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A Corowa woman whose promising ballet career was curtailed by injury is pirouetting towards a new career in animal care – thanks to TAFE NSW.
Kristy Critelli, 32, was a dance teacher and performer poised to audition for a major ballet company when a series of medical issues, including a back injury, forced her to consider a new career.
After stints working in a bakery and as a library assistant, Ms Critelli turned to TAFE NSW National Environment Centre to gain the practical skills and experience to launch a new career in animal care.
She has recently completed a Certificate II in Animal Care and will next year undertake a Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing.
It comes as vet nursing jobs are in a steep growth phase nationally, with Jobs and Skills Australia predicting the number of nurses will skyrocket from the current number of 10,700 to 17,800 by 2026.
“I’ve always loved animals and I like the idea of being in a caring role,” Ms Critelli said.
“When my dancing career ended, it was difficult but life happens and I focused on the next chapter of my career.
“After doing my TAFE NSW animal care course this year, I realised this was my passion and now want to become a vet nurse.”
Ms Critelli said her TAFE NSW National Environment Centre course, based on a 180-hectare farm in Thurgoona, allowed her to hone her hands-on animal care skills.
“Because we were studying on a working farm, we were able to have a lot of contact with orphaned lambs and piglets,” she said.
“It gave us great insights into so many different aspects of the animal care industry. Our teachers had so much industry experience too and were really invested in us succeeding.”
Ms Critelli is now set to undertake work placement and said once she completes her vet nursing course, she hoped to specialise in caring for wildlife.
TAFE NSW Team Leader of Animal Science and Agriculture Jenny O’Donnell, a practising Veterinarian, said the TAFE NSW National Environment Centre animal studies courses offered students a gateway to careers in pet shops, pet shelters, vet nursing, pet grooming or working with exotic and captive exhibited animals.
“COVID really accelerated the popularity of pets and the industry is expanding massively at the moment,” Ms O’Donnell said.
“With that comes an unprecedented number of employment opportunities and these TAFE NSW animal care courses will give students a running start into the industry.”
For more information, please visit www.tafensw.edu.au/course-areas
MEDIA RELEASE, 27th August 2024
MEDIA RELEASE, 27th August 2024
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