Veterinary Nurses care for animals under treatment and in temporary residence at veterinary facilities and assist Veterinarians to perform procedures and operations.

Skill Level

3

Alternative Titles

• Animal Nurse
• Veterinary Assistant

Unless you are exempt in very limited circumstances, you are required to have a positive Skills Assessment to apply for the visas listed above.

Skills Assessment authority for Veterinary Nurse is Vocational Education and Training Assess (VETASSESS). To have a positive skills assessment, you must meet the following criteria:

• AQF Certificate IV Qualification in a highly relevant field of study AND at least one year of post-qualification highly relevant employment at an appropriate skill level in the last five years; or
• AQF Certificate IV Qualification that is not a highly relevant field of study AND at least two years post-qualification highly relevant employment at an appropriate skill level in the last five years; or
• AQF Certificate III Qualification in a highly relevant field of study AND at least three years of post-qualification highly relevant employment at an appropriate skill level in the last five years.
• A highly relevant field of study is a course that has a major focus on veterinary nursing
• To achieve a positive skills assessment, the applicant must meet the qualification and employment experience requirements.

Important

According to VETASSESS, pre-qualification experience for Veterinary Nurses may be considered in a skills assessment if the experience meets the following requirements:

• Three years of relevant employment;
• One year of highly relevant employment performed at the required skill level; and
• The employment experience was gained in the last five years

Care for animals under treatment and in temporary residence at veterinary facilities and assist Veterinarians to perform procedures and operations.

Tasks

• 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

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.

Occupations in this Group

• 361311 Veterinary Nurse