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52 weeks
On campus with some online — 80% on campus, 20% online. Some training may also take place via video or Zoom.
On campus / International · Full time — 2 days per week on campus (Behaviour or Veterinary Nursing stream); Gold Coast: 2 days on campus and 2 x 1.5 hour Zoom sessions per week
06 Oct 2026 | 08 Oct 2026 | 27 Jan 2027
Course Overview
Where You Can Study
Brisbane
66 Ernest St, South Brisbane, QLD 4101
Student Information
Tuition Fee
SEE funded $0 · Concession $3,455 · Subsidised $4,305 · Full fee $8,215
Eligibility
Domestic Students:
International Students:
Resources and health requirements (all students):
Career & Study Pathways
Quality & Recognition
Academic Regulator
ASQA
Accreditation Status
AccreditedCourse Content
Identify behaviours and interact safely with animals
This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to identify and interpret behaviour and safely handle, interact and respond to animals in a range of animal care facilities and environments. It can be applied to a range of animal species.
Assess the welfare status of an animal
This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to assess the welfare status of an animal using an industry recognised animal welfare assessment framework or model and tool.
Promote positive wellbeing in self and others in animal care workplaces
This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to manage personal wellbeing and psychological health and safety in workplaces involving animals. It includes identifying the hazards and challenges of the work, developing a proactive self-care action plan and contributing to positive support strategies.
Provide basic animal first aid
This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to provide essential first aid for animals. The first aider is not expected to deal with complex cases or incidents, but to provide an initial response where first aid is required.
Communicate effectively with clients and team members
This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to communicate effectively with clients, a supervisor, team members and industry representatives.
Comply with infection control policies and procedures in animal care work
Contribute to workplace health and safety processes
Provide enrichment for animals
This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to provide enrichment to stimulate, replenish and maintain appropriate behavioural patterns of all animals, including those housed short-term or long-term in an animal care facility.
Develop, implement and monitor enrichment strategies for animals
This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to develop, implement, monitor and review enrichment strategies for animals, and to communicate the strategies to carers (team members/owners).
Condition animal behaviour
This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to condition animals using positive conditioning techniques. It applies to a range of species and includes the individual demonstrating skills and knowledge required for conditioning animals to others.
Provide advice on companion animal selection and general care
This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to provide advice to clients on the appropriate selection of companion animals, and on their housing, nutritional and other general care requirements. It also includes the sale of animal care products and services, and animals where appropriate.
Walk and exercise dogs
This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to manage dog walking and exercise activities for clients or the workplace.
Maintain and monitor animal health and wellbeing
This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to follow animal health management practices to monitor animal health via daily observations of behaviour and condition.
Provide nutritional requirements for animals
This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to prepare rations based on animal species needs and availability of food products.
Identify animal anatomy and physiology for animal care work
This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to identify animal anatomy and physiological functions of animals. It incorporates knowledge of animal classification, animal body systems, physiological functions and external anatomical features of animals to recognise normal health.
Provide general care of birds
This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to identify birds and their behavioural and physical needs, and provide daily care requirements.
Provide general care of mammals
This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to identify placental mammals and their behavioural and physical needs and provide daily care requirements.
Provide reception services for an animal care facility
This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to undertake office reception and administration activities, including scheduling and basic financial tasks for an animal care facility.
Provide general care of domestic dogs
This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to identify dogs and their behavioural and physical needs, and provide daily care requirements.
Provide general care of domestic cats
This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to identify domestic cats and their behavioural and physical needs, and provide daily care requirements.
Carry out daily clinic routines
Deliver and monitor a service to customers
This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to identify customer needs, deliver and monitor customer service and identify improvements in the provision of customer service.
Provide First Aid
This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to provide a first aid response to a casualty in line with first aid guidelines determined by the Australian Resuscitation Council (ARC) and other Australian national peak clinical bodies. The unit applies to all persons who may be required to provide a first aid response in a range of situations, including community and workplace settings.
Common Questions
The course is offered at multiple campuses: Loganlea, Grovely, Mt Gravatt, and Redcliffe in the Greater Brisbane region, as well as Ashmore on the Gold Coast. International students can study at the Ashmore campus.
The course fees vary depending on your eligibility: Concession fee is $3,455, Subsidised fee is $4,305, Full fee is $8,215, and International student fee is $11,800. Fee concessions may apply to the subsidised course for eligible students, and a range of government funded courses are available for eligible students.
This course offers specialised skills in either behavioural sciences or veterinary nursing. The Loganlea campus (July 2026 intake) offers the Behaviour stream, while Grovely, Loganlea, Mt Gravatt, and Redcliffe (January 2027 intakes) offer the Veterinary Nursing stream.
Yes. As part of your course, you get valuable experience in real workplaces. TAFE Queensland's strong industry partnerships mean you will use the skills you are learning to care for animals in different settings within your community, while also getting to know potential future employers.
Successful completion of this course will qualify you to work as an animal trainer or health officer, or trainee veterinary nurse. Specific roles include Kennel or Shelter Attendant, Animal Trainer, Animal Technician, Animal Health Officer, and Animal Control and Regulation Assistant. According to the Australian Government's Job Outlook service, there are likely to be around 12,000 job openings in this growing occupation over the next five years.
Application
Three simple steps to get enrolled
Step 01
Enquire
Click "Enquire Now" and tell us a little about yourself. It's free and takes 2 minutes.
Step 02
Submit Documents
Our team will guide you on exactly which documents to prepare and submit.
Step 03
Get Enrolled
Receive your offer letter and confirm your enrolment. Welcome to the course!
Processing time: Offer letter issued within approximately 1 business days.
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India
Master of Nursing · Griffith University
