Australian Apprenticeships & Traineeships

Senior Animal Technician

Working in research laboratories in veterinary, medical or student learning environments, as a Senior Animal Technician you would be responsible for overseeing laboratory operations, caring for and monitoring animals used for research, breeding and scientific purposes.

Summary of Training

Core Units - 15 required

  • Work within an animal technology facility
  • Prepare for and monitor anaesthesia in animals
  • Conduct euthanasia of research animals
  • Conduct non-surgical procedures on animals
  • Manage compliance in animal technology
  • Manage and maintain the health of research animals
  • Carry out advanced breeding procedures
  • Monitor and maintain containment and exclusion procedures in animal facilities
  • Carry out post-mortem examination of a research animal
  • Provide enrichment for animals
  • Plan for and provide nutritional requirements for animals
  • Communicate effectively with clients and team members
  • Provide basic care of rodents and rabbits
  • Manage workplace health and safety processes
  • Perform aseptic techniques

Elective Units – 5 required

  • Administer anaesthesia and perform surgery on animals for scientific purposes
  • Review and monitor research proposals for an Animal Ethics Committee
  • Analyse and present research information
  • Schedule laboratory work for a small team
  • Prepare tissue and cell cultures

Please note that this Job & Training Description provides an example of the selection of non-core units. Alternative combinations of units may be selected and in some cases prerequisite units may need to be completed. For advice contact Apprenticeship Network providers or an approved Registered Training Organisation.

Job Pathways

Animal Care and Management

Go to full Job pathway

Animal Control & Technology

IICertificate II
IIICertificate III
IVCertificate IV
AdAdvanced Diploma

This occupation fits generally with these groupings

Industry Group
Agriculture, Animals & Conservation

Work Type
Analytic & Investigative
Conventional & Organising

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Employment and wage data for this industry

Commencements Change

The change in Australian Apprenticeships commencements in this overall industry in the past two years. Commencements in 22/23: 617

Source: VOCSTATS, extracted on 18/10/2023. AATIS analysis.

Graduate Employment

Australian Apprentice graduates from this overall industry in employment (in any industry).

Source: NCVER National Student Outcomes Survey, 2020, unpublished. AATIS analysis.

Graduate Wage

Average wage of Australian Apprentice graduates from this overall industry employed full-time after training.

Source: NCVER National Student Outcomes Survey, 2020, unpublished. AATIS analysis.

Industry Growth

Predicted growth in employment in this overall industry over the next 5 years.

Source: National Skills Commission, 2022. AATIS analysis.

Industry Size

The number of employees in this overall industry compared with other Australian industries.

Source: National Skills Commission, 2022. AATIS analysis.

Industry Wage

Average wage of employees in this overall industry.

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2022. AATIS analysis.

Field Officer Briefs

Availability Information and More Details

Senior Animal Technician - ACM50119
NSW VIC QLD WA SA TAS ACT NT
Full Time

(Nominal Duration)

Part Time
Commencements 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
ASbA
Classification
Availability of Australian Apprenticeships and Nominal Duration (in months)

A = identified by the State or Territory as an Apprenticeship
T = identified by the State or Territory as a Traineeship
* = An approved qualification in Tasmania is available as an Apprenticeship/Traineeship.

A Qualification registered by a State or Territory as available as an Australian Apprenticeship may not be eligible for public funding support, check with the relevant State or Territory Training Authority.

Nominal durations listed are for full time occupations, stated in months. In some cases nominal durations provided may not include the completion of pre-requisites. This data is sourced from State and Territory Training Authorities and is provided for information only and must be confirmed with these authorities.

Commencements

Commencement data source: National Apprentices and Trainees collection, VOCSTATS, extracted 18/10/2023, rounded estimates for April 2022 to March 2023. This data is for general information purposes only.

Australian School-based Apprenticeships (ASbA)

This information generally reflects availability of ASbAs that may contribute to study scores. In some cases full-time or part-time ASbAs allow an individual to start training in a qualification that can be completed after they leave secondary school. Please note that applicable industrial arrangements must allow for ASbAs. Visit our Australian School-based Apprenticeships page for more detailed information.

ANZSCO Classification: 311413

Note: This is an indicative Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) classification for this occupation, provided as a guide only.

Traning Package Rules Summary

To view detailed information on the packaging rules and pre-requisites for this qualification, click through to the My Skills website

Next Steps

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Training provider and incentives information

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