Agriculture, Animals, Science and the Environment

Do you have a passion for pooches, a calling to work with cats or even a fascination with fish? If you love animals and dream of a career in animal care, this course will give you a formal qualification to enter the industry.

Be guided by our team of skilled lecturers who have a wealth of experience in the field, pairing clinical expertise with the drive to provide the highest standard of care to animals to keep them safe, clean, well and content. Learn the foundations of general care of dogs, cats, fish, rodents, rabbits, mammals and invertebrates. Build your knowledge on how to safely handle animals, daily routines such as bathing and drying, assisting with health routines and providing reception services for an animal care facility.

You can gain job ready skills to work as an animal attendant in a kennel, cattery, groomers, vet clinic, local pet shop or even a welfare organisation/animal shelter for abandoned, neglected or injured animals that are in need of care.

90% of surveyed students were highly satisfied with this course.

Study in specialist facilities

SM TAFE is the only TAFE to offer a live veterinary clinic based at our Bentley campus which is open to the general public, staff and students to make bookings for consults and surgeries. Students can gain on-the-job skills in animal care with a range of species including dogs, rabbits, rats, guinea pigs, lizards, fish, along with an aviary housing various birdlife. The clinic allows development of skills in a safe and supported environment.

Our Murdoch campus has a dedicated dog day-care training facility and pet grooming clinic where students can develop hands-on animal care skills in a real-world setting. Mandurah campus also has a modified version of a dog day-care, which represents a short-stay facility for dogs.
 

Do you love animals and want to follow your calling to work with cats, canines and all creatures? If your dream is to work day-to-day with animals, this course will give you job ready skills to be employed in a broad range of roles in the animal care industry, including dog daycare, boarding, rescue shelters, pet sitting, dog walking, breeding establishments and other animal businesses.

Learn from our expert team of lecturers who are specialists in animal care and passionate about teaching and maintaining the highest standards of grooming, health, feeding and welfare for animals. You’ll gain skills in interacting safely, providing animal first-aid, walking and bathing dogs, as well as grooming crossbreed dogs and companion animals according to breed and coat. Build your knowledge of how to provide care to a wide range of animal species including dogs, rodents, rabbits, birds, fish, and reptiles.

This course is ideal if you wish to begin working in animal care, and if you’re already employed or volunteering in the industry, the course will give you a formal qualification to further develop your skillset and help advance further in your current workplace.

Turn your passion into your profession and start your career in animal care with this entry-level course.

Study in specialist facilities

SM TAFE is the only TAFE to offer a live veterinary clinic based at our Bentley campus which is open to the general public, staff and students to make bookings for consults and surgeries. Students can gain on-the-job skills in animal care with a range of species including dogs, rabbits, rats, guinea pigs, lizards, fish, along with an aviary housing various birdlife. The clinic allows development of skills in a safe and supported environment.

Our Murdoch campus has a dedicated dog day-care training facility and pet grooming clinic where students can develop hands-on animal care skills in a real-world setting.

Pet grooming is an important part of ensuring the overall health, hygiene and happiness of domestic animals. If you want to make a career out of your passion for our furry friends, this course will provide you with specialised training in all aspects of pet grooming services.

Learn from our team of experienced lecturers who can guide you to build a solid skillset in pet grooming, which will qualify you to work under supervision in a pet grooming establishment. Grow your knowledge in providing a high standard of hygiene grooming for domestic pets including washing, brushing and drying dogs, cleaning ears, using grooming tools and equipment, as well as specific grooming for different dog breeds and coats.

This is the most comprehensive qualification for pet grooming in Australia, and you’ll gain job ready skills for employment in any facility offering pet grooming services including, mobile or shop front salons, veterinary clinics, boarding kennels and pet retail outlets.

Students must have a genuine empathy for animals along with the communication skills and physical ability to successfully perform work placement in the pet grooming industry.

