Growing up on a sheep and beef farm in South Canterbury, Zoe Ross was undecided about her career by the time she finished secondary school. “All my friends were going to be a teacher or accountant or nurse,” says Zoe, but she wasn’t interested in any of those choices. Taking a gap year, Zoe took a job at Fonterra. It was hard work, but it was what she needed, giving her a direction to head in. “I knew I didn’t want to work inside,” she says.
Zoe enrolled in New Zealand Certificate in Animal Technology (Level 5) Rural Animal Technician (RAT) at Telford after finding them online. Being from South Canterbury, “all my friends went to Lincoln [university]”, she explained, however, she had inside information which supported her decision. “My Dad went to Telford. It seemed really hands-on,” and significantly more hands-on than what Zoe’s friends were experiencing at university. “They were saying things like there are 400 people in my course”, and spending a lot of time sitting in lectures. It wasn’t what Zoe wanted. “That’s what turned my head,” she says.
Going against the flow, Zoe moved the five hours’ drive south to Telford, on the outskirts of Balclutha. She knew immediately it was the right decision. “On day one I was vaccinating cows. It built confidence, getting out amongst it straight away.” Zoe and her classmates were straight into problem-solving and decision-making together. “You don’t know anyone. It pushes you in a positive way,” she acknowledged. The RAT programme followed the dairy calendar throughout the year. “What you learn at the time is what is happening in the dairy calendar,” Zoe explained. “You feel very competent and confident when you go out on placement because you know what’s going on.”
“We had 200 hours placement at Clutha Vets, it’s one of the highlights of the course … They invest time into you as you train.” Zoe got to know the staff and clinic practices thoroughly. It also gave her all the variety and practical experience she needed, training with a good selection of dairy stock, sheep, deer, horses, and pigs, as well as some small animal work.
In her second year at Telford Zoe completed a Massey Diploma in Agriculture (DipAg). At the same time, her younger sister was at Lincoln doing a DipAg and the sisters frequently compared their experiences. “[My sister] was in a class with 500 … [the lecturers] didn’t even know their name. There were 14 people in my class. I’m so glad I went to Telford.” Close connections between students and tutors were the norm. “I didn’t need to put my student ID on my papers, [the tutors] knew my name. They are so happy to help you out, they were just a phone call away and want to get the best out of their students.” If there wasn’t a job at the end of the programmes for the new graduates the tutors would know about it. “All the staff were amazing; they go above and beyond.”
Zoe says she had so much fun at Telford, her biggest hurdle was developing self-discipline to ensure she got her assessments done on time. “In my first year there was about 60 of us, then 80 in the second year; we were like a family… everyone had each other’s backs.”
“I was a shy kid when I started there. When there’s 10 of you sharing a communal bathroom, it forces you to make friends. I grew a lot in self-confidence.”
The warm, caring environment on campus attracted a younger age group of students. “Every student at Telford is mentored individually, depending on what their needs are.”
The friendships Zoe made at Telford were her biggest highlight, also “the people you meet along the way … getting to know the local community and local farmers.” Field trips and farm tours help to introduce the students to contacts within the agricultural sector. Zoe reiterates her self-confidence flourished. “I felt with my vet tech course, I know I can actually do this,” she said.
“Believing in yourself, it sounds so cliché, but it’s true – you’re fresh out of Telford and thinking what am I going to do with the rest of my life?”
After graduating in 2023, Zoe was immediately employed by Clutha Vets as a Rural Animal Technician. The work sees her outdoors and “in the thick of it” with animal care. “It’s 10 minutes away from Telford. I love it. I don’t see myself moving from here…” and can see herself in the vet tech’s role for the near future. “I’m 22; I would still like to be a tech for the next few years and work up to a leadership role (Head Tech). She’s also interested in being a field rep. “I really enjoy people and animals; that type of role would tick all of the boxes.”
Zoe suggests prospective students have nothing to lose by trying Telford. “Definitely do it. It’s an affordable education. It’s not through the roof like other places. You just need to do it… I’m so stoked I did it, to be honest,” she added, and recommends “push yourself out of your comfort zone and try something new”, as it pays off in many ways.