In the veterinary sector, there is a growing demand for broader skills to provide essential care and treatment to animals across diverse environments and species. It is important that nationally endorsed veterinary nursing qualifications and related training package products align with the full range of different contexts and job tasks required.
Click across the tabs to view active and completed project stages. Consultation takes place at every stage of the project.
Skills Insight is consulting with the veterinary sector to understand their workforce challenges and identify how nationally endorsed training package products for veterinary nursing skills may be adapted.
The project begins with a skills review to analyse current and future practices in veterinary nursing across a variety of animal species and contexts. Opportunities and challenges identified will inform recommendations about the next step, which involves the review and development of training package products.
The second part of this project will commence in August 2025 to take advantage as the new training package product flexibility that comes into effect in July 2025. The new approach to developing training package products will be utilised to support veterinary nursing career pathways and assist in addressing retention rates and skills shortages.
Veterinary nursing survey
Thank you to everyone who participated in the survey about the skills and knowledge associated with veterinary nursing responsibilities. Your contributions have helped us capture a diverse range of perspectives across the sector.
These insights will complement existing research and our other information-gathering strategies to better understand how new opportunities arising from qualification reform can shape more effective training package products for veterinary nursing.
Survey responses were collected between 8 April and 4 May 2025.
Part 1: Skills review
The skills review will include veterinary nurses, veterinarians, employers, unions, associations, registered training organisations and other stakeholders to help analyse veterinary nursing functions and responsibilities.
The skills review will result in a report that will include key findings, a series of recommendations for future work to address the identified issues, and recommended adjustments to the relevant training package products in line with the new qualification design approach identified in VET Qualification Reform.
Part 2: Training package product review
Current qualifications, units and companion volumes will be reviewed to determine how the training package can evolve to better meet any skills needs identified in the Skills Review.
Current training package products
Through stakeholder collaboration, the project team aim to:
Key stakeholder organisations have been identified for this project. Skills Insight will ensure contact is made throughout this project to seek involvement and views on skills requirements.
If you are aware of an organisation or other key stakeholders that you think should be involved, please contact the project team at [email protected]
Timeline
Project team
Jess Cleary
Stakeholder Engagement Manager
Skills Insight
[email protected]
Fatma Kirney
Project Manager
[email protected]
Maree Thorne
Industry Skills Standards Contractor
Skills review
Consultation took place as part of a skills review to analyse current and future practices in veterinary nursing across a range of contexts. The skills review was undertaken using a mixed-method approach, which enabled strong engagement and participation from a diverse range of stakeholders across sectors and locations. The report provides crucial information to lay the foundation for reshaping training package products to better reflect the real-world skills and knowledge required in veterinary nursing.
A report outlining the findings of the Skills Review has been submitted to the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations, along with supporting materials:
- Consultation Log – summarising engagement activities
- Supplementary Tables – listing essential skills and knowledge for veterinary nursing, selected comments, enrolment data and registered training organisations (RTOs) elective selections.
Thank you to everyone who shared their insights regarding veterinary nursing. We appreciate the time and expertise volunteered by all involved.
Project Technical Committee
Following the Skills Review, a Technical Committee was established to provide advice throughout the project. Members for the committee were selected via an expression of interest form and direct invitation, with input from state training authorities.
Thank you to everyone who submitted an expression of interest to be a part of this committee. We received 42 applications, all of an impressive level of expertise, for only five available technical committee positions, which made the process highly competitive. The selection panel focused on ensuring broad coverage across locations (e.g. state and territory representation) and specialist knowledge. The approach of establishing a Technical Committee with a balanced and diverse range of perspectives is in line with the requirements of the Training Package Organising Framework.
As part of the establishment process, the Technical Committee reviewed and agreed to the following documents:
Development of draft training products
With the establishment of the Technical Committee, development of draft training products commenced. Part of the Technical Committee’s role is to help shape qualifications and other training package products so that they meet industry needs and produce real-life job outcomes in veterinary nursing. This has been done in line with the new approach to qualification design (qualification reform) and the new Training Package Organising Framework (TPOF), which became effective from 1 July 2025.
As part of the initial steps to revise the qualifications and units, the Technical Committee was required to confirm a purpose for the veterinary nursing qualifications, as outlined in the TPOF. This means identifying if the intended outcome of the qualifications is to train learners for a specific occupation; for multiple, related occupations; or to support pathways and applied learning. The purpose serves as the foundation for how the qualification is designed and its determination will play a critical role in shaping subsequent development decisions. The technical committee considered information from the Skills Review about workforce needs and how the qualifications are currently being used in identifying purposes for the qualifications.
