? Welcome to ACM20121 Certificate II in Animal Care


? Where You Might Work

This course prepares you to work in places such as:

  • Animal shelters and rescue centres

  • Boarding and day care facilities

  • Animal sanctuaries

  • Veterinary clinics and hospitals

? What You’ll Learn

Throughout the course, you’ll develop hands-on skills and knowledge to:

  • Safely care for different types of animals

  • Follow hygiene and safety procedures

  • Handle animals in a calm and respectful way

  • Support animal health and wellbeing

  • Work as part of a team in animal care environments

? Learning Support

You’ll be supported every step of the way with:

✔ Friendly trainers to guide you through practical tasks
✔ Easy-to-follow resources and instructions
✔ Feedback on your progress and help when you need it
✔ A clear learning structure with supervised activities

ACMGEN203 Feed and water animals

This course gives you the skills and knowledge to safely and effectively prepare, present, and distribute food and water for a wide range of animals, following species-specific dietary needs and workplace protocols.

You'll learn how to read feeding charts, use hygiene and safety practices, monitor food intake, and adjust to common feeding challenges — all while supporting animal welfare and promoting health through proper nutrition and hydration.

ACMGEN205 Source and provide information for animal care needs

This course teaches you how to identify the information needs of clients or team members and respond professionally using up-to-date animal care knowledge. You’ll learn how to locate and interpret product and service information, use workplace systems to access animal records, and clearly communicate recommendations for health, hygiene, enrichment and dietary care.

Whether you're working in a pet retail store, clinic, shelter, or animal day-care facility, this unit gives you the practical skills to support animal wellbeing through informed decisions, teamwork, and responsible communication.

ACMVET201 Assist with veterinary nursing reception duties

This course gives you the practical skills and knowledge to work on the front line of a veterinary clinic. You’ll learn how to welcome clients, gather patient histories, manage appointments, maintain accurate records, and assist with basic reception and communication tasks under the supervision of a qualified veterinary nurse or vet.

This course is ideal for learners starting out in the veterinary industry and wanting to build their confidence in a client-facing role. You'll gain experience using veterinary terminology, supporting clinic operations, and delivering friendly, professional customer service.

ACMBEH302 Provide enrichment for animals

This course teaches you how to design and deliver enrichment activities that support the mental and physical wellbeing of animals in care. You’ll learn how to observe behaviour, identify stressors, and create short- and long-term enrichment programs that encourage natural behaviours across a range of species.

Whether you're working in a shelter, zoo, boarding facility, or wildlife centre, the knowledge and practical experience gained in this course will help you stimulate animals’ minds, reduce behavioural issues, and improve welfare outcomes in line with workplace policies and animal care standards.

ACMGEN202 Complete animal care hygiene routines

This course teaches you how to carry out daily animal care and hygiene routines in a professional and responsible way. You'll learn to clean animal enclosures, groom animals, and keep work areas safe and hygienic — all while monitoring animal wellbeing.

Whether you're working in a pet store, boarding kennel, vet clinic, shelter, or zoo, this unit gives you the hands-on skills to support comfort, safety, and welfare for a range of species.

ACMSUS201 Participate in environmentally sustainable work practices

This course introduces the skills and knowledge required to support environmentally sustainable practices in the workplace. You’ll learn how to identify current resource use, comply with environmental regulations, and contribute to improvements that reduce environmental impacts.

It’s ideal for anyone working in animal care who wants to build their confidence in making environmentally responsible decisions as part of daily work routines. You’ll follow workplace procedures while gaining hands-on experience in supporting sustainability goals.

ACMGEN201 Work in the animal care industry

This course equips learners with the foundational skills and knowledge needed to work effectively in the animal care industry. It focuses on ethical and humane treatment of animals while promoting safe, responsible, and productive work practices.

Ideal for individuals beginning their careers in animal care, the course prepares students to carry out routine tasks under supervision and develop confidence in solving common workplace problems. Learners will explore roles and responsibilities within different animal care settings, including pet stores, shelters, veterinary clinics, boarding facilities, and wildlife centres.