Marine life keeper, Australia?

Question

I was just wondering what's required to be a "zoo keeper" except in the marine life area in Australia, is it the same as a zoo keeper requiring just the "Certificate in Animal Studies" qualifications, and what would be involved in the job?

As i would like to go to a job in marine life nowhere in specific, just as an example Sea world.

Any advice on how to become a marine life keeper, and any other jobs in the marine life area and the qualifications required to obtain the jobs them would be fairly helpful, as well if they require i university course then could you tell me the UAI required.

Cheers in advance.

Answer 1

Depends on the level you want to work at.  The more responsible (and possibly public) you are then the higher the qualification.

Basically the public "trainers" at places like Seaworld will have degrees in something animal orientated (e.g. Zoology or a science major with biology and psychology majors etc)

Attached is th Australian's Seaworld FAQ page (it's right down the bottom) - note they do other facilities not just Seaworld.

If you are an animal handler or carer then it may depend on the facility and the animal and your responsibility.

For example if you're a person cleaning out a horses stable or a cow paddock then training may be inhouse.  However if you're cleaning out a crocodile or big cat enclosure then you're probably going to be a keeper...  

Answer 2

I couldn't find much about requirements for working as a Marine Mammal Trainer in Australia. So, I will also include some info about Sea Wold (in the states) requirements.

You might want to contact some places in Australia that have Marine Mammal Trainers and see what are their requirements to work there and see if they can offer you some advise on becoming a trainer.

Here's the info I hope it will help.  Yeah, I know, a lot of reading.  ;-p

Good Luck!

http://myfun.com.au/Employment/FAQs.htm

So, your dream is to work with the Dolphins and other Marine Mammals?

Becoming a Marine Mammal Trainer is fast becoming a popular career choice for young people. Unfortunately, these opportunities are extremely limited.

Work experience along with tertiary qualifications in the following fields are an advantage; Science, Psychology, Zoology, Marine Biology. Diplomas in wildlife studies have also assisted previous applicants.

A noted trend within the industry has seen success for applicants with a Zoo keeping Certificate, or the Exotic Animal Training and Management Program from Moorpark College in the USA.

Applicants without any of the above qualifications must have at least four years experience working in a similar field. During your study we suggest you obtain a SCUBA certificate and work on your public speaking skills. A large part of the position of Marine Mammal Trainer is dedicated to educating the public and being comfortable presenting information to varying groups and numbers of people.

Working at Sea World in any capacity and proving your commitment and dedication to our marine environment is another way, this too, takes time.

Sea World is a very people orientated business, with guest service, and performance skills also playing major roles in consideration of applications for positions with the animals. If this is your goal, hard work and dedication stand between you and success. Good luck!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4G0x6Hwb...

Meet a Dolphin Trainer from SeaWorld Australia

Listen to...

http://seaworld.com/sitepage.aspx?PageID...

Wild Careers

How about a wild career working with animals! We'll introduce you to dedicated people all over the world who are working with and for wildlife.

http://www.seaworld.org/ask-shamu/faq.ht...

How do I become a marine animal trainer?

The following information is SeaWorld's basic job description, requirements, and background information on an entry-level animal trainer position.

ANIMAL TRAINER

Responsible for the daily care, feeding and maintenance of show animals. Develops and trains animal behaviors and performs in animal shows for the public and educational shows for school groups. An apprenticeship period of at least a year is required for all trainer positions, even with previous experience.

Our requirements for animal trainers include:

° must be at least 18 years of age

° prior experience training animals

° public speaking, drama, or other performance and communication skills (a microphone test is part of the interview process)

° experience working with animals

° scuba diving certification

° CPR certification

° an ability to interact with the public

° academic coursework in zoology, marine biology, animal behavior or psychology (preference is given to those applicants with a college degree)

° strong swimming skills (part of the interview process is a rigorous swim test that includes a 200 ft. freestyle swim, a 100 ft. underwater swim, and a free-dive to the bottom of a 26 ft. pool.)

° excellent physical health and the ability to lift 50 lbs.

  In addition, even with previous training experience, new trainers are hired as associate trainers, and learn about SeaWorld’s training methods and animals in at least a one-year apprenticeship period.



