Where Are They Now?

This year we'll be celebrating our past students who have gone on to bigger and better things! In each issue, an ex VUSC student will give our school community an insight into their journey out of secondary schooling and into their chosen pathway. 

If you are a past student, or know of a past student who would be willing to share their journey, please email kristy.muratore@education.vic.gov.au.

Sage Cachia

Graduated: 2022    Age: 22

Career Pathway:  Veterinarian

Can you describe your study/career journey so far?

I graduated from VUSC in 2022 and I commenced a Bachelor of Agriculture (BAgr) at The University of Melbourne the following year (2023-2025). I majored in Production Animal (Livestock) Science, where I focused on learning how to optimise the health, welfare, and production of animals of agricultural importance (cattle, pigs, sheep, goats, and poultry). 

Since I was little, I had always loved animals, and I had known from a young age that I wanted to be a veterinarian. In Victoria, a science-based undergraduate degree must be completed before applying to a veterinary science degree – this makes it a total of 7 years of tertiary study to graduate as a vet, the same as a human doctor!

After a nerve-wracking wait, I found out in early 2026 that I had been accepted into the 4-year Doctor of Veterinary Medicine course at The University of Melbourne. Looking ahead, I aspire to enter mixed veterinary practice and work in rural communities.

How did you become interested in your career pathway and what were your motivations for pursuing this career?

While I can confidently say that a love for animals is the primary motivator for most who pursue veterinary medicine, it is important to note that other motivations are required due to the many sacrifices associated with becoming and working as a vet.

An additional motivator is that upon graduation, I will be accredited to practice as a vet anywhere in the world. Apart from job security and the opportunity to travel, this will most importantly allow me to improve the lives of animals and developing communities around the world.

What did you do whilst at secondary school to prepare for your chosen career pathway? (e.g. VCE subjects, expos, work experience)

While ensuring I undertook the appropriate VCE subjects to meet the Bachelor of Agriculture prerequisites, I also chose subjects that I was interested in and had relevance to agricultural and veterinary science (geography, biology, chemistry, physics). I found that by doing research on the agricultural and veterinary industry to guide my VCE subject selection, the transition to content taught at university was much more manageable.

In Year 12, I organised work experience through the VUSC Careers Team at a regionally located veterinary clinic. This was my first time working in a veterinary practice and was fundamental to my understanding of why I wanted to pursue being a veterinarian. 

What advice do you have for other students who are interested in pursuing your career pathway?

Seek experience in veterinary clinics in order to truly understand whether the profession is right for you. This will also allow you to find your own unique ‘why’, which is what veterinary schools ask you to explain when applying. In addition, I highly recommend studying biology and chemistry throughout secondary school to a VCE level, as these underpin the principles of animal health and disease. Finally, my last piece of advice to those interested is don’t give up, it is so worth it, and you will not regret it.