Study in specialist facilities

Our Murdoch campus has a dedicated Pet Grooming Clinic open to the general public which provides a simulated workplace environment. Students can gain hands-on experience in a real-life setting serving clients, taking care of animals and advancing their skills in pet grooming.

Are you looking to join a school of fish lovers?

This qualification is the crucial first step towards an exciting career in aquaculture. This course provides students with a range of core skills and knowledge relevant to working in the aquaculture industry. Graduates go on to further studies or working in a range on environments including onshore aquaculture facilities, offshore culture facilities and the ornamental fish industry.

Aquaculture is a fast-growing industry. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) issued a report in 2018 stating that ‘aquaculture is fastest growing food production sector worldwide’. Typical entry-level jobs for those holding Certificate II include:

• Australian and overseas aquaculture farms
• hatcheries and nurseries   
• live post-harvest holding facilities, such as processing plants, wholesalers or 
• transporters, pet shops, public aquaria, zoos or other facilities with aquatic animals 

Study in a specialised facility in the maritime heart of Fremantle

Fremantle campus features extensive salt and freshwater aquaculture facilities, and experienced staff which offers plenty of relevant hands-on opportunities. Our staff have involved students in the culture and applied research projects of many marine and freshwater organisms over the last two decades including species such as abalone, dhufish, yellowtail kingfish, marron and barramundi.

Are you looking to join a school of fish lovers?

This course is ideal for those looking to expand on the skills and knowledge they gained in Certificate II in Aquaculture. It also comes packed with opportunities to upskill with either boating or diving skills. While a solid foundation in aquatic science is essential, the aquaculture sector prefers to hire staff with additional boating and/or diving qualifications.  

Further skills from the maritime industry

Certificate II in Maritime Operations (Coxswain Grade 1 Near Coastal)

• commanding and operating a vessel less than 12 metres long with unlimited outboard engine propulsion, or inboard engines less than 100 kilowatts

Coxswain's can gain employment in the small vessel sector in commercial workboats, aquaculture, fisheries and tourism.

Specialist facilities in the maritime heart of Fremantle

Our Fremantle campus features a working aquaculture facility with hatchery tanks and filtration systems and is within convenient walking distance to the fishing industry in Fremantle. Our lecturers have a strong relationship with the Australian Centre for Applied Aquaculture Research (ACAAR) in the neighbouring facility.

This higher level qualification will provide you with the practical skills and knowledge to manage the operations of fish farms, marine farms and hatcheries. It is suitable for students that hold a Certificate III in Aquaculture or have substantial aquaculture industry experience.

You will also learn skills in planning and designing a water supply and disposal system, and stock culture systems and structures. You will learn the skills necessary to supervise and manage staff.

The environments in which our graduates work include:

• aquaculture farms or fishout/put-and-take operations
• hatcheries and nurseries
• live post-harvest holding facilities, such as processing plants, wholesalers or transporters
• pet shops, public aquaria, zoos or other facilities with aquatic animals

Study in a specialist facilities

Fremantle campus features extensive salt and freshwater aquaculture facilities, and experienced staff which offers plenty of relevant hands-on opportunities. Our staff have involved students in the culture and applied research projects of many marine and freshwater organisms over the last two decades including species such as abalone, dhufish, yellowtail kingfish, marron and barramundi.

Branch out with a Certificate III in Arboriculture and combine your love of the outdoors with a fascinating career as an arborist.

Gain a range of knowledge and skills to undertake arboriculture related work, and use this qualification as a pathway for further learning required to become an arborist. You will cover both ground-based work and working at heights.

This course is for people who use pesticides with powered and hand-held application equipment. You will gain the skills and knowledge to apply, transport and store chemicals safely.

Competency units covered in this course:

• OAL84AHCCHM307 Prepare and apply chemicals to control pest, weeds and diseases
• BAP97 AHCPMG301 Control Weeds
• BAN70 AHCCHM304 Transport and Store Chemicals

You can start anytime in the online study component of this course. Attendance on campus will be arranged with your lecturer after you enrol.

