Catriona Vickery and her mum Shannon have been regulars on the nation’s dog show circuit, claiming a swag of ribbons with their prized rough collies.
Despite long dreaming of a career working with animals, 19 year-old Catriona became disillusioned at school.
If not for the opportunity to study a TVET animal studies course in Years 11 and 12, she would have dropped out.
TVET provides students an opportunity to “earn and learn” at the same time, studying a TAFE NSW course and working a day a week in the industry.
“Being able to do the Certificate II in Animal Studies through TAFE Digital was the only thing that kept me at school,” she said.
“I always knew I wanted a career with animals and the TVET course gave me the practical skills and experience.”
While studying the course, Catriona worked a day a week at Deniliquin Vet Clinic, an experience she described as “very enjoyable and a real eye-opener”.
She thrived in the flexible online learning environment of TAFE Digital, in 2021 being awarded the TAFE Digital Agribusiness Student of the Year.
“It suited me to do the course online in my own time,” she said.
“It helped me fit it around my life and if I wanted to get up at 2am and do the course, I could.”
Currently working at Soul Pattinson Pharmacy, Catriona plans to re-enrol at TAFE Digital next year and study a Certificate IV in Vet Nursing.
TAFE Digital animal studies graduates are in high demand, according to teacher Robyn Bardsley, who still works in industry two days a week as a vet nurse.
One reason for the industry’s jobs boom is due to an uptick in pet ownership during COVID lockdowns, with 69 per cent of Australian households now owning a pet.
“TAFE Digital gives students those hands-on, practical skills to be job-ready on day one,” Ms Bardsley said.
“There’s such a high need for jobs like vet nurses, vet receptionists, animal attendants and kennel hands, and there will be an even higher demand for those jobs in the future.”
She said vet clinics were evolving rapidly and now offered services such as chemotherapy, CT scans and pathology for pets.
Ms Bardsley said many TAFE Digital animal studies students secured work shortly after graduating, or even during their work placement.
TAFE Digital offers anytime enrolment for courses including Certificate II in Animal Studies, Certificate III in Animal Studies and Certificate IV in Vet Nursing.
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