Feedback on the qualifications’ purpose will also be welcome when the qualifications and units are made available for feedback.
Online information sessions
Two online sessions were run on 25 and 29 July to share the Skills Review findings and recommendations. For those who were unable to make it, a recording of one of the sessions is now available to view below.
Veterinary Nursing is now moving to a second round of broad consultation from 4 November to 5 December 2026
Thank you to everyone who provided feedback during the first round of broad consultation.
The depth of industry expertise and detailed feedback provided by stakeholders across the sector — particularly the Veterinary Nurses Council of Australia (VNCA) and the Australian Veterinary Association (AVA) — has been vital in guiding our technical investigations and refining the draft materials. Following this comprehensive review phase, a revised selection of draft qualifications, Skill Sets, and targeted units are now available for a second round of broad consultation.
Register for an online workshop
19 November 11am-12:30pm
24 November 2-3:30pm
26 November 4:30-6pm
1 December 10-11:30am
Note: all times are AEDT
Feedback review and technical investigation
Between consultation rounds, our team worked through complex feedback across entry requirements, Mandatory Workplace Requirements (MWR), species coverage, and regulatory alignments. Read a detailed breakdown of the key topics investigated and resolved during this period: Veterinary Nursing Project Feedback Review & Technical Investigation Summary.
Summary of Changes
View a detailed list of all products included in round two, summarising document updates and specific feedback areas in the Summary of Changes.
Consultation Log
View details of the consultation undertaken in the project so far, a summary of all feedback received to date and the actions taken.
View the drafts and provide feedback
Click on the documents in the accordions below to submit feedback using our Feedback Hub and attend a workshop to share your input. Please note there are specific questions for some of the products. You can post comments directly on the draft documents as well as view comments from others. Your comments will remain anonymous. Read the full User Instructions. Only Skills Insight staff and contractors working directly on the project can identify users. For more information, see our Privacy Policy. The feedback hub is also moderated to avoid misuse.
Important information about broad consultation round two
- Targeted scope: Not all draft products are included in this round. Products not listed here will move directly to consensus gathering.
- Focused feedback: This round focuses specifically on areas where feedback was most varied, or where proposed updates carry significant delivery implication. Targeted feedback questions are noted under each section.
View the revised drafts
ACM4X426 Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing & ACM5X226 Diploma of Veterinary Nursing
Key updates made:
- Entry requirements: Updated to retain a flexible, competence-based approach while reducing duplication with the Standards for RTOs, providing clearer implementation mapping in the User Guide, and establishing distinct, explicit entry pathways for the Diploma. Click on the ‘Supporting documents’ accordion below to access implementation information.
- Certificate IV packaging: Streamlined packaging rules to reduce overall unit count and reorganise core content (including nutrition), while maintaining elective flexibility for industry specialisations.
- Diploma core addition: Embedded new unit ACMGEN4X02 Promote workplace wellbeing and psychosocial safety into the Diploma core.
Targeted feedback requested: We are seeking your feedback and support on the revised entry requirement structures and qualification packaging rules.
You may also download these documents in Word format and provide feedback by email to [email protected].
ACMSSXXX01 Pathway to Veterinary Nursing Skill Set
- Key updates made: Revised following Technical Committee guidance to serve as a preparatory pathway into the Certificate IV, providing an option to meet entry competencies and bridging basic animal care with veterinary nursing. The unit list has been substantially revised to focus on foundational animal handling, WHS, communication, and industry skills.
- Targeted feedback requested: We are particularly interested in your feedback and support for the adjusted focus and revised unit composition.
ACMSSXXX02 Provide Health and Wellbeing Care for Equines Skill Set & ACMSSXXX03 Provide Mare and Foal Care and Nursing Support Skill Set
- Key updates made: Based on feedback, the original equine draft was split into two distinct Skill Sets: a broader health and wellbeing care Skill Set, and a specialised mare and foal care Skill Set, with unit choices revised to reflect each Skill Set’s distinct focus and scope.
- Targeted feedback requested: Feedback on the split structures and unit selections for each distinct target area.
You may also download these documents in Word format and provide feedback by email to [email protected].
