Orientation Day for all classes will be held 1 week before your first class from 10am to 2pm.

It is vital that you attend this Orientation to obtain all of the information you need to commence your course.

Classes for the January intake commence during the last week of January and will continue on a weekly basis until the end of June.

Classes for the July intake commence during the first week of July and will continue on a weekly basis until early December.

A full schedule of dates will be provided upon successful application into the course. Please note that if any of your classes fall on a public holiday, they will be rescheduled to the next business day.

All students are required to attend two (2) facilitated practical days on site for assessment purposes. Students will have a choice of which days they prefer. Please note that facilitated practical days will commence at 7:00am and finish at 3.00pm.

Monday class:

• Orientation: 20th January 2025
• Starting: Tuesday 28th January 2025* (Due to Public Holiday Monday)
• Finishing: 23rd June 2025

Tuesday class:

• Orientation: 21st January 2025
• Starting: 28th January 2025
• Finishing: 24th June 2025

By completing this application you acknowledge the following conditions:

1. Your application will be evaluated and if you are successful, you will be offered a position in the ACM20121 Certificate II in Animal Care with the Taronga Training Institute.  Commercial course fees can be paid in full or in two equal instalments. The first instalment is due within two weeks of the offer being made. A $300 acceptance and administration fee will be retained out of the 1st Instalment of fees paid in the event that the student withdraws their enrolment during the two-week cooling off period. Any students awarded a Smart and Skilled subsidised position will be required to pay the student component of fees upon acceptance of a position in the course. NOTE: No payment of course fees is required until you are offered a position in the course and the offer being accepted at which time payment of course fees will be required.
2. The completion of your application does not constitute enrolment in the course. All applications will be reviewed based on eligibility and merit. Applicants deemed most suitable, based on their response to the selection criteria questions contained within the application will be invited to attend an onsite or online interview after applications close. You may withdraw your application at any stage, prior to being offered/accepting a position.
3. You understand that if you are successful in being offered a position in the course you will be assigned to a class and you are committed to attending all classes on the dates listed.  
4. Attendance is expected at ALL classes; attendance of less than 80% of classes may result in the missed unit/s of competency needing to be repeated at the student's expense prior to being eligible for the issue of a qualification.
5. You understand that to be eligible to study with the Taronga Training Institute you must be an Australian Citizen, permanent resident of Australia, New Zealand Citizen residing in Australia or hold an acceptable visa (with no study restrictions) and be approved by Taronga Training Institute. Please note: Visa holders are encouraged to contact Taronga Training Institute prior to lodging an application to confirm their eligibility to study with us.
6. You understand that it is a requirement of this course that you wear the Taronga Training Institute uniform (issued polo) when you attend classroom sessions and onsite practical days. The course fee includes one polo shirt. Additional uniform items can be purchased at $50 per item. You will be required to provide and wear neutral coloured short or pants and work boots.
7. The Taronga Training Institute is committed to minimising its use of paper. As such you confirm you have access to a computer to access course material, and upload assessments. The use of a laptop (preferred) or tablet in the classroom is necessary. You are computer literate and can access the internet to upload and download assessments and course work when required.
8. You understand if you enrol into a course with Taronga Training Institute you will be required to access the online student management system on a regular basis to receive and send communication to the institute.
9. You will answer all questions truthfully and to the best of your ability and you acknowledge that you have completed the application questions and you have not had any other person complete the application on your behalf.

Work Health and Safety considerations:

1. Taronga Training Institute is required and committed to ensure that all prospective students satisfy the inherent requirements and job demands of the course for which they are being considered and that all students are safe in fulfilling the components of their course. This information is required for the purpose of assessing your fitness for participation in the course. Please Note: medical clearance may be required if requested by Taronga’s WHS Manager or the Taronga Training Institute Manager.
2. Taronga may require students to be vaccinated at their own expense and you will be required to comply with any vaccination requirements of Taronga Zoo.
3. Taronga Training Institute also reserves the right to include any other vaccinations as required.
4. Taronga’s Veterinary and Animal Health Team in consultation with Taronga’s Work Health and Safety Manager would like to advise you that working in some areas of the Zoo poses a risk to both animals and humans in the transfer of tuberculosis. Taronga requires you to provide TB clearance prior to commencement if you are identified as being in a high-risk category for tuberculosis. You will need to provide TB clearance if you fit into any of the following categories:

• Born overseas in a high TB incidence country
• Lived overseas in a high TB incidence country for longer than 3 months
• Have known exposure to a TB positive person

 Please note: TB clearance is not required prior to acceptance of a position in the course

Please be advised that the risk of contracting TB is very low. However, you may choose to seek further advice from your health professional.

Course assessments are a combination of written answers, reports, case studies, projects, practical activities, observations of students performing tasks, self-assessments and supervisor reports.

As a course requirement, all students must be assessed for specific practical requirements. In order to complete these requirements, it is necessary for students to be observed in a real working environment. A facilitated practical day involves students attending the Zoo and completing these practical requirements under the supervision of a qualified assessor. Morning routines of keeping staff are followed which means students will need to be on site ready for commencement as early as 7.00am.

Accredited training through the Taronga Training Institute involves mandatory classroom sessions, tutorials, workshops and assessment days. Depending upon your course, you may also have a practical placement. In addition to these mandatory dates, you will have independent study and research, workbooks and other course related activities. We would expect that you will need to spend between 20-25 hours per week completing your course requirements depending upon your previous knowledge and skills.

Under our obligations as a Registered Training Organisation (RTO), students of the Taronga Training Institute must be an Australian citizen, permanent resident of Australia or a New Zealand citizen residing in Australia or hold an acceptable visa (with no study restrictions) and be approved by Taronga Training Institute. 

Accordingly, Taronga Training Institute does not currently deliver to students outside of these criteria and we do not delivery any accredited training via overseas or international partnerships. 

When on site, Taronga Training Institute students are required to wear the Taronga Training Institute polo shirt which is provided and included in your course fees. Additional uniform items may be purchased at the start of the course. Please speak to your Support Officer during orientation for further details.

Taronga Training Institute, Registered Training Organisation No. 91359, is the course provider. Taronga Training Institute, as the RTO, is responsible for the quality of training and assessment in compliance with the Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) 2015, and for the issuance of the AQF [Australian Qualification Framework] certification documentation. 

Yes, while studying with TTI, you are able to apply through Taronga's volunteer program. Please note that all volunteers must be over the age of 18 years to apply. However, if your course requires you to conduct practical placement, volunteer days are additional and TTI practical days must still be completed. Please note that being a Taronga Training Institute student will not automatically gain you entry into a volunteer program.

We have captured most of the questions we have previously received either on our website or in our Student Handbook. Please thoroughly read both of these platforms and if you still have questions, you can email us at tti@zoo.nsw.gov.au.