Alumni News

Wild about Taronga Zoo

AFTER studying Heath Services Assistance, Animal Care and Animal & Marine Biology at St Norbert College, Class of 2022 Dallas Curtis was nominated for a VET exhibition award in Primary, Environmental and Animal Care Industries. Dallas completed a Certificate III in Heath Services Assistance, Certificate III in Animal Care and Certificate IV in Science with a view to working with animals. And it didn't take long for his dream to take shape.

Dallas has been accepted into the highly regarded and competitive Taronga Zoo Certificate III in Wildlife and Exhibited Animal Care at the Perth Zoo, with a long-term goal of becoming a Zookeeper, and continues to volunteer at Darling Range Wildlife Shelter.

"Undertaking a specialised vocational pathway has given me great clarity as I move into the next stage of my career journey,'' he says. "I am now certain that working within the animal care industry is what I wish to pursue. I have developed many skills through my work placements, some specifically for this career path and other core skills which will be of value throughout my life.

"In the long run I wish to be working at Perth Zoo as a zookeeper and continue volunteering at Darling Range Wildlife Shelter. However, it is a very competitive career and I will need to gain as much experience as I can within the industry to hopefully one day achieve this goal. ''

Asked what he enjoyed most about the VET experience at the College, Dallas said: "I enjoyed having my own freedom to do things the way I want. I like being organised and planning out my work strategies without the pressure of others trying to control me. I felt like my learning thrived when I was given more independence. I enjoyed the more practical way of learning and doing different tasks every day compared to the structured learning. I was able to understand the content better when taught an alternate way. Getting real experience and working in the industry gave me skills I couldn’t of learnt in the ordinary classroom.

And the most challenging element of the VET journey?

"Time management and work-life balance was challenging as I was doing lot during my last year of high school. Other than doing school three days a week, one day of workplace and one day at TAFE. I umpired netball all day Saturday during the winter season and Tuesday nights during spring season. I was working towards my National C Badge Accreditation which I have now achieved. I worked two retail jobs after school and on weekends. I also was running a small business where I make and sell crochet items (which was very popular with some of the teachers). To keep up with all my commitments I made sure to get work done straight away and when possible, get ahead in my classes and course so I didn’t fall behind. This gave me time to do the actives I enjoyed while also not burning out. I am very much a ‘I have do it now or I’ll forget about it’ person so this strategy worked very well for me.

His advice to Year 11 students who are embarking on VET is to "follow your own path''. "Motivation and hard work ethic will only come when doing the things, you enjoy,'' he says. "There isn’t a point of doing a class or course for the sake of others.  Finding what makes you happy and doing all you can to achieve it will help you succeed.'' 

Guntaas Ranu and Stephni Jesuthasan

CLASS of 2022 Dux Guntaas Ranu - who was placed in the top 0.70% of students with an ATAR score of 99.3 and received a SCSA Certificate of Distinction, is now studying medicine.

“When I received my results, I was surprised but also happy to have received a 99+ ATAR,” Guntaas told St Norbert News. “I had already received interview offers to courses like Medicine at some of the best universities in Australia and I felt a sense of pride in being placed in the top 0.70% of students..

“The most enjoyable part of my ATAR journey was the learning experience. Firstly, it taught me how to maintain a balanced routine, so that I can focus on my studies while still enjoying my extra-curricular activities. ATAR also helped me establish and refine skills, such as dedication, commitment and motivation. Ultimately, I found joy in challenging myself to understand concepts beyond the syllabus and, by extension, improved my capability to think beyond academically set boundaries.”

Guntaas said she chose subjects she liked, “so I genuinely enjoyed the content and studied them continuously”. Her commitment to Chemistry, Economics, ATAR English, Mathematics Methods, Physics and ATAR Religion and Life led to being accepted into the Assured Pathway to Doctor of Medicine (MD) at UWA.

Joining Guntaas, and Mr Simon Harvey, at a CEWA Awards ceremony for excellence, was Stephni Jesuthasan who was awarded SCSA Special VET Certificate of Excellence for Community Services, Health and Education. Stephni ’s award recognised the hard work she has invested during Year 11 and 12 to complete the Certificates III and IV in Dental Assistance. Stephni has secured employment in the industry and plans to continue studying dental therapy at Curtin University.

Mrs L Quartemain

(Community Relations and Marketing)