We love animals!

Life is too short not to align your passions with your work. We give you the industry’s best possible training so you can create a more meaningful career caring for your feathery, furry, and leathery friends.

Your hard work and passion for the job combined with our reputation for training excellence means higher employment rates after you graduate.

You asked, we delivered.

As a subsidiary training organisation of the Australian College of Veterinary Nursing, the Australian College of Animal Care was born from repeated requests from our students for more general animal care courses.

Our mission is to provide Australia’s most accessible and affordable animal care industry training. Our focus is giving you the exact skills and knowledge you need for a successful and rewarding career.

Harrie Phillips is an animal care educator and course developer whose work is grounded in science, education, and applied animal management. Her background spans clinical practice, adult and vocational education, infection prevention and control, and workforce leadership, all of which inform how ACAC designs and delivers animal care training.

She is the founder of ACAC and ACVN holds degrees in adult and vocational education, clinical education, plus qualifications in veterinary nursing, equine healthcare, management, human resources, and small business. Harrie has extensive experience developing accredited training and professional development, with a strong focus on animal welfare, safe handling, evidence-informed practice, balanced with the realities of animal care workplaces.

Harrie has a passion for all animals but a deep love of Norwegian Fjord Horses which she also breeds. With a focus on equitation science, she manages them in herds that support social behaviour, movement, and long-term soundness. She competes in working equitation, dressage, and horseback archery, applying learning theory, biomechanics, and welfare principles to develop calm, functional horses that are safe to handle and work with.

Natalie Woolley is an animal care educator with a strong focus on animal behaviour, training, and evidence-based learning. She holds multiple Diplomas in Veterinary Nursing and a Bachelor of Training and Development, supported by around 20 years of clinical experience in high-level veterinary practice. Natalie continues to work as a casual specialist emergency nurse with a referral centre in Adelaide, maintaining close links to current clinical standards.

Natalie’s professional interests centre on behaviour, learning, and the practical application of training principles to support animal welfare, safe handling, and functional outcomes across animal care settings. Her education work focuses on helping students build skill, knowledge, and resilience through clear, evidence-informed teaching that translates effectively into real-world practice.

Outside of teaching, Natalie actively trains and works her dogs, competing in sprint dog and scent trials. She also keeps chickens and enjoys gardening, reading, and spending time with her animals.

Tess moved to Australia from the UK and completed a Bachelor of Science in Veterinary Bioscience before changing direction into veterinary nursing. She completed her Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing through ACVN in 2020 and has worked full time in nursing roles since 2015.

She has worked mainly in rural clinics and has experience with small animals, large animals, equine patients, and exotics. Tess works as an educator with ACAC and also continues clinical work at a busy hospital on the Fleurieu Peninsula in South Australia, which helps keep her teaching grounded in current practice.

Tess has a particular interest in client communication, education, administration, and emergency work. She also assists her husband in their mobile large animal practice, often heading out on weekends to help with calvings or the occasional sick alpaca. Outside of work, she enjoys exploring the region with her border collie, Indiana Bones.

Yvonne has over a decade of experience across clinical veterinary practice, leadership, and mentoring in a range of international settings. Originally from South Africa, she qualified as a veterinary nurse in 2017 through the Australian College of Veterinary Nursing and has worked in animal care roles across multiple countries.

Yvonne’s clinical interests include emergency and equine nursing, supported by her Diploma in Equine Science. She also has extensive experience working with many different exotic species.

In recent years, Yvonne has focused increasingly on education and workforce development. Her passion lies in helping developing students build confidence, competence, and professional pride through structured guidance and practical skill development.

Yvonne’s long-term goal has always been education, and her teaching is informed by both her clinical background and leadership experience. She brings a strong understanding of how to support learners as they progress from entry-level roles into capable, skilled animal care professionals.

Mahni holds a Bachelor of Science majoring in Zoology plus Reproduction and Development and has worked across a wide range of animal care roles since graduating in 2008. Her experience includes managing a large, high-volume dog day care facility, working in pet retail, and practicing as a veterinary nurse, giving her a strong understanding of animal care across both commercial and clinical environments.

She has also worked as an animal attendant and within the education centre at the RSPCA, as well as in an administrative role at Central Animal Records with a focus on animal welfare. This breadth of experience informs a practical, systems-based understanding of animal care, regulation, and ethical practice.

Mahni has been part of ACAC for over a decade, working across administration, education, and compliance. She brings a deep understanding of how animal care training operates in practice, from regulatory requirements through to day-to-day delivery. In addition, Mahni has extensive hands-on experience breeding both dogs and horses, further grounding her work in real-world animal management.