Australia Short Term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL)

Veterinary Nursing occupation is now on the Short-term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL).

STSOL consists of the list of the occupations which are high in demand in Australia. If you want to apply for Australia sponsored Permanent Residency (subclass 190) your occupation must be listed in the relevant STSOL list and you must have an invitation/sponsorship from the state government. This list is also a part of the Australia Point system. If eligible, you can live and work in Australia for an indefinite period of time.

If your occupation is on STSOL, you may be eligible to apply for the following visa subclasses:

• Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190)
• Training visa (subclass 407)
• Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) – State or Territory nominated
• Temporary Skill Shortage visa (subclass 482) – Short-term stream
• Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa (Subclass 494)

Veterinary Nurse is classified as Group D occupations by Vetassess. The criteria for skills assessment of Group D occupations are the following:

• Qualification assessed at AQF Certificate IV with a highly relevant field of study and at least one year of post-qualification highly relevant employment completed in the last five years; Or
• Qualification assessed at AQF Certificate IV without a highly relevant field of study and at least two years of post-qualification highly relevant employment completed in the last five years;

According to Vetassess, if you have pre-qualification employment and if all of your employment is before your qualifications assessed at the AQF Certificate IV level), three years of highly relevant employment in addition to at least one year of highly relevant employment at an appropriate skill level completed in the last five years.

Subclass 190 Skilled Nominated visa

This visa lets nominated skilled workers live and work in Australia as permanent residents.

With this visa, you can

• work and study anywhere in Australia
• sponsor eligible relatives for permanent residence
• if eligible, become an Australian citizen

You must

• have an occupation on the relevant skilled list
• have a suitable skills assessmentfor the occupation
• be invited to apply for this visa
• satisfy the points test

A Veterinary Nurse is now on the skills list.

You must have at least a competent level of English

Step 1 – Apply and Be nominated

Simply submit an expression of interest (EOI) to let us know you would like to apply for the visa. After you have submitted an EOI, you might be nominated for the visa by a state or territory government. We will only invite you to apply for this visa if you are nominated.

You must have been nominated for this visa by an Australian state or territory government agency.

Submit a completed expression of interest (EOI) in Skill Select. State and territory government agencies can see your completed EOI and might nominate you for the visa. If you are nominated for the visa, we will invite you to apply.

All state and territory government agencies have their own criteria for deciding who they will nominate. Contact the state or territory agency directly to find out more about their nomination process and what they want from you.

Step 2 – Points Tested Visa

To check how points can be awarded refer to the points calculator.

The Australian Subclass 190 VISA is a points-tested visa.

When you submit your EOI you will be given an indicative points score based on the claims you have made. If you do not obtain a score of 65 points you will not be invited to apply for this visa. If invited to apply for the visa, your invitation will state the number of points that you must score when the Australian Migration Department assesses your application for the grant of the visa (this score may be higher than 65 points, depending on your information supplied in the EOI). 

When you lodge your Subclass 190 VISA application you must provide evidence supporting your responses.

Learn More about VISA Subclass 190 Skilled Nomination Visa

Visit : https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/skilled-nominated-190#Eligibility

Temporary Skill Shortage Visa (subclass 482) Short-term stream

Under the Subclass 482 VISA You

• can stay for up to 2 years or up to 4 years.
• travel to and from Australia as many times as you want while the visa is valid
• if eligible, apply for permanent residence

The Job – The Career – The Life

VET Nurses engage with range of animal care professionals, pet owners and pets so you need to possess and develop:

• strong communication skills in Maths, English and computer skills
• be able to work in a team
• be able to follows instructions and think for yourself
• excellent observation skills
• physical confidence and enjoyment in handling a range of animals
• specific animal care industry skills, knowledge and practices to be job ready from day one

Everyday VET Nursing Tasks?

There is a wide range of tasks that a VET Nurse may typically perform in a range of workplaces and animals that include

• VET Clinic
• VET Hospital
• ZOO
• Wildlife Park
• Animal Shelter
• Animal care agency
• And many more

These specific tasks shall be determined by your particular Clinic specialisation, experience, qualifications and location.

For example a VET Clinic or VET Hospital can be a small, large or mixed animal practice, a general practice or a specialist 24-hour emergency centre.

A VET Nurses daily tasks can range from and include:

• Animal restraint during procedures and examinations
• Prepare and manage pets for surgery
• Assist with animal surgery such as managing and holding medical instruments for a VET
• Manage appointments
• Manage phone queries from pet owners
• Monitor animals under anaesthetic
• Secure pathology samples and performing diagnostic tests
• Administering first aid to animals and advise pet owners
• Administering animal medicines under the direction of a VET
• Care for hospitalised pets
• Observe and respond to emergencies
• Secure and record pet and pet owner details
• Deliver animal care advice to pet owners on a range of subject matters
• Assistance with radiography practices
• Assistance with animal euthanasia
• Disinfection practices and
• General Cleaning

What is the Typical Working Week for a VET Nurse?

