WORKPLACE MENTORS
Workplace Mentors are a vital component of the way we deliver our outstanding animal care courses and are an integral part of our quality. Learn more about becoming a Workplace Mentor.
As a Workplace Mentor, you have the power to shape the future of the animal care and equine industries. You don’t just supervise — you inspire, guide, and support students as they turn their classroom learning into real-world confidence. By opening your workplace and sharing your expertise, you give students the chance to grow, while showcasing the standards and values you believe in.
Your experience and qualifications make you the perfect role model. Whether you work in a zoo, grooming salon, pet shop, boarding facility, shelter, day care, or equine facility, what matters most is your willingness to support and encourage the next generation.
Becoming a Workplace Mentor is also an opportunity for you. You’ll strengthen your leadership, communication, and teaching skills, while gaining the satisfaction of seeing students thrive under your guidance. Most importantly, you’ll know that you’re making a lasting difference — not just to their careers, but to the future of the industry you care about.
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“Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn.”
― Benjamin Franklin
The Workplace Mentor’s Role
As a Workplace Mentor, you are the student’s main guide and point of support during placement. You help them connect what they’ve learned in class with the realities of the workplace, building their skills and confidence in a practical setting.
Your role may include demonstrating and explaining tasks, observing the student as they practise, and giving constructive feedback on their progress. You’ll also verify certain workplace skills. Most formal assessments are carried out via video or live Zoom with an ACAC Educator, so your involvement in assessment is minimal.
For some subjects, students complete short “Key Skills” records to log tasks they have undertaken. You only sign these off once you are confident the student can perform the task to the level you would expect from an employee, and that the record is accurate. If you haven’t observed the skill, or the student hasn’t yet reached proficiency, it’s completely fine to leave it unsigned — the student will simply need to gain more experience before it can be ticked off.
Students also write case studies based on their placement. These must reflect their actual involvement, and we’ll ask you to sign a short declaration to confirm this.
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“In learning you will teach, and in teaching you will learn.”
― Phil Collins
Who Can Be a Workplace Mentor?
To be eligible, you must hold either:
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An animal care–related qualification, OR
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At least 5 years of relevant industry experience.
Workplace Mentors may come from many fields, including zoos, grooming, pet shops, shelters, boarding facilities, day cares, equine workplaces, and veterinary practices.
Documentation required:
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If you hold an animal care qualification: upload a copy of your certificate.
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If you have 5+ years’ industry experience but no qualification: provide details of your experience and any recent CPD (courses, seminars, workshops).
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If you are a registered veterinarian or an AVNAT-registered veterinary nurse/technician: provide your current registration number.
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If you are a veterinary nurse or technician not registered with AVNAT: upload a copy of your VN/VT qualification and provide details of your current and previous employers.
Ensuring mentors remain up to date is part of our quality process, so that students are supported by confident, capable professionals.
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Register as a Workplace Mentor
Before you can register as a Workplace Mentor, your workplace must first be approved as a Workplace Training Partners.
Once the workplace is approved, any eligible team member can apply by completing the online Workplace Mentor Registration Form. You’ll simply need to provide your registration number (if applicable) or upload a copy of your qualification to confirm eligibility.
After your registration is processed, we’ll email your login details for this website so you can access mentor resources and get started.
Not sure if your workplace is already registered? Don’t worry — both registration forms will automatically check this for you as the first step.
MENTOR FAQ
Do I have to proof read assessments?
It is not a requirement that Workplace Mentors must proof read a student’s work. Anyone can proof read assessments for the student to check spelling, grammar and general structure.
Students do however often appreciate a fresh set of eyes reviewing their work to help ensure they are on track.
Of course, before signing a Workplace Mentor Declaration, you’ll need to at least speed read the case study to verify it is indeed an accurate reflection of the student’s involvement.
How much work is being a Workplace Mentor?
We won’t lie – there is work involved, but if you have a passion for teaching, and are open to learning then you will get much more out of mentoring that you put into it.
Most mentors will spend several hours a week working with and supervising new skills, but then the student can work under indirect supervision.
We’ve structured our video/live assessments to not need too much other staff involvement, and our Key Skills are just signatures and dates for Mentors.
What if I can't always be around for the student?
Sometimes your workplace roster, or an individual Workplace Mentor’s skill set, may require more than one person to fulfil this role. This is perfectly fine as long as each mentor is registered with us. Students often have 2 or 3 mentors registered, which helps to share the work load.
Of course, other staff may also be involved in training, after all, it’s a team environment, but only approved mentors can sign off Key Skills and Case Study Declarations.
Our workplace does not want students to interact with clients, is this a problem?
No! It is fine to run role play/scenarios instead of allowing students to interact directly with your clients.
Once you have access to this website, you’ll find guidance on alternatives for many of the tasks.
It’s important to us that we help you protect your workplace’s reputation at all times, ensure privacy laws are not broken and that training can be adaptable to your specific policies and procedures whilst still meeting course objectives.
What if the student isn't right for us?
If at any time during the placement you feel our student is not an appropriate match for your workplace or is disrupting your staff, you’re entitled to cancel the placement.
If this is necessary, please call our office to discuss the issues on 03 9040 3600.
