PHOTO: New graduate Tahlia Dewson
For the first time in ten years, two students from Coonamble graduated from the TVET class at TAFE Coonamble with a Certificate II in Animal Care.
Tahlia Dewson and Clare Hopkins completed the one-and-a-half-year program in September and are continuing to pursue their passion for animal care.
“It’s great to see the enjoyment the students got from what was taught to them,” said Rachel Milne, TAFE Head Teacher of Animal Care for Central West NSW.
The students learned about animal hygiene practices, health treatments, first aid, skincare, and more for companion and farm animals.”I learned every basic training task you needed to know, such as wrapping dogs, or practising to needle on fake skin, or checking vital signs on real dogs,” Tahlia said.
They also completed a work experience component with Tahlia going to the NorthWest Vets in Coonamble and Clare helping out her aunt at a horse stud in Wagga Wagga.
“After my work experience, I knew I wanted to complete my Certificate IV in Animal Care,” Tahlia said.
The students had fortnightly face-to-face sessions with their TAFE teacher.
“If you didn’t know something, she would happily sit down and talk you through it,” Clare said.
“She was wonderful. So nice and very helpful,” said Tahlia.
Ms Milne said Clare and Talia were a joy to teach.
“Talia and Clare were outstanding, excellent students. They were extremely polite, respectful students and very committed to the course,” Ms Milne said.
Both girls grew up around animals.
“I grew up on farms my whole life,” Tahlia said.
“I was always raising animals from kittens and puppies to foals and calves.”
Tahlia lives on Wingadee Station where she helps out with 4,000 ewes and 2,000 cattle.
She also has 22 dogs, ten horses, and two cats – one she adopted while working at the local vets.
Clare also has several animals including dogs, cats, and chickens at home but shares a special love for horses.
“When this course came along, I wanted to do it to learn more about them,” Clare said.
For Tahlia, the TAFE course gave her something to look forward to in school.
“I wanted to leave school,” she said about her experience in Year 9.
One of her teachers recommended the TAFE course to her and as soon as Tahlia heard it involved animal care she was on board.
“I’m glad I did it because now, I love it. I want to keep going in that direction.”
Initially, ten students were in the course but only Tahlia and Clare graduated.
“We wanted to see it through to the end,” Clare said.
The travel distance and demand for classes are part of the explanation as to why there have not been any animal graduates in Coonamble in the past decade.
“The further west we go the options become more limited for people in various ways,” Ms Milne said.
Many students who completed animal care courses continue to find employment in veterinary clinics, grooming businesses, and more.
Tahlia said she plans on moving to Tamworth in the coming years to pursue her love for horses while Clare is hoping to study equine science at the Charles Sturt University and work on a station in the Northern Territory or Western Australia.
The girls encourage other students to follow in their footsteps.
“If you’re someone who loves working with animals, I would highly recommend doing this course. It was such a good experience and helped me realise what I wanted to do in the future,” Tahlia said.
“I’d highly suggest people go do it because it’s actually a lot of fun” Clare said.