Your typical working week as a VET Nurse shall depend on whether you work in a small, large or mixed animal practice or a general practice VET Clinic or VET Hospital or a specialist 24-hour emergency centre.

Most new VET Nursing graduates generally work

• 38 hours per week
• ordinary hours between 6.00 am and 9.00 pm Monday to Sunday.
• In accordance to work rosters published at least one month in advance
• With a minimum of 3 full days off per fortnight.
• overtime is generally required and you should expect to work long shifts and weekends
• typical 24/7 emergency clinics often require night shifts
• An unpaid meal break of not less than 30 minutes must be allowed to each employee between the fourth and fifth hour of work

What do I get paid? VET Nursing Compensation

Most Veterinary Nurses are employed by a Clinic under the terms and conditions of the ‘Animal Care and Veterinary Services Award 2020’.

A copy of Animal Care and Veterinary Services Award 2020 can be downloaded from https://awardviewer.fwo.gov.au/award/show/ma000118

This award details information about wages and other working conditions you can expect as a veterinary nurse that include

• Types of employment
• Hours of Work (eg here the employee works 7.6 hours per day the employee will be entitled to 2 10 minute paid rest breaks.)
• Wags and Allowances (eg. The minimum hourly rate is $21.38)
• Overtime and Penalty Rates (eg. Monday to Saturday overtime is paid at 150% of the minimum hourly rate for the first 3 hours and 200% of the minimum hourly rate after 3 hours.
• Consultation and Dispute Resolution
• Termination and Redundancy
• Superannuation
• Rest breaks are to be counted as part of time worked.

Your pay scale is based  to your qualification and experience, so there are immediate benefits to becoming a qualified VET nurse through a AACI course.

Career Pathway?

AACI delivers flexible Animal Care and VET Nursing qualifications that are Nationally recognised by the industry, employers and most importantly by the Australian governing body called Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA).

The Animal Care Career Pathway can be:

• Veterinary Assistant or Kennel Hand or Animal Ward Assistant
• Student Veterinary Nurse
• Qualified Veterinary Nurse
• Accredited Veterinary Nurse (A qualified VET Nurse that completes a special accreditation program run by the Australian Veterinary Association and Veterinary Nurses’ Council of Australia are known as Accredited Veterinary Nurses.
• Practice Manager – (A Practice Manager you’ll be responsible for running the day-to-day business of the clinic)
• VET Nursing Manager
• Head VET Nurse

Career Opportunities in Australia and Overseas

Our ASQA accredited ACM40418 Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing qualification is

• nationally endorsed by the Australian National Regulator, namely ASQA
• recognised by the industry and employers
• opens up career opportunities overseas.

Our ASQA accredited Qualifications have global recognition.  There is strong demand in South East Asia and Middle East, shall deliver a pathway to an overseas career opportunity

The career opportunities available to you as a VET Nurse are wide and varied. Each role will improve your skills, knowledge and employability. There are also other specialist animal care qualifications that can open the doors to other related careers, that include:

• Animal Shelter Managers
• Zookeeper
• Animal Care Industry sales representative
• Dog trainer / Grooming / Boarding Business Owners
• Government Animal welfare officer
• Pathology assistants
• Science laboratory assistant
• VET Trainer
• Higher Education pathways to become a Scientist or Veterinarian.

AACI is 100% focused on Animal Care education and training. AACI specialises in Animal Care and Veterinary Nursing qualifications that are endorsed by ASQA and quality assured and governed by ASQA Quality Standards. Our qualifications are nationally recognised and under the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) and the current Animal Care and Management Industry Training Packages.

What flexibility does AACI provide?

AACI is very flexible.  

AACI understands your busy life and believes studying should be flexible.

AACI DOES NOT require you to have a work placement locked in before you commence your course.

Our easy to use learning platform allows you to study in your own time, at your own pace that fits into your lifestyle.  You can read a few pages on public transport or do a quiz on your lunch break at work or watch a video on the couch during ad breaks. You can take an assessment from the other side of the world.  

Our flexibility in course delivery, learner resources, course duration, work placements and payment options makes us the real leader in Animal Care and VET Nursing education and training.

You can tailor your learning experience with us.

AACI places the power in your hands and gives you the best chance to develop your career.