I want a job working with animals!
Working with animals can take you in many different directions – from veterinary clinics and shelters to behaviour, welfare, service animals, retail, farming, equine, wildlife care and exhibited animal environments.
This index will help you scan 8 broad career fields before jumping into detail.
Pick the field that sounds most like your interests
Check the workplaces and example roles in that field.
Use the study pathway notes to see how you could get started.
Animal and veterinary care roles
Animal care careers focus on the practical day-to-day care of animals. This may include feeding, cleaning, handling, grooming, enrichment, basic health monitoring and supporting animals in everyday care environments.
You might work in
These are the common workplaces, settings or industries for this field.
Common roles
- Veterinary nurse (including specialisations)
- Veterinary assistant
- Animal attendant
- Kennel hand
- Cattery attendant
- Pet sitter or dog walker
- Pet groomer
Skills to build
- Animal handling confidence
- Workplace communication
- Customer service
- Practical experience
Career note: Some roles are entry-level, while others require specific training or formal qualifications. Veterinary Nursing, has a recognised qualification pathway, and experienced veterinary nurses may go on to leadership roles, specialist areas or other opportunities across the animal care industry.
Animal behaviour and training careers
Animal behaviour and training careers involve understanding how animals learn, why they behave in certain ways, and how training, enrichment and positive interactions can support safer, calmer and more positive outcomes for animals and people.
You might work in
These are the common workplaces, settings or industries for this field.
Common roles
- Dog trainer
- Puppy class trainer
- Horse trainer
- Shelter enrichment assistant
- Canine behaviour consultant
- Training business owner
Study pathway
- Animal care foundation study (eg Certificate II in Animal Care)
- ACM40322 Certificate IV in Animal Behaviour and Training
- Canine Behaviour Consultant Course
- Veterinary Medicine
Skills to build
- Animal handling confidence
- Communication and observation skills
- Practical experience
Career note: There is a misconception that an animal behaviourist and an animal trainer are synonymous. However, while there is a big difference between the two, they both work in close partnership to ensure the highest standard of care for our domesticated pets and their owners. A behaviourist studies the science of animal behaviour. As a behaviourist, you are seen more as an animal “psychologist.” A trainer takes on the active and fulfilling role of the animal’s (and owner’s!) teacher or instructor.
Animal welfare, rescue and protection careers
You might work in
These are the common workplaces, settings or industries for this field.
Common roles
- Shelter worker
- Rescue worker
- Adoption support assistant
- Animal welfare officer
- Animal management officer
- Ranger-style roles
Study pathway
- ACM20121 Certificate II in Animal Care
- ACM30122 Certificate III in Animal Care Services
- Practical shelter or rescue experience
- Organisation specific training or recruitment pathways
Skills to build
- Animal handling confidence
- Workplace, communication and observation skills
- Practical experience
Service animal and working animal careers
Service animal and working animal careers involve supporting animals trained for specific roles, such as assistance, detection, therapy, security, search and rescue or other specialised work.
You might work in
These are the common workplaces, settings or industries for this field.
Common roles
- Handler
- Animal carer
- Trainer
- Puppy raising volunteer
- Program support assistant
- Kennel assistant
- Working dog support assistant
Study pathway
Skills to build
- Animal handling confidence
- Workplace, communication and observation skills
- Practical experience
Career note: Jobs with service and working animals are usually found through specialist organisations. This may include charities and not-for-profit organisations that train or support assistance dogs, therapy dogs or guide dogs, such as Guide Dogs or Assistance Dogs Australia. Working dog roles may also exist in law enforcement, biosecurity, defence or emergency services, including state police, the Australian Defence Force, customs and security-related roles. Entry pathways can be highly competitive and often require organisation-specific training, experience or suitability checks.
Animal business, retail and customer service careers
Animal business, retail and customer service careers combine animal knowledge with communication, helping people choose suitable products, services, care options or support for their animals.
You might work in
These are the common workplaces, settings or industries for this field.
Common roles
- Pet store assistant
- Aquatics retail assistant
- Feed store assistant
- Veterinary receptionist
- Animal product sales assistant
- Animal business administrator
- Customer service officer
- Food or drug company representative
Study pathway
- Customer service training
- ACM20121 Certificate II in Animal Care
- ACM30122 Certificate III in Animal Care Services
- ACM40418 Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing
- Specific product training
Skills to build
- Animal care knowledge
- Customer service skills
- Business and admininistration skills
Career note: An excellent and realistic starting point for building animal care knowledge, confidence and communication skills with animal owners.
Farming and commercial animal care careers
Farming and commercial animal operations involve working with animals in agricultural or production-based environments, with a focus on husbandry, monitoring, welfare, safe handling and biosecurity.
You might work in
These are the common workplaces, settings or industries for this field.
Common roles
- Farm hand
- Livestock assistant
- Animal husbandry assistant
- Commercial breeding assistant
- Production animal support worker
- Poultry or dairy assistant
- Biosecurity support worker
Study pathway
- Animal care or agriculture-related study
- ACM20121 Certificate II in Animal Care
- Workplace training and safe handling training
- Biosecurity training
Skills to build
- Animal handling confidence
- Workplace communication
- Practical experience
Career note: These workplaces can be physically demanding and may involve early starts, outdoor work, safety procedures and commercial production requirements.
Equine careers
Equine careers focus on the care, handling and management of horses in stables, studs, riding schools, racing, performance horse facilities, therapy programs or veterinary environments.
You might work in
These are the common workplaces, settings or industries for this field.
Common roles
- Stable hand
- Horse groom
- Stud hand
- Riding school assistant
- Equine care assistant
- Performance horse support worker
- Equine veterinary nurse
Skills to build
- Horse handling confidence
- Workplace communication
- Practical experience
Career note: Working with horses is often more of a lifestyle than a typical 9-to-5 job. Equine roles can involve early mornings, late finishes, physical work, dirty boots and plenty of patience. Building trust with horses takes time, but for people who genuinely love the industry, it can be an incredibly rewarding field to be part of.
Zoo, wildlife care and conservation careers
Zoo, wildlife care and conservation careers may involve working with a wide range of species in zoos, aquariums, sanctuaries, wildlife parks, education centres or conservation-focused organisations.
You might work in
These are the common workplaces, settings or industries for this field.
Common roles
- Zoo keeper
- Veterinary nurse
- Zoo veterinarian
- Wildlife sanctuary assistant
- Aquarium assistant
- Exhibited animal attendant
- Conservation assistant
- Wildlife care volunteer
- Education officer
Skills to build
- Animal handling confidence
- Communication skills
- Practical experience
- Presentation skills
Suggested reading
If you are looking for jobs with animals in Perth, or anywhere else in Australia here are a few more articles we recommend:-
- Getting Started – the next steps to take!
- Qualifications Overview – what qualifications are available at AVT
- High school students and graduates – what options are available to you!
- Advice for high school students seeking a career in veterinary nursing – Choosing the right subjects for your pathway to veterinary nursing
Courses that can help you get started
Choose a course
Follow your passion and get a dream job!
About Our Courses
Choose from our range of courses
Online
ACM20121 Certificate II in Animal Care (Online)
Study Online
Animal Care Online Course
On-Campus
ACM20121 Certificate II in Animal Care (VETDSS)
About Our Schools Program
VETDSS for High School Students
On-Campus
ACM20121 Certificate II in Animal Care (Vet Nursing Pathway)
About Vet Nurse Pathway
