The AIRC delivers its certificate courses from the Animal Care and Management Training Package.
Training Packages are a result of a 1996 government initiative aimed towards increasing the skill level of Australia's workforce. The first Veterinary Nursing Training Package (RUV98) was endorsed in 1998, and since then has been the basis of vocational education and training for the veterinary nursing and animal care industries in Australia.
The Australian Veterinary Association, Pet Industry Association of Australia, Veterinary Nurses Council of Australia, Australian Small Animal Veterinary Association, Veterinarians and Veterinary Nurses as well as many others have worked together to develop the Animal Care and Management Training Package.
This training package has been introduced into the educational arena, incorporating nationally endorsed competency standards, assessment guidelines and national qualifications in line with the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF). This was in response to industry demands for a well-structured career pathway for veterinary nurses and animals carers, recognised Australia wide. This recognition and portability of skills has been a government initiative across all sectors and many industries now have training packages.
The Animal Care and Management Training Package has two primary objectives:
- To increase workplace productivity through raising the skill level of workers;
- To increase career opportunities for those working or seeking to work in the veterinary nursing or animal care industry.
Details of the Animal Care and Management Training Package (including courses, qualifications and competency standards) can be found at the National Training Information website.
What are Competency Standards?
Competency standards set out what a competent person, at various levels, should know and be able to do. They describe ways of measuring and recognising an individual's competency. Under the new training package system, a qualification recognises the competence of an individual, NOT the courses he or she has completed. This means that a person may be able to achieve a qualification in veterinary nursing or animal care based on the notion that learning happens in many places and at many times. All forms of training are regarded as valid if the OUTCOMES are achieved. In fact the most relevant training often occurs on the job!
What qualifications will the Animal Carers and Veterinary Nurses be able to achieve?
The Package is based on the six levels of the AQF system. Veterinary Nurses will be able to gain further skills and qualification with the specialised Diplomas in Veterinary Nursing. Animal Carers can go on to gain further skills in such areas as pet grooming and companion animal services management.