We acknowledge and pay respect to the Kombumerri people who are the traditional custodians of the land on which we work and learn. We would like to pay our respects to all Elders past, present and emerging as they hold the memories, traditions, culture and hopes of our Indigenous people.

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Since Graduation in 2010, I have completed my Bachelor of Veterinary Science degree at James Cook University, Townsville, in 2016.

For the last four years I have worked as an Emergency Veterinarian locally at the Animal Emergency Service – having seen a few familiar faces in this time! Currently, I am studying for my Emergency and Critical Care (ECC) memberships, which will be a steppingstone towards my goal of specialising in this field. I am hoping to move over to Perth to continue down this pathway in the coming years. 

Advice I can give younger students looking towards a professional career, is to not put the goal up on some high, unachievable, pedestal. If you think you want it, go for it! Yes, it will require hard work and sacrifice, but take it day by day, and do not let any obstacles deter you (including other’s opinions of what you can and cannot do). I did not get an OP 1, I didn’t even get into Veterinary Science first go - I transferred internally after a year of Biomedical Science. Being delayed one year feels like nothing almost 10 years down the track, and once it comes to working, no one cares how you got there!

On the flip side of that, it is okay to not know what you want to do; try things out, and just go with what feels right. I chose this clearly defined path, and knew I wanted it from a young age, but I know so many people that did not go straight into the degree or career they wanted (or they swapped halfway through), and they have become very successful in life and work. Life can kind of work out that way, don’t put too much pressure on yourself. 

A career in the Veterinary industry is nothing like my naïve 12-year-old self pictured it to be but I wouldn’t change it for anything. It is not for everyone, and I strongly urge if you’re considering this as a career path, to take the time to do work-experience in your local clinics and do your research. It is definitely not just playing with puppies and kittens but can be extremely rewarding saving the lives of little critters that can’t speak up for themselves. 

We acknowledge and pay respect to the Kombumerri people who are the traditional custodians of the land on which we work and learn. We would like to pay our respects to all Elders past, present and emerging as they hold the memories, traditions, culture and hopes of our Indigenous people.