Olivia’s love for animals led to a fresh start at TAFE

When Olivia had a ‘big idea’ to change her life and her career, Free TAFE helped make it real.

Veterinary nurse in scrubs examining a small dog on a clinic table, using a stethoscope in a treatment room.

Olivia always felt she had a special connection with animals, but she never imagined she could turn her passion into a career.

That changed when she discovered she could study veterinary nursing through Free TAFE.

‘I had a big idea to have a life change and a career change and TAFE was the most hands-on way to do that,’ says Olivia.

Olivia enrolled in Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing at Melbourne Polytechnic.

‘I chose vet nursing because I've always wanted to work with animals. I've always wanted to care for them and give them a voice when they don't really get one,’ she says.

At TAFE she learned about caring for pets like dogs and cats, as well as how to support surgeries and other veterinary procedures.

‘The thing I like about TAFE the most is that it is hands-on. It's not just reading books and theory. We get to actually deal with animals, real animals – and fake animals as well.’

While Olivia loves looking after dogs and cats, she’s keen to expand her learning. ‘I would love to go into surgery nursing or exotics, like snakes and reptiles - they’re very cool!’

Free TAFE set Olivia on a pathway to grow in a career that she loves.

‘It's changed my life. I went from working in something that I never really wanted to do, to something that's really fulfilling and rewarding.

‘Free TAFE made it possible for me to start again and get to where I'm meant to be in my life and my career,’ she says.

Find out how Free TAFE can make your dream job real.

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