Growing up on a cattle and cane farm in Far North Queensland, boarder Lynley Pratt knows what it takes to handle livestock and was inspired to pursue a career working with animals.
“I’ve always loved working with cattle, helping out with mustering and branding on our property at home, but it was observing the practice of artificial breeding at our family friends’ property that really sparked my interest in animal studies,” Lynley said.
“I am very interested in the possibilities that come with artificial insemination to get a modified outcome for a specific breed of livestock.
The Year 12 student is already well on her way to achieving her goal through St Margaret's Portfolio Pathways Program, which encourages students to study for a qualification during Years 10 to 12, gaining accreditations across a range of industries including sport, hospitality, health, community services, engineering and agriculture.
St Margaret’s Head of Faculty – Student Pathways and Futures Naomi Holley worked with Lynley to choose a career pathway that matched her interests and suggested she enrol in a TAFE at School Certificate II in Animal Studies as an opportunity to test out the industry.
“Completing a vocational qualification while at school gives students a taster of particular fields of work and helps them to identify the skills and attributes associated with it.
“It’s so powerful that they can gain this knowledge, experience and insight before they leave school, and it gives them a great head start on future studies and entry into the workforce,” Naomi said.
Lynley is now on a path to becoming a vet nurse, studying a Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing through UQ Skills while still at school.
“I’m studying part-time online at the moment and will transition to full-time once I finish Year 12 at the end of this year.
“With the knowledge and skills I am gaining, I am getting closer to achieving my main goal of moving overseas to work in the livestock industry and pursue my interest in artificial breeding. I think it will be a very rewarding career, particularly seeing a thriving animal that I have helped produce,” Lynley said.