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Animal Kennel Attendant
Jobs
#711551
Full Time
Job Description
APS 3 - $71,290 - $79,747 per annum plus superannuation
Biosecurity Plant and Science Services Division
Mickleham, VIC
As an Animal Kennel Attendant, you support biosecurity risk management through daily care, handling and husbandry of animals in a quarantine environment. The role works across multiple commodities, including cats, dogs and horses, and supports specialised enabling services and avian operations, while maintaining high animal welfare and safety standards compliance.
Why YOU are important to us and what impact will you have on the Biosecurity Plant and Science Services and the departments’ goal.
We protect Australia’s plant health to support trade, the economy, and the environment. Our division provides scientific advice, diagnostics, biosecurity training, and risk assessments. We enable safe plant imports, strengthen systems, and engage stakeholders. Surveillance and response are conducted at national entry points and approved sites, including northern Australia. We work closely with communities and Indigenous rangers to manage biosecurity risks, including in the Torres Strait.
The Post-Entry Quarantine Group (PEQ) manages the quarantine of high-risk plants and animals at the Mickleham Facility near Melbourne. Purpose-built for species like horses, cats, dogs, birds, and bees, the facility ensures compliance with import regulations. In collaboration with scientists and veterinarians, PEQ safeguards the health and welfare of all arrivals throughout their quarantine period.
As an Animal Kennel Attendant, you support biosecurity risk management through daily care, handling and husbandry of animals in a quarantine environment. The role operates across multiple commodities, including cats, dogs and horses, and supports specialised enabling services and avian operations. This physically demanding role requires safe manual handling, animal and crate movement, and routine cleaning and laundry activities. High attention to detail, sound judgement, and strict adherence to work instructions and biosecurity protocols are essential at all times required.
This is where you play an important role.
As the Animal Kennel Attendant, your duties will include but are not limited to:
undertaking daily animal husbandry and monitoring activities, including feeding, watering, cleaning and observation of animal health, behaviour and wellbeing
preparing food and administering medication in accordance with owner instructions, veterinary advice and established operational guidance material
maintaining clean, safe and secure environments through routine cleaning, disinfection and pen preparation for arriving and departing animals, in line with biosecurity requirements
safely handling and moving animals between pens, yards, veterinary rooms and transport vehicles, including crating animals for release
accurately recording animal wellbeing, food intake, toileting and treatment information, and completing required daily checklists and documentation
identifying and escalating animal health, behaviour or biosecurity concerns to Biosecurity Officers and Government Veterinary Officers
supporting operational activities through crate management, kitchen and laundry duties, stock replenishment and general facility upkeep
driving departmental vehicles and assisting with the safe loading and unloading of animals and equipment as required
assisting with cleaning and preparation activities across other commodities within the PEQ facility as operationally required.
Please Note:
This recruitment process will initially be used to fill both ongoing (permanent) and non-ongoing (for up to 18 months) vacancies in the branch.
The merit pool established through this selection process, which is valid for a period of eighteen months from the date the vacancy was advertised in the Public Service Gazette, may also be used to fill future ongoing vacancies in the branch where the duties are of a similar nature.
There are two part-time roster patterns available under this recruitment round:
Option 1. A rotating 8-hour shift roster, working four days on and four days off. Occasional out of hours work may be required.
Option 2. Fixed 5-hour shifts, available four days per week (Mon-Fri) with flexible start times by agreement.
Our ideal candidate will have:
a sound knowledge of animal husbandry principles, including recognising signs of illness and identification of infectious and contagious diseases
experience undertaking cleaning and disinfection tasks in accordance with established procedures
demonstrated attention to detail, particularly when completing routine records and checklists
an understanding of biosecurity and quarantine principles in a regulated environment
effective communication with a diverse range of people including team members, supervisors and veterinary officers in a fast-paced operational environment
the ability to follow established PEQ procedures and protocols, and to develop an understanding of relevant biosecurity legislation
the ability to safely perform routine, physically demanding operational tasks such as cleaning, movement, storage and transport of animal crates
the ability to identify and report risks related to biosecurity, animal welfare and workplace health and safety.
The successful candidate:
Must complete a rabies pre-exposure vaccination course (PrEP) organised and funded by the department
May be required to drive a light rigid vehicle in the collection of animals, with appropriate training funded by the department.
VetPaths
The Australian Public Service (APS) values the unique skills, perspectives, and experiences that veterans gain during their Australian Defence Force (ADF) employment and encourage veterans to apply. Support may be available to veterans transitioning to meaningful APS careers through participation in VetPaths, which offers veterans an opportunity to participate in a six-month program offering formal learning and development, career mentoring and activities for wellness and peer support.