Develop technical and practical knowledge in conservation and ecosystem management for parks and wildlife services work. Learn how to undertake restoration and rehabilitation of ecosystems under the supervision of a project leader. Get hands-on with industry-specific, field-oriented practical activities in conservation work. 

This course is designed to give you the skills and knowledge needed within the conservation industry, to enter the work force in either private, local or state government sectors.

Please note: Conservation and Ecosystem Management involves physical labour and students will be required to demonstrate a reasonable level of fitness and mobility.

When you complete the Certificate IV in Conservation and Ecosystem Management you develop post-trade skills and a broad knowledge of the industry prior to undertaking higher level roles in conservation and ecosystem management.

Learn in specialist facilities

South Metropolitan TAFE's Murdoch Campus has extensive horticulture facilities, including large work sheds and sheltered nursery areas. The large grounds area surrounding Murdoch Campus also provides ample practice areas for students.

If you are passionate about the environment, sustainable practices, or an avid home gardener who is interested in plants, this course is for you. Launch your horticulture career, and brush up on your skills by completing this entry-level qualification to unearth your inner green thumb.

Horticulture is one of the fastest growing industries in Australia with the sector playing an important role in delivering economic, social and environmental value. 

When you complete the Certificate III in Horticulture you will be ready for a career working with plants as school or council gardener, groundskeeper, or self-employed landscaper. Whether you are an avid home gardener interested in plants, and/or sustainability and the environment, this course is for you!

Unearth your inner green thumb and establish your career in Horticulture with lecturers who are experts in the industry.

This course provides graduates with skills suited to a variety of occupations at a supervisor level or as a small business owner. Employment prospects exist in local and state government, nursery and turf, floriculture, gardening and the landscape industry. You can choose to learn skills from a range of subjects that enable you to cost and supervise projects, develop and implement programs and provide training. You can also choose subjects that will further develop your technical expertise in horticulture.

It is a requirement that students provide their own Wifi-enabled Laptop (capable of word processing etc) . Enrolled students will have access to Office 365.

See our Horticulture Facebook page @murdochstudentgardencentre(opens in a new tab) to see what you will do when you study this course, such as hosting plant sales and providing customer service to retail customers.

This course provides graduates with skills suited to a variety of occupations at a management level. Employment prospects exist in local government, state government, nursery and turf, floriculture, gardening and the landscape industry.

Are you a budding scientist?

Launch your career in science with this entry-level course that qualifies you to work as a laboratory assistant in food technology, pathology, schools or trades.

Build on your Certificate III in Laboratory Skills with units in quality control, performance of instrumental and non-instrumental tests, standardisation and use of solutions. This qualification will give you the skills to work as a technical assistant, technician or instrument operator.

This qualification reflects the role of workers who apply a range of laboratory technologies to conduct scientific-technical tests in most industry sectors, utilising specialist technical knowledge.

Learn to analyse, process and interpret data, report results and apply quality system and continuous improvement processes. Your skills will be transferable across a range of industries such as chemical, medical and pathological, mining, biological and environmental fields.

This qualification provides the practical skills and knowledge to construct, renovate and maintain garden landscapes.

Training is provided in the areas of hard landscaping, irrigation, plant knowledge, soil nutrition, turf maintenance, landscape machinery use and horticultural safety, building on the skills gained in the Certificate II in Landscaping.

Please note: Landscaping involves physical labour and students will be required to demonstrate a reasonable level of fitness and mobility.

90% of surveyed students were highly satisfied with this course.

Do you want to become a professional designer of dream garden areas and watch your work bring life to outdoor spaces? Pursue a career in the horticulture and gardening industries and become a qualified Landscape Designer. 

A landscape design is like a floor plan for an outdoor area, focusing on the specific garden design of landscape elements and plants within it. 

In this course you will learn hands-on skills to design residential, public and commercial landscape projects. Be guided by expert professionals on how to prepare landscape drawings and layouts and create well-designed and attractive outdoor spaces to meet client briefs.

