Introduction to Animal Welfare

RSPCA NSW’s Introduction to Animal Welfare introduces students to the fundamentals of animal welfare, covering topics such as measure animal welfare and Australian animal welfare legislation. This short course is the perfect entryway for anyone seeking to develop their understanding of animal welfare, whether they’re looking to work with animals or simply interested in their care.

Every year, our training team guides hundreds of students through a range of training courses, helping shape the next generation of animal welfare advocates. 

Upon successfully completing an Introduction to Animal Welfare, students will receive a Certificate of Completion from RSPCA NSW.

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This general interest course will introduce students to the basics of animal welfare. It is suitable for anyone looking to broaden their knowledge of animal welfare and its surrounding legislation. However, the advice provided during this training is strictly general in nature. Animal welfare and individual household situations can differ substantially. For specific information about the welfare of a specific animal, please seek out expert veterinarian advice. Students can sign up to this online course by simply using the links below

Why study with RSPCA NSW?

At RSPCA NSW, animal welfare is at the forefront of all our courses and certifications. This general interest course is suitable for anyone looking to broaden their understanding of animal welfare in Australia and its surrounding legislation. Areas covered by the course include: 

  • What is animal welfare? 
  • Measuring Animal Welfare 
  • Welfare in different animal groups 
  • Animal Welfare – Case Studies 
  • How to improve animal welfare 
  • Ways to advocate for animal welfare 
  • Legislation around animal welfare 

Frequently Asked Questions

How old do I have to be to enrol in a course with RSPCA NSW?

In line with RSPCA NSW policy, students must be at least 18 years old to enrol in any of our courses. If you’re under 18 years of age but are looking to apply for a course that commences after you turn 18, you may be allowed to enrol with a parent or guardian’s approval – this is to ensure that we can liaise with an adult in the lead up to the commencement of the course.

Upon registration, all students have a maximum of two weeks to pay for their desired course. Payment options include payment via credit card or electronic funds transfer (EFT). If you are an employer registering staff for an RSPCA NSW course, you can opt to receive an invoice when registering. 

Please note that while RSPCA NSW training courses are not eligible for VET FEE-HELP, individual courses like Certificate II in Animal Care may be eligible for government funding via the Smart and Skilled program. For more information on Smart and Skilled funding or paying for your course, please contact us via phone at (02) 9782 4478 or via email at training@rspcansw.org.au. 

To learn more about enrolment, please contact our training team via phone at (02) 9782 4478 or via email at training@rspcansw.org.au. 

Any person requiring a refund of fees paid must do so in writing in accordance with the refund policy outlined below. The $30 administration fee is non-refundable in every case.

When a student has enrolled in a single course, the RSPCA NSW training team will refund part of a course payment when:

  • If a student cancels prior to accessing the online learning materials on our Learning Management System Learnbook, they will fall under the following refund policy:
  • A student has cancelled less than 14 days prior to the commencement. In this case, the student will receive 50% of the remaining amount (remaining amount = fees paid minus non-refundable administration fee).
  • RSPCA NSW will not refund course fees once the Learnbook website has been accessed by the student. RSPCA NSW may need to cancel, postpone, or reschedule a course due to extraordinary circumstances. If this occurs, the student will be offered an alternative date or a full refund.