Biosecurity Plant and Science Services Division
Mickleham, VIC
As an Animal Kennel Attendant, you support biosecurity risk management through daily care, handling and husbandry of animals in a quarantine environment. The role works across multiple commodities, including cats, dogs and horses, and supports specialised enabling services and avian operations, while maintaining high animal welfare and safety standards compliance.
Why YOU are important to us and what impact will you have on the Biosecurity Plant and Science Services and the departments’ goal.
We protect Australia’s plant health to support trade, the economy, and the environment. Our division provides scientific advice, diagnostics, biosecurity training, and risk assessments. We enable safe plant imports, strengthen systems, and engage stakeholders. Surveillance and response are conducted at national entry points and approved sites, including northern Australia. We work closely with communities and Indigenous rangers to manage biosecurity risks, including in the Torres Strait.
The Post-Entry Quarantine Group (PEQ) manages the quarantine of high-risk plants and animals at the Mickleham Facility near Melbourne. Purpose-built for species like horses, cats, dogs, birds, and bees, the facility ensures compliance with import regulations. In collaboration with scientists and veterinarians, PEQ safeguards the health and welfare of all arrivals throughout their quarantine period.
As an Animal Kennel Attendant, you support biosecurity risk management through daily care, handling and husbandry of animals in a quarantine environment. The role operates across multiple commodities, including cats, dogs and horses, and supports specialised enabling services and avian operations. This physically demanding role requires safe manual handling, animal and crate movement, and routine cleaning and laundry activities. High attention to detail, sound judgement, and strict adherence to work instructions and biosecurity protocols are essential at all times required.
This is where you play an important role.
As the Animal Kennel Attendant, your duties will include but are not limited to:
undertaking daily animal husbandry and monitoring activities, including feeding, watering, cleaning and observation of animal health, behaviour and wellbeing
preparing food and administering medication in accordance with owner instructions, veterinary advice and established operational guidance material
maintaining clean, safe and secure environments through routine cleaning, disinfection and pen preparation for arriving and departing animals, in line with biosecurity requirements
safely handling and moving animals between pens, yards, veterinary rooms and transport vehicles, including crating animals for release
accurately recording animal wellbeing, food intake, toileting and treatment information, and completing required daily checklists and documentation
identifying and escalating animal health, behaviour or biosecurity concerns to Biosecurity Officers and Government Veterinary Officers
supporting operational activities through crate management, kitchen and laundry duties, stock replenishment and general facility upkeep
driving departmental vehicles and assisting with the safe loading and unloading of animals and equipment as required
assisting with cleaning and preparation activities across other commodities within the PEQ facility as operationally required.
Please Note:
This recruitment process will initially be used to fill both ongoing (permanent) and non-ongoing (for up to 18 months) vacancies in the branch.
The merit pool established through this selection process, which is valid for a period of eighteen months from the date the vacancy was advertised in the Public Service Gazette, may also be used to fill future ongoing vacancies in the branch where the duties are of a similar nature.
There are two part-time roster patterns available under this recruitment round:
Option 1. A rotating 8-hour shift roster, working four days on and four days off. Occasional out of hours work may be required.
Option 2. Fixed 5-hour shifts, available four days per week (Mon-Fri) with flexible start times by agreement.
Our ideal candidate will have:
a sound knowledge of animal husbandry principles, including recognising signs of illness and identification of infectious and contagious diseases
experience undertaking cleaning and disinfection tasks in accordance with established procedures
demonstrated attention to detail, particularly when completing routine records and checklists
an understanding of biosecurity and quarantine principles in a regulated environment
effective communication with a diverse range of people including team members, supervisors and veterinary officers in a fast-paced operational environment
the ability to follow established PEQ procedures and protocols, and to develop an understanding of relevant biosecurity legislation
the ability to safely perform routine, physically demanding operational tasks such as cleaning, movement, storage and transport of animal crates
the ability to identify and report risks related to biosecurity, animal welfare and workplace health and safety.
The successful candidate:
Must complete a rabies pre-exposure vaccination course (PrEP) organised and funded by the department
May be required to drive a light rigid vehicle in the collection of animals, with appropriate training funded by the department.
VetPaths
The Australian Public Service (APS) values the unique skills, perspectives, and experiences that veterans gain during their Australian Defence Force (ADF) employment and encourage veterans to apply. Support may be available to veterans transitioning to meaningful APS careers through participation in VetPaths, which offers veterans an opportunity to participate in a six-month program offering formal learning and development, career mentoring and activities for wellness and peer support.
