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Unit of Study ANIM1001 - Animal Husbandry, Handling and Behaviour (2026)

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Unit Snapshot

  • Enrolment information

    Students must be vaccinated against Q-Fever (including result testing) and Tetanus before starting this unit. Study Abroad students are not able to enrol in this unit. 1. This unit requires travel to off-campus locations. Check the Blackboard site for travel details, as some sites require additional travel time. Scheduled class times may appear longer as they include travel time. 2. To pass the unit, students must submit all assessment tasks. 3. Attendance: Attendance and participation are strongly linked to student success and retention. Students are encouraged to attend all classes and engagement activities to support learning, progression, and success as a veterinarian or veterinary technologist. For units with practicals or activities linked to developing AVBC Day One Competencies for veterinary accreditation, and VNCA Day One Competencies required for AVNAT registration, attendance is required. Specific attendance requirements will be communicated within the unit.

Unit description

This unit will provide veterinary medicine and veterinary technology students with the foundational knowledge and practical skills required for safe and effective animal handling, husbandry, and behavioural observation across a diverse range of species. Students will explore the structure and societal roles of companion animals, pocket pets, exotics, equines, avians, and Australian wildlife, alongside their unique behavioural cues, welfare needs, and husbandry requirements. Through a combination of hybrid learning, tutorials, and hands-on practical sessions, students will learn how to interpret animal behaviour, apply safe restraint and handling techniques, and perform introductory clinical procedures. Students will also examine the cultural, ethical, and conservation considerations associated with animal care, including; cultural perspectives and the significance of native wildlife. This unit supports the development of reflective practice, observational awareness, and animal handling skills, preparing students for further clinical skills training and ensuring competence in basic animal care and handling in accordance with veterinary accreditation standards.

Unit content

  1. Animal behaviour: how to communicate with animals – perceptions of the world of different species and identification of stress, fear and pain in animals
  2. Animal learning theory – appropriate handling and training techniques
  3. Behaviour and husbandry of cats and dogs
  4. Fear free handling of cats and dogs
  5. Behaviour, husbandry and handling of horses
  6. Behaviour, husbandry and handling of Australian wildlife, and birds

Availabilities

Location Domestic International
Lismore
Term1
Term1

Learning outcomes

Unit Learning Outcomes express learning achievement in terms of what a student should know, understand and be able to do on completion of a unit. These outcomes are aligned with the graduate attributes. The unit learning outcomes and graduate attributes are also the basis of evaluating prior learning.

On completion of this unit, students should be able to:

describe, identify and apply behavioural science and learning theory to differentiate between normal and abnormal behaviours in companion animals, equine and common wildlife species, including signs of fear, pain, and distress

recognise and differentiate the common breeds/species of companion animal, equines and wildlife; describing the basic husbandry and management requirements for these species

describe and demonstrate the ability to safely, humanely and independently perform a range of animal handling and basic clinical techniques under direct supervision, recognising and interpreting behavioural cues and signs of stress in different species of animals

describe the structure and diversity, societal and economic contribution of the different facets of companion animal, equine and wildlife industries in Australia.

Prescribed learning resources

Prescribed Texts
  • No prescribed texts.
Prescribed Resources/Equipment

  • Overalls

  • Safety Boots

Prescribed Learning Resources may change in future Teaching Periods.