Meet Tracy Brownell, a former stay-at-home mum who became the Shelter Support Officer at RSPCA WA
Tracy completed her Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing with AVT in 2019. She was a superstar volunteer at wildlife centres prior to studying, and has transformed her career, becoming the Shelter Support Officer at RSPCA WA.
She is now often involved in assisting us with our Certificate III in Animal Care Services – RSPCA Program students who attend RSPCA during their course! Continue reading to hear about Tracy’s journey.Â
What were you doing before you studied with AVT?
Before studying with AVT, I was a stay-at-home mum volunteering with Kanyana Wildlife for 10 years. Prior to that, I was a property and office manager and had completed a Bachelor of Arts in History. My lifelong passion for animals made it the perfect time to pursue animal-related studies at the age of 49.
What led you to pursue training with AVT?
While volunteering at Kanyana, I treated various wildlife and often researched medications, which ignited my desire to learn more. I discovered AVT’s highly recommended ACM40418 Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing, which offered a 2-year online course that suited me perfectly.
What was your favourite part of the course?
Several moments of the course stand out for me:
- Assisting with a TPLO (Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy) surgery
- De-shedding a German Shepherd
- Witnessing CPR on a dog
- Attending the VNCA Vet Nursing Conference in Brisbane
- Receiving the Certificate of Merit for Veterinary Nursing at graduation was also a wonderful surprise!
“Never worry about being too old to start a new path. Everyone I encountered during my work placements and training was encouraging, and my previous life experience contributed to my successful completion of the Cert IV.”
What skills did you gain while studying?
My qualification has enabled me to competently train volunteers in caring for various animals at RSPCA. Understanding animal husbandry and medical needs is crucial for helping intake volunteers assist the staff.
What’s a typical day at the RSPCA like for you?
As the Shelter Support Officer, I coordinate shelter volunteers, run inductions, create handbooks and presentations, assist with supply ordering, and more. My days are varied and include tasks like giving tours, health inspections, running laundry, and updating training materials, all centred around animal care.
What would you say to someone thinking about studying?
Just go for it! All education is worth the effort and can make a significant difference in obtaining animal-related employment. AVT provides excellent resources and support, and if you bring determination and drive, you will do well and enjoy learning about animal care.
I’d also like to add, never worry about being too old to start a new path. Everyone I encountered during my work placements and training was encouraging, and my previous life experience contributed to my successful completion of the Cert IV. I’m very glad I did it, as it has opened wonderful new experiences for me.
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