Captive Vertebrate Management
Graduate Certificate
Admission Criteria
Graduate Certificate: Applicants will be expected to have met at least one of the following criteria:
- a minimum of five years appropriate industry experience;
- completed a TAFE Zookeeping certificate or equivalent;
- completed relevant previous tertiary study.
BIO489- Zoo Curatorship 
Lecturer - Kevin Evans, Director, Conservation Programs, Zoos South Australia, Adelaide Zoo
Point Value: 16
Zoos have evolved dramatically in the past twenty years, bringing with it significant change to the way zoo organisations are managed. The role of the zoo curator has become a pivotal position within the zoo with very broad responsibilities and influence.
This subject provides the student with a detailed knowledge of the most appropriate and successful methods for the management of a captive animal collection. This subject is divided into five modules. The first module discusses the husbandry of wild animals in captivity, ethics and welfare, animal transfers and translocations and preventative disease programs. The second module is concerned with zoo master planning and exhibit design. The third module is concerned with collection planning and record keeping. The fourth module discusses conservation, science and research in zoos. Finally, the fifth module discusses legislation pertaining to zoos, zoo safety, communication strategies in zoos and the zoo accreditation program.
BIO327- Wildlife Ecology & Management
Lecturer - Associate Professor Gary Luck, School of Environmental Science, Charles Sturt University
Point Value: 16
In a world of increasing human impact, effective wildlife management is crucial for the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity. In this subject, students are given a thorough grounding in the ecological principles relating to wildlife and how these underpin wildlife management strategies. A strong emphasis is placed on factors such as nutrition, competition and predation in a management context. The population dynamics of wildlife, sustainable harvesting and survey techniques are discussed in detail. The application of adaptive management principles to wildlife management is emphasised throughout. Students will acquire the necessary theoretical, conceptual and practical skills to manage wildlife populations in Australia.