ACM40322 Certificate IV in Animal Behaviour and Training

This is a blended learning 12-month course. You will participate in:

• Online learning from home (Approx. 23 hours per week)
• Compulsory fortnightly Zoom (virtual) training sessions
• Compulsory 2 x 4 day practical workshops based in Perth, WA. See: Key dates for workshop dates

Requirements for Practical Workshops:

• Suitable training dog required
  Each participant will need to have a dog that is comfortable around other dogs and humans, crate trained and capable of lots of training. If you do not have access to a suitable dog, or are travelling from elsewhere in Australia to attend, just advise us so suitable arrangements can be made.

Students must:

• Provide their unique student identifier (USI)
• Complete a language, literacy, numeracy and digital skills (LLND) quiz
• Be at least 18 years of age
• Be available to participate in ALL practical training days
• Have access to a dog who will be comfortable to undertake the practical training elements. For the at-home learning components, there are no training pre-requisites for the dogs, as they will be in their safe environment. If you do not live with a dog, you can use a family or friend’s dog if they are happy for you to train with. 
• Be physically capable of restraining animals, lifting and carrying objects up to 10kg and standing for extended periods of time.
• Have a reliable internet connection and access to a computer or laptop. You will be required to write, submit and in some cases upload assessments and various types of multi-media files online in your own time
• Hold the HLTAID011 Provide First Aid Certificate. You must arrange and complete this unit with an approved training provider at your own expense and provide proof of completion one week prior to the first practical workshop. A list of approved providers can be found on training.gov.au

This course is highly competitive and has limited places. Therefore, successful students are selected based on prior work experience, education, individual attitude and aptitude. Shortlisted applicants will be interviewed by an AVT team member.

At workshops, you will be required to wear:

• An AVT polo shirt and name badge (supplied by AVT)
• Enclosed shoes (supplied by student)
• Neatly presented, long comfortable work pants suitable for bending and manual work (supplied by student).

The following information outlines what you can expect during the course, including the essential, environmental and psychosocial requirements. If you have any questions or concerns about these expectations, please contact our Student Support team.

Essential requirements
Throughout this course, you will need to:

• Collaborate in group settings using both verbal and non-verbal communication.
• Effectively communicate with clients, your peers and Trainers and Assessors.
• Follow written and verbal instructions accurately.
• Engage in group activities and practical assessments alongside your peers.
• Present and instruct to small groups.
• Complete workplace documentation using industry-specific language.
• Wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), long pants, closed shoes and sun protection.
• Work with animals, including handling and training dogs. This environment by its nature will expose you to potential allergens.
• Adhere to hygiene protocols to ensure animal health, which may involve contact with animal waste such as uneaten food, urine, faeces, soiled bedding and enrichment items.

Environmental requirements
In this course, you will:

• Attend online classes with approximately 20 – 25 students.
• Attend practical classes with approximately 20 – 25 students.
• The practical class venue is undercover but is exposed to various weather conditions and can be an echoey and noisy environment.
• Be physically able to stand for extended periods, plus bend and do some manual handling.
• Handle and train a variety of different sized dogs.

Psychosocial requirements
Given the specialised nature of the animal behaviour and training course, and the delivery of training within a third-party environment, you will need to:

• Demonstrate significant patience and emotional resilience when working with animals where learning progress may be slow, non-linear or require repeated application of training techniques.
• Maintain inclusive and respectful professional relationships with your trainers, peers and clients of all backgrounds.
• Maintain strict emotional regulation during training sessions, as animals are highly sensitive to human emotion.
• Manage interactions with animal owners who may be frustrated, emotional or resistant to guidance.
• Manage interactions with animals displaying challenging behaviours while strictly adhering to safety and risk management protocols.
• Work collaboratively with other trainers and behaviourists, accepting feedback on your mechanical skills and timing (e.g., clicker training, lead handling) to refine your technique.
• Manage the cognitive and physical demands of full-time study and practical application, which involves sustained physical activity and high levels of mental concentration during training sessions.

Possessing these skills is fundamental to succeeding in the course and building a sustainable career in the animal care industry. If you have any concerns about your ability to meet these psychosocial requirements, we encourage you to reach out to our Student Support team.

Assessment types
You will be assessed on your skills and knowledge in various ways, including:

• Written answers, online assessments and tests, multiple choice questions, video assessments, online and in person presentations, verbal questioning and practical tasks visually assessed by Trainer and Assessors.