Cert 4 dog trainers course and organisation membership query.

[Bubba]

Hi all,

 

I am looking at doing a Cert 1V in Animal training and behaviour (ACM40310) as I am aiming to become an NDIS certified service dog training provider long term. Anyone been down this road before as finding information on this pathway, or for that matter even a training provider that is TAFE based in Victoria, that still runs the course and is Victorian Government funded as they appear to be non existent?

 

The Victorian TAFE's i have contacted recently (there is funding available)  either use to run the course some time ago, but they do not run the course now, or "they may do" in the future, but not now. The other training course providers appear to be all privatised, and are not government subsidised, nor based in Victoria except HanRob which appears to be NSW based but has a facility in Vic, so given that the majority of course providers are based interstate I am unsure how practicle assesments are completed?

 

The second part to my question is my concern (once I am qualified) with joining an affiliations to become a qualified and "certified" trainer.  Many of the associatations or federations appear to be only reserved for those members, or new members that have gone through a training provider that they "endorse" or a training course which is run by themselves, or ones where you must have completed and follow their own particular method or style of training that they approve of, before they will let you join them....

 

If possible I am trying to find some non biased advice on becoming a certified service dog trainer and become certified without all the drama that appears to be never ending, some help through the NDIS maze would be amazing also if possible.

 

Cheers  

 

[_PL_]

No help, but well done for chasing leads.  There should be more service dog trainers.

 

Not sure if it's going to be relevant but 'Molly Polly Assistance Dog' via FB has two Silkies trained as diabetic service dogs (ACT) and may be able to point you in the right direction, for a beginning at least. They were a little ahead of their time so had to search really hard to find trainer assistance.   

[Dogsfevr]

I think you have answered you question within your question.
The varying bodies list there requirements its up to people which way you want to go .
Training is like a box of chocolates  so th efact they have listed what courses they require for acceptance makes it easy .
I wouldnt call it drama given anyone can call themselves a dog trainer or behavourist these days without any  qualification.
Training dogs to meet the correct needs is a specialist field a person seeking out such trainer will have the checklist of what the trainer must be qualified for to have there dog accredited .

[Bubba]

13 hours ago, Dogsfevr said:

I think you have answered you question within your question.
The varying bodies list there requirements its up to people which way you want to go .
Training is like a box of chocolates  so th efact they have listed what courses they require for acceptance makes it easy .
I wouldnt call it drama given anyone can call themselves a dog trainer or behavourist these days without any  qualification.
Training dogs to meet the correct needs is a specialist field a person seeking out such trainer will have the checklist of what the trainer must be qualified for to have there dog accredited .

Thanks Dogsrevr, 

 

I didn't relaise what a box of chocolates - (see "shoot" show) this game is until l started looking into to it in order to try and sort the puzzle out, yes your right about the trainer and dog behourist area as it is a mess of qualified and unqualified all competing for the same ground and then to through the "organisations" into the mix with some of their "thou shalt do it our way, with our approved (see - kickback training partners) and use our methods and bow down to us or don't bother".  Yes it's a real mess.  It get's worse when it comes to attemptiong to become an "approved and and accredited provider" under the NDIS especially, that's were the real fun starts as i am starting to learn.

 

There appears to be no direct guidance from them first as to what qualifications you need or what associations are approved (or not) by them in order to be approved provider, just general information and non specific guidelines.  Seems to be more of a "sign up, send us your credetials and qualifications we will get back to you eventually" type thing. Took me over a week to get basic email information from them, you cant even ring them, goes to a message service saying email us instead pretty much.

 

I Was trying (and still am trying) to sort the sheep from the goats prior to spending thousands on training and organisations and the business itself prior to signing the dotted line. Was thinking that someone who has been down this road may be able shed some light on the subject?  Cheers  

[Bubba]

17 hours ago, Powerlegs said:

No help, but well done for chasing leads.  There should be more service dog trainers.

 

Not sure if it's going to be relevant but 'Molly Polly Assistance Dog' via FB has two Silkies trained as diabetic service dogs (ACT) and may be able to point you in the right direction, for a beginning at least. They were a little ahead of their time so had to search really hard to find trainer assistance.   

Thanks Powerleg's, I was hoping to hear from those that have been down this road before in order to become an assistance dog trainer, I understand the difficulties from both the clients end and to become a potential service provider, the whole system appears to be very messy at both ends to say the least.

Cheers

[Amazetl]

I agree that it’s messy to try to figure out the appropriate course. Maybe you could contact trainers who are already qualified and see what they have to say, or look at their credentials. 

[tdierikx]

OK... the ACM40310 course has been superseded by a number of other courses, with the most current now being ACM40322. ACM40322 has added the Assistance Dog Training units of competency in the E elective group.

 

Course details for ACM40322 can be found here...  https://training.gov.au/Training/Details/ACM40322

 

Approved RTO's delivering this course in Victoria can be found here...  https://training.gov.au/Search?searchTitleOrCode=&SearchType=Rto&searchTgaSubmit=Search&registrationStatus=0%2C1%2C2%2C3&nrtScopeDeliveryStates=02&includeImplicitScope=true&scopeNationalCode=ACM40322

 

From that 2nd page, it appears that Bendigo TAFE is the only TAFE in Victoria that may be offering the current course (I checked, and they aren't offering it at this point in time), with your next best bet being Delta Therapy Dogs. Delta do not appear to have any Smart and Skilled fee assistance program affiliation, so the course is fully priced at $6495. This fee should theoretically be able to be reduced via course credits or RPL from other accredited courses you may have completed, such as Cert 2, 3, and/or 4 Animal Care courses via TAFE, or hands-on experience gained via employment - pretty sure a couple of the core units are shared with other courses, so if you have done those, you may get credit for them.

 

Details about Delta's course delivery can be found here... https://www.deltainstitute.edu.au/certificateivanimalbehaviourandtraining

 - it looks like the face-to-face components (which are compulsory to attend) are held in Sydney, which could make things difficult for Victorian students.

 

Note that those RTOs listed on the second link are the ONLY ones fully accredited by ASQA for delivery of that course, ie. you should be guaranteed that completing the course with them will give you a fully nationally recognised qualification in this field. If an RTO is NOT accredited by ASQA, your best advice is to steer clear of them.

 

Overall, it looks like finding a TAFE that will deliver this course is going to be difficult, and approved RTOs will most likely have components of the training that will require travel outside of Victoria to complete. They certainly don't even try to make things easy for interested students, do they?

 

T.

[Bubba]

Thankyou so much Tdierikx, you have confirmed what has taken me a week so far to either find, and or try and sort out  Thank you so much for the info it is VERY much appreciated. No they don't make it easy, thats for sure

 

 

Edited March 8, 2023 by Bubba
extra to add

[Mairead]

I'm reminded of the saying "the first person through the brick wall will be bloodied", usually in reference to women entering traditionally non-female jobs or levels of promotion.

When you are feeling up to it, I would be interested in hearing what the NDIS have to say (in writing, with a name and title attached) also Guide Dogs, because don't some of their failed guide dogs become therapy dogs?