More schools finding out about RSPCA's Working with Animals endorsed program

The new RSPCA Working with Animals endorsed program is expected to grow in popularity as more students embrace the opportunity to learn about animal care and welfare.

 

The RSPCA’s education coordinator, Jennifer Ammons Noble, said the program, which was piloted this year, will be available to students aged between 15 and 18 and aims to provide them with an insight into animal welfare and animal-related work.

 

Ms Ammons Noble said the comprehensive workbook provides students with essential background knowledge, while the practical components allow students to practice animal work-related skills in real world applications.

 

“The pilot is unique in that interested students individually enrol with us. They nominate a teacher at their school to assess their portfolio and be their school contact, but actual delivery of the program is done through four practical days with our two secondary RSPCA teachers and through independent study,” she said.

 

“The good thing about this enrolment approach is that the opportunity for students to participate in the program is not limited by the ability of the school to form a whole class of students to participate.

 

“In the future we are hoping to expand the ways in which we can deliver the program; for example, by offering a ‘school group’ enrolment.

 

“Throughout the pilot program, students were given the opportunity to participate in individual tutorials, however they all seemed satisfied with the combination of practical sessions and workbook study.”

 

Ms Ammons Noble said students enrolled in the pilot have had an interest in careers in a range of fields including vet medicine, vet nursing, zoology, animal husbandry, equine management and merchandising in animal-related industries. 

 

The Curriculum Council’s endorsed programs coordinator, Leanne Meldrum, said achievement of the Working with Animals program earns the student the equivalent of one unit towards their Western Australian Certificate of Education (WACE).

 

“I think the program will be popular because many teenagers feel passionate about animals and post-school studies or jobs related to animals may be at the forefront of their mind,” Ms Meldrum said.