Veterinary Nurse Career and Immigration options for Australia

Profile Title: Veterinary Nurse Career and Immigration options for Australia

Alternative Title:Animal Nurse Veterinary Assistant

ANZSCO Code: 361311 | Unit Code: 3613

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: Cares for animals under treatment or in temporary residence at veterinary facilities and assists Veterinarians to perform procedures and operations.

Job Duties:

• holding animals to allow examination and treatment by Veterinarians
• cleaning and sterilising examination tables and equipment
• preparing instruments and handing them to the Veterinarian
• assisting Veterinarians to administer anaesthetics and oxygen during operations
• placing animals in cages for recovery from operations and monitoring their condition
• giving medications to animals
• maintaining stock control and records
• providing animal care advice, and preparing, delivering, and reviewing animal care education programs
• may perform diagnostic laboratory tests
• may act as receptionist, accept payments and undertake clerical work

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.

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: Not Required

Industries: Veterinary Nurses are mainly employed in: Professional, Scientific and Technical Services; Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing; and Administrative and Support Services

Education Profile: The most common level of educational attainment for Veterinary Nurses is Certificate III/IV (46.2 per cent).

Job Opening: Over the five years to November 2019, the number of job openings for Veterinary Nurses is expected to be low (equal to or less than 5,000). 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 (33.0 per cent) and the median age is 29 years (compared to 40 years for all occupations).

Gender: The female share of Veterinary Nurses is 99.1 per cent and 55.7 per cent of Veterinary Nurses work full time. Average weekly hours for full time workers are 39.2 (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 $800 (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 very strongly in the long-term (ten years). Looking forward, employment for Veterinary Nurses to November 2020 is expected to grow strongly.