Zookeeper – ANZSCO 361114

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

Skills Assessment Requirement

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

Potential Visa Pathways for Zookeeper

Group: 3611 Animal Attendants and Trainers

Description

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