You can work completing specialised garden makeovers for homes or renovating new landscapes for companies, managing the layout of grassed areas and choosing plants and flowers as well as stones, decking and water features to best showcase the area. 

Become a horticultural expert and plant the seeds for your career in landscape design. 

Study in specialist facilities 

Murdoch campus has a dedicated Murdoch Student Garden Centre, which is a centre of excellence in horticulture that is pivotal to student's learning for service delivery. Facilities include extensive garden spaces for design practice, computer labs with contemporary design software and dedicated sheltered nursery areas which propagate natives, herbs and some exotic plants suitable to WA’s climate. Students can learn through application of hands-on skills in an environment that reflects current industry practices and simulates a real-life workplace experiences.  

Wish to work as pest management technician? If so, you will need to be licensed.

This skillset allows students to complete the “CPPUPM3006 Manage pests by applying pesticides” unit of competency required to apply for a “Western Australia Provisional Pest Management Technician Licence”.

This course is aimed at workers who are currently employed in the Urban Pest Management industry. 

Note: this unit does not cover inspecting for, or managing timber pests, or non-chemical pest management where the environment is modified to manage pests 

Next dates for delivery

• 6 to 9 February
• 13 to 16 March
• 17 to 20 April
• 22 to 25 May 

This course is suitable for people who operate chainsaws in an urban environment (it does not cover remote operators working in state forest).

This course has multiple start dates throughout the year, please express your interest below for information about the next intake. 

This qualification provides a vocational outcome in parks and gardens.  The parks and gardens industry expects this qualification to be achieved to meet job outcomes at this level. Job roles and titles vary across different industry sectors.

Learn the fine art of greenkeeping

Join the sports turf industry at a level where you will be expected to curate and manage a wide range of turf and horticultural practices. A considerable amount of outdoor and physical activity is required while you apply your skills to green spaces such as golf courses, bowling clubs and elite sports facilities.

Sports turf management is a unique course to SM TAFE and proudly boasts three previous students have won the Western Australia Apprentice of the Year in the WA Training Awards.

Do you have what it takes to offer the best in urban pest management?

This qualification will provide students with the practical skills and knowledge to apply pesticides and carry out appropriate pest management treatments for domestic and commercial properties.

This course is for existing workers who are currently and actively employed in the Urban Pest Management industry. It will provide you with the skills to apply for a full pest management license.

Are you passionate about the care of pets and want to build a career working day to day with a range of animals and creatures great and small? This course will give you the job ready skills to become a fully qualified Veterinary Nurse or Animal Welfare Worker.

Playing an essential role in animal health care, a Veterinary Nurse dedicates their daily work to maintaining and monitoring the welfare and wellbeing of sick animals. Be guided by from our expert team of lecturers who are professionals in the field as you learn how to assist Veterinarians with surgery procedures on animals both pre and post-operation.

Develop clinical skills in administering anaesthesia and medication, radiology (x-ray), dental procedures, nutrition and applying bandages to wounds. Build knowledge of how to nurse animals back to health and providing advice and support to animal caregivers, as well as daily tasks such as keeping equipment clean and sterilised.

Vet nurses are in high demand and you can work in a range of diverse settings such as at a veterinary clinic, animal hospital, specialist clinic, in wildlife rescue or at a zoo.

This course is popular and highly competitive to get into. Please ensure you enter all your work and work experience, both related to the field and unrelated, in your application.

Study in specialist facilities

SM TAFE is the only TAFE to offer a live veterinary clinic open to the general public, staff and students to make bookings for consults and surgeries. The clinic is based at our Bentley campus and allows our training Vet Nurses real-world experience while being supervised by qualified Veterinarians and Vet Nurses.

Students can gain on-the-job skills in animal care with a range of species including dogs, rabbits, rats, guinea pigs, lizards, fish, along with an aviary housing various birdlife. The clinic allows development of skills in a safe and supported environment, in preparation for industry work placement.

You can visit the Student Vet Clinic at South Metropolitan TAFE(opens in a new tab) on Facebook.