Dog Handler or Trainer Career and Immigration options for Australia

Profile Title: Dog Handler or Trainer Career and Immigration options for Australia

Alternative Title:Not Defined

ANZSCO Code: 361111 | Unit Code: 3611

Skill Level: Level 3 | Work Experience: 1 Years

Assessing Bodies: Vocational Education and Training Assessment Services (VETASSESS)

Skill Occupation List (SOL): STSOL

Specialization: Not Defined

Profile Description: Teaches dogs to obey commands and undertake specific tasks

Job Duties:

• 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 Description: 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.

Available Visa Options (As on February 2024):

• 190 - Skilled Nominated (subclass 190)
• 407 - Training visa (subclass 407)
• 489 - Skilled Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 489) - State or Territory nominated
• 482 - Temporary Skill Shortage visa (subclass 482) - Short Term Stream
• 187 - Regional Sponsor Migration Scheme (subclass 187)
• 494 - Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (provisional) (subclass 494) - Employer sponsored stream
• 491 - Skilled Work Regional (provisional) visa (subclass 491) State or Territory nominated

Registration or Licensing: may be required

Industries: Animal Attendants and Trainers are mainly employed in: Other Services; Arts and Recreation Services; and Education and Training

Education Profile: The most common level of educational attainment for Animal Attendants and Trainers is Year 12 (36.5 per cent).

Job Opening: Over the five years to November 2019, the number of job openings for Animal Attendants and Trainers is expected to be below average (between 5,001 and 10,000). Job openings count both employment growth and turnover (defined as workers leaving their occupation for other employment or leaving the workforce).

Age Group: The main age group is 25-34 years (30.1 per cent) and the median age is 38 years (compared to 40 years for all occupations).

Gender: The female share of Animal Attendants and Trainers is 66.3 per cent and 58.4 per cent of Animal Attendants and Trainers work full time. Average weekly hours for full time workers are 46.2 (compared to 40.2 for all occupations).

Earning: In August 2014 (latest available data) weekly earnings full-time before tax (and not including employer superannuation) were $951 (compared to earnings for all occupations of $1,200).

Employment: Employment for this occupation rose very strongly (in percentage terms) in the past five years and rose moderately in the long-term (ten years). Looking forward, employment for Animal Attendants and Trainers to November 2020 is expected to grow slightly.