HOW TO GET EXPERIENCE

To try and see if a career in animal training or animal care is for you, SeaWorld offers a weeklong Career Camp for grades 9-12 during the summer at all three parks. Check online at SWBG-AdventureCamps.com for more information.

Many colleges and universities offer internship opportunities along with the local zoos or aquariums as part of a zoological science or similar type of degree program. Moorpark College in Southern California offers a special Exotic Animal Training and Management program designed for those who want to enter into zoological careers. In Florida, Santa Fe Community College and Pensacola Junior College offer similar programs. Volunteering at a local animal shelter, veterinarian, or wildlife rescue facility is another great way to get experience. In addition, many zoos and aquariums have docent or other volunteer positions available. It is also helpful to gain experience at the park or facility that you’re interested in working for. At SeaWorld, many of our openings for trainer and animal care positions go to applicants that have worked at the park in another department such as education - so this is a great way to get your foot in the door.

Another thing to keep in mind is when position openings are available. At SeaWorld, we have most openings for trainers and animal care in the early spring, and usually post these positions on our website (www.becjobs.com) in late winter. During this time we hold the swim tests and microphone tests as the initial parts of the interview process.

As you can imagine, we get hundreds of applicants each year for trainer positions. For killer whale trainers there may only be one or two openings each year— so this is an even more competitive area to get into. While a college degree is not currently required, those applicants that have a degree in marine biology, animal behavior, zoology, psychology, or related fields are almost always the ones that get interviews. Also, the swim test and microphone test are critical parts of the interview process. Most people who take these tests do not pass the underwater swim portion of this test, so it is critical to practice for this.

The Association of Zoos and Aquariums (www.aza.org) also posts career information and job openings on its website. We also have a lot more info on our website (www.swbg-animals.org) about training and other animal careers. Other great sites to check out are the websites for the International Marine Animal Training Association (www.imata.org) and the Society for Marine Mammalogy (this has an excellent section on pursuing a career in marine mammal science at http://www.marinemammalogy.org/strat.htm...

http://animalscience.calpoly.edu/areas_o...

The Animal Science department currently has an informal agreement  with Moorpark College's Exotic Animal Training and Management Program. This allows Moorpark students to participate in Moorpark's program their first two years and upon being admitted to Cal Poly, complete the remainder of their bachelor's degree at Cal Poly. Currently Cal Poly students are able to create a career elective area that would allow them to study zoo and exotic animals. For more information contact Dr. Plummer.

Learn about career opportunities in an interview with an animal trainer at Sea World, San Diego and a former Cal Poly animal science student.

http://animalscience.calpoly.edu/areas_o...

What steps did you take to get to where you are?

I have always loved animals and I knew I wanted to work with them in some capacity. I came to Sea World when I was growing up and after seeing the shows I knew animal training was what I wanted to do. I have always been a swimmer, which is one of the major requirements of the job. Having a love for the ocean, I was more than happy to get my SCUBA certification, another important requirement. While in school I took courses in animal management, biology and psychology. I also got my foot in the door at Sea World by doing an internship for the Sea World Orlando education department.

What advice would you offer current animal science students with an interest in exotic animals?

Most zoos and aquariums offer some type of internship or volunteer opportunity. When applying for these jobs upon graduation (internship and volunteer) experiences are invaluable. Any hands-on experience with any type of animal is helpful. The International Marine Animal Trainer's Association is an organization that many animal trainers, keepers and veterinarians are members of. The IMATA organization provides a lot of information about training, education and job opportunities around the world.

Exotic Animal Training and Management Program from Moorpark College in the USA.

http://www.moorparkcollege.edu/current_s...

http://www.thefutureschannel.com/dockets...

http://www.amazon.com/Kicked-Bitten-Scra...

Answer 3

In the U.S., to get a job at a place like Sea World, you would ideally major in something like Wildlife Care & Education and minor in Psychology.  However, these jobs are incredibly competitive, so the most important thing is to get as much experience as you can as a volunteer and intern.  This gives you experience, but also gives you contacts and references who can help get you a job.