First-round feedback included valuable insights that led to significant unit revisions, as detailed below. We welcome your feedback and your support on these targeted updates. The table below outlines the specific feedback areas being sought for each unit included in this round.
You may also download these documents in Word format and provide feedback by email to [email protected].
Based on feedback and usage analysis, three units were initially proposed for removal and future deletion. Overall feedback in broad consultation one supported removal of these units from the veterinary nursing qualifications and future deletion from the ACM Animal Care and Management Training Package:
- ACMVET411 Prepare, deliver and review animal care education programs
- ACMVET412 Coordinate practice promotional activities
- ACMVET512 Develop and implement specific practice policies
If you wish to give additional feedback, please complete this survey.
- Draft User Guide: Includes entry requirements rationale and mapping.
- Draft Companion Volume Implementation Guide: Updated regulations, standards, mapping, and equivalence tables.
You may also download these documents in Word format and provide feedback by email to [email protected].
Draft qualifications, skill sets and units were developed in consultation with the Technical Committee based on information collected during the Skills Review and other targeted consultation with stakeholders. They were then made available for feedback between 21 January to 10 March 2026. Thank you to everyone who participated in these activities.
Summary of changes
Updates are based on industry feedback and national training package requirements. Care has been taken to ensure essential skills and knowledge are clearly defined, while increasing flexibility in the qualifications to reflect the variety of veterinary nursing contexts.
Under the draft changes, Certificate IV remains the entry point to veterinary nursing, while the Diploma is reoriented from practice management to a more clinically focused role. These changes aim to strengthen progression pathways and maintain accessibility while upholding high standards.
The draft updates also respond to feedback on integrating foundational skills, improving unit clarity, and allowing flexible delivery without mandating specific modes of delivery. Pathways into the qualifications focus on specific competencies rather than qualifications as entry requirements. The aim is to enable accessibility, transferability and recognition of existing skills. Assessment will emphasise performance-based outcomes through workplace demonstration and appropriate simulation.
A new skill set has been drafted to include units of competency that address the proposed entry requirements in the revised Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing. In response to early feedback, a second, equine-specific Skill Set was published on 6 February. This Skill Set has been designed as a pathway into or extension of the Certificate IV.
For a detailed list of changes to the draft qualifications and units of competency, please see the Summary of Changes.
The Consultation Log summarises key topics and engagement activities during the development stage, including summaries from Technical Committee meetings. It also includes feedback specific to qualifications and units of competency.
Draft products include new features available under the Training Package Organising Framework (TPOF) 2025. Learn more about qualification reform below.
Consultation workshops
In-person and online sessions were held to outline the relevance of updates to the qualifications, skill set and units for industry and training providers. Key areas for review and discussion included:
- changes to entry requirements for the qualifications
- workplace requirements for assessment
- flexibility and usability of qualification structures
- significant content updates to Veterinary Nursing (VET) units
- new features available under the Training Package Organising Framework (TPOF) 2025.
In-person sessions
Online sessions
View the draft documents
Click on the accordions below to view the draft qualifications, skill sets and units of competency, including any comments made on them through the feedback hub.
Feedback was invited on all elements of the draft qualifications — overall structure, key features, and units of competency. We also welcomed suggestions for additional or alternative elective units within the qualifications.
The revised structure of the Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing increases flexibility to meet broader applications existing in industry and increase opportunity for species-specific outcomes.
The revised Diploma places a stronger emphasis on clinical practice, aligning more closely with industry expectations and supporting learner attraction.
Changes to entry requirements
Both qualifications include revised entry requirements, which are expressed as competencies in the qualifications. It is important that entry requirements do not impose a barrier for potential learners who may have attained skills and knowledge through workplace participation, industry courses and even higher education. A new skill set and updated companion volume content provides additional opportunities and guidance to support revised entry requirements.
Changes to Mandatory Workplace Requirements
The previous requirement of 240 hours per unit has been removed. However, performance must still be demonstrated — and evidence collected — in a workplace for most (but not all) units.
ACM4X426 Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing
ACM5X226 Diploma of Veterinary Nursing
Download the qualifications in Word format
A new skill set has been created to include units of competency which address the proposed entry requirements in the revised Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing. Additionally, we received feedback regarding an interest in an equine-specific skill set. Follow-up with targeted organisations confirmed this would be positively received and meet industry needs. The new skill set was published on 6 February and is intended to provide a pathway into or extension of the Certificate IV.
