As part of the ACM20121 Certificate II in Animal Care, you must have practical access to:
- At least two different animal species
- Animals at different life stages (for example, juvenile and adult)
This is a requirement of the national training package to ensure students develop well-rounded skills that reflect real-world workplaces.
What this means for your placement
If you are completing one of our online animal care courses, your placement must have access to two companion animal species (such as dogs, cats or any animal that is individually handled and cared for such as a pony, or chickens kept at an educational farm), and two life stages can be represented across the two species. For example, you could work with a juvenile cat and an adult pony.
Why is this required?
Animal care professionals often work in environments where they encounter a wide variety of animals. Working with more than one species and different life stages helps prepare you for real-world animal care environments, where no two days, or animals, are the same.
By meeting this requirement, you will:
- Build adaptable, job-ready skills across different animal types
- Learn to recognise and respond to varying behaviour, health, and welfare needs
- Develop safe handling techniques for animals of different ages and temperaments
- Increase your confidence and employability across a range of animal care settings
Need help?
If you’re unsure whether your placement meets the two species and life stage requirement, our Student Support Team can guide you before you begin.
