- In short: After moving to the Central Coast and managing significant anxiety, Rhiann connected with Castle to find work aligned with her love for animals. She was already volunteering at RSPCA and Taronga Zoo while studying Animal Care.
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Persistence paid off: Despite setbacks, including missing out on an initial job opportunity at Taronga, Rhiann kept volunteering, gained her Ps, and later applied for a highly competitive veterinary nursing traineeship at the Zoo – and got it!
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Support and growth through Castle: Castle helped with practical supports like transport and vaccinations, but also with confidence building and career guidance. Rhiann is now thriving in her dream job and encourages others to use volunteering as a stepping stone.
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After relocating to the Central Coast from Sydney with her fiancé, Rhiann first connected with Castle in late 2023. She was navigating a new town, new routines and a lot of anxiety. “I was really anxious at that first appointment, but Castle were very flexible and supportive of me,” she says.
At the time, Rhiann had her Ls and relied on lifts from her fiancé or mum to get around. But from day one, she was focused on using her passion for animals to find work in a wildlife organisation. She was already studying a Certificate III in Wildlife and Exhibited Animal Care through a scholarship at Taronga Training Institute, completing placements at Taronga Zoo Sydney on Mondays and Thursdays and volunteering on Saturdays. On top of that, she also gave her time to the RSPCA.
She finished her practical training in January 2024 and applied for a role at Taronga, but didn’t get it. Instead of giving up, Rhiann kept building her confidence through volunteering, continuing at the zoo every fortnight, and even looking into other wildlife volunteer work. In the middle of this, she also got married – life was busy and Rhiann was taking everything in her stride. She even got her Ps later that year, further increasing her independence.
In May 2024, after two years of volunteering, her coordinator encouraged her to apply for a Certificate IV Veterinary Nursing traineeship with Taronga Zoo Sydney, which meant a full-time position with Taronga, while being supported to study the certificate online through TAFE NSW. It was the first time the Zoo had advertised such a position and there were two roles going. Rhiann applied, and out of 30 applicants, she was successful in securing one of the roles!
As a Trainee Vet Nurse at Taronga Zoo Sydney, Rhiann undertakes zookeeper tasks like feeding, cleaning and looking after the animals at Taronga Wildlife Hospital. She’