New animal studies facility set to get Wagga vet students job ready

Wagga vet students will reap the benefits of a dedicated mini vet clinic with two new teachers at the TAFE NSW Primary Industries Centre (PIC).

The finishing touches have been put on a new mini teaching hospital at the site, including a range of state-of-the-art equipment.

The TAFE NSW North Wagga campus upgrade comes amid strong projected jobs growth in the animal care sector, according to industry data.

TAFE NSW PIC said there’d also been a strong surge in pet ownership due to the need for more companionship during COVID-19 lockdowns, with 69 per cent of Australian households now owning a pet.

Wagga senior vet nurses Tamara Percival and Ashlee Taylor have joined the animal studies teaching faculty at the PIC.

Ms Percival was stoked to have the new facility to teach the students.

“To offer these students a face-to-face class with all-new equipment in the classroom where they can feel safe, and get them ready to use this equipment before heading into the industry is great,” Ms Percival said.

“It is fantastic to be able to offer this from TAFE New South Wales and it puts us above the rest.

“As someone who did their certificate via correspondence, it was difficult to imagine what I was going to be dealing with in the industry … I only had short blocks with my practical days.”

Ms Percival said she was drawn to teaching at TAFE NSW after witnessing skills gaps in work placement students at the clinics she worked at.

“What we found when students were coming into practice was that there were gaps in knowledge and skills,” Ms Percival said.

“I like the fact TAFE NSW gives students those hands-on, practical skills to be job-ready on day one.

“There’s such a high need locally for jobs like vet nurses, vet receptionists, animal attendants and kennel hands, and there will be an even higher demand for those jobs in future.”

TAFE PIC vet student Tara Robinson is a mother of two boys who had to take a pause on her studies.

“I’m the oldest in the class and known as the mum. Everyone has been accepting and the course is really enjoyable,” Tara said.

“We all have different experiences and stories and things that we can all learn from.

Tara said the mini vet clinic was highly beneficial to the students.

“We can practice setting things up in the surgery and when we go to placement we can feel more confident,” Tara said.

“Tamara is very good, she answers any questions we have.”

Tara also does wildlife care through Wildcare as it’s something she has always been passionate about.

“I’ve always wanted to help out with Australian wildlife and when I got the opportunity, I took it,” Tara said.

“It is rewarding and heartbreaking at the same time.

“Veterinary care for wildlife is not well known and it is something I want to learn more about.

“I love each and every animal in the world. It doesn’t matter whether they bite me, I will always love them,” she said.

Tara also works at Cooper Street Veterinary Hospital in Cootamundra.

Ms Percival said vet clinics were evolving rapidly and now offered services such as chemotherapy, CT scans and pathology for pets.

TAFE NSW PIC is running two animal studies courses – a Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing and a Certificate II in Animal Studies.

Ms Percival said the revamped section would ensure students were trained in a simulated real-world vet clinic.

“We’ve got brand new equipment, including an anaesthetic machine, dental machine and infusion pumps,” Ms Percival said.

“It’s been great to join the TAFE NSW team and it’s very rewarding seeing those lightbulb moments with students.”

The clinic also boasts new, state-of-the-art animal surgical tables, cages and other top-line veterinary equipment.

She said the PIC was forging strong relationships with local industry.