Queensland’s largest technical and further education training provider has teamed up with the country’s biggest amusement park to give students an opportunity to work as animal carers.
The recent partnership between TAFE Queensland and Dreamworld (through the Dreamworld Wildlife Foundation) will allow 22 students to start their Certificate III in Animal Studies in February.
Aside from taking their classes at TAFE Queensland’s Southport campus, the selected students will also receive hands-on training at Dreamworld, where they will work with native wildlife together with industry professionals.
“We pride ourselves on providing learning environments where students get the best of both worlds — the hands-on training combined with industry relevant skills that will make graduates highly sought after by employers,” said Karen Dickinson, general manager at TAFE Queensland Gold Coast.
“This partnership demonstrates our commitment to working with local Gold Coast industries to provide skilled workforces essential to the growth and development of our city.”
Among the practical skills these students are expected to learn are proper handling of reptiles, koala husbandry, quarantine procedures, wildlife rescue, and the preparation of animal meals.
Al Mucci, general manager at Dreamworld, said the partnership will “give the students insight into why this work is so important for the survival of our native wildlife.”
“The program will also include Indigenous cultural learnings with totemic relationships between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and Australia’s unique fauna on the agenda,” Mucci said.
Students who managed to complete their course can immediately work as an animal attendant or carer. They can also opt to continue to the next step by taking up Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing program also at TAFE Queensland.
A timely partnership
TAFE Queensland and Dreamworld’s partnership comes as scientists estimate that around 1bn animals have died because widespread bushfires had burned through their habitat.
While there are no figures on how many animals were injured by bushfires, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals said it was looking for more volunteers to help feed injured animals on Kangaroo Island.
Early this month, an expert panel composed of industry professionals and university professors was formed to help the Federal Government in conservation efforts. Other university professors also offered policy guidelines for the Federal Government to implement.