ACMSSXXX01 Foundational Skills for Veterinary Nursing Skill Set
ACMSSXXX02 Provide Health and Wellbeing Care for Equines Skill Set
Download the skill sets in Word format
New units of competency have been created to address gaps in skills and knowledge that were identified during the Skills Review.
Units are designed using one of two templates as follows:
- EPC refers to the template in Appendix A of TPOF 2025 – Application, Elements and Performance Criteria template
- ASK refers to the template in Appendix B of TPOF 2025 – Application of skills and knowledge template.
Learn more about the new ASK template.
ACMVET4X06 Develop and apply knowledge of the veterinary industry and apply to veterinary nursing practice – ASK
ACMVET5X29 Apply advanced knowledge of anaesthesia in veterinary nursing practice – EPC
ACMVET5X30 Perform medical and minor surgical veterinary procedures – EPC
ACMVET5X31 Conduct veterinary nurse clinics – ASK
Download the new units in Word format
Revised units of competency have been designed to better align with clinical practice. Some units contain specific questions that Skills Insight raised for stakeholder consideration.
Revised units aim to make regulatory, licensing and legislative implications more explicit. Feedback on the clarity and accuracy of these statements was encouraged, particularly from regulators and other users of the training products.
Units are designed on one of two templates as follows:
- EPC refers to the template in Appendix A of TPOF 2025 – Application, Elements and Performance Criteria template
- ASK refers to the template in Appendix B of TPOF 2025 – Application of skills and knowledge template.
Learn more about the new ASK template.
ACMGEN3X02 Communicate effectively in animal-related workplaces – ASK
ACMGEN3X03 Maintain cleaning, hygiene and sterility standards in animal care workplaces – ASK
ACMGEN4X01 Develop knowledge of animal anatomy and physiology for animal care work – ASK
ACMINF3X04 Comply with infection prevention and control policies and procedures in animal care work – EPC
ACMMIC4X05 Implant microchip in animals – EPC
ACMVET4X07 Triaging and responding to animal emergencies – ASK
ACMVET4X08 Conduct animal care discussions with clients – ASK
ACMVET4X09 Nurse animals – EPC
ACMVET4X10 Prepare for and monitor anaesthesia and analgesia in animals – EPC
ACMVET4X11 Perform veterinary dental nursing procedures – EPC
ACMVET4X12 Perform clinical pathology procedures – EPC
ACMVET4X13 Apply veterinary diagnostic imaging routines – EPC
ACMVET4X14 Perform surgical nursing routines – EPC
ACMVET4X15 Prepare, handle and administer veterinary medicines and restricted substances – EPC
ACMVET4X16 Undertake administration and client service activities in a veterinary practice – ASK
ACMVET4X17 Nurse foals – EPC
ACMVET4X18 Provide intensive foal care and nursing – EPC
ACMVET5X19 Enhance professional practice in veterinary nursing – ASK
ACMVET5X20 Apply veterinary nursing pathophysiology – ASK
ACMVET5X21 Manage nursing requirements for specialised surgical procedures – EPC
ACMVET5X22 Carry out post-operative nursing routines – EPC
ACMVET5X23 Provide nursing support for advanced veterinary dental surgery – EPC
ACMVET5X24 Manage veterinary nursing procedures – EPC
ACMVET5X25 Apply principles of animal behaviour – EPC
ACMVET5X26 Coordinate veterinary practice emergency preparedness – EPC
ACMVET5X27 Perform emergency procedures to sustain life – EPC
ACMVET5X28 Provide nursing support for critical care surgery – EPC
Download the revised units in Word format
The following units have been proposed for deletion due to low or no enrolments and their limited perceived value to industry and/or availability of suitable alternatives.
Stakeholder input
Thank you to everyone who responded to the deletion survey that was available between 21 January to 10 March 2026. Your input will inform the retention or deletion of these units.
The Companion Volume material has been significantly revised to provide overall guidance around revised features of the training products such as entry requirements and mandatory workplace requirements. Information is intended to assist RTOs with strategies to address these revisions.
Download the extract and user guide in Word format
This stage has not yet commenced.
At the consensus gathering stage, we check our work with stakeholders to confirm that solutions are in line with expectations.
This stage has not yet commenced.
At the finalisation stage, final checks are conducted and the outcomes of the project are submitted to the Department for consideration. Following this, outcomes are published or enacted.
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