reliable internet.

It is recommended that all students enrolling in this course be immunised against tetanus

Assessment methods may include:

• Written assignments
• Short answer questions
• Case studies
• Written reports
• Examinations
• Practical observations
• Oral assessments

Working in this industry may involve shift work and working weekends. It involves handling a variety of animals which requires a reasonable level of fitness and stamina on a daily basis.

Recommended Texts:

• Hotston-Moore, P. & Hughes, A., BSAVA Manual of Practical Animal Care, British Small Animal Veterinary Association, 2007 ISBN: 978-1-4051-3795-9
• Dallas, S. E., & Jewell, S., Animal Biology and Care, ed 3, Wiley-Blackwell, 2014 ISBN : 978-1-118-27606-8

Students will need to provide their own stationery, including notebooks, pens, highlighters and sticky notes.

Skye Rhodes-Mitchell

On-campus students: This course is delivered at the Wangaratta Regional Study Centre 1 day a week over 6 months. Students must also complete a minimum of 80 hours of work placement in a companion animal workplace approved by GOTAFE.

Workplace learners: This course is delivered over a 12 to 18 month period and students are enrolled part-time. Students are based in their workplace where they are able to consolidate the skills and knowledge they have learnt through their attendance at on-campus sessions. Some online training is also included in the delivery.

Trainees/School-based apprentices: This course is delivered over an 18 to 24 month period to school-based apprentices/trainees and adult trainees already employed in a companion animal workplace.

Students must commit to all course requirements, including study and assessments the student may need to complete outside their normal training sessions.

As an enrolled student at GOTAFE you may access a wide range of academic support services to assist you to meet the academic challenges of your course from our Learning Support Unit.

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Refer to the Student Handbook for information regarding Learner’s Rights Student Handbook.

Further information is provided at course induction.

Please note: Eligible individuals who wish to access a government subsidised place, must participate in a Pre-training Review. This will consider your:

• Aspirations/career goals
• Educational attainment and capability
• Literacy and numeracy skills
• Suitability for Recognition for Prior Learning (RPL) and Credit Transfer

Enrolment in general public entry courses will require a selection interview. Please call 1300 468 233 to enquire further.

Skills Recognition is an assessment only process that may result in credits towards a part or full qualification. There is no formal training involved, although you may choose to complete further training as a result of the assessment process.

You can apply for Skills Recognition before you enrol in the qualification you are seeking. You can apply for Skills Recognition through one or both of the following processes:

Credit Transfer for formal training that might be equivalent to a new qualification or partial qualification

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) for people who have relevant and current skills and knowledge that they have gained through non-formal or informal learning i.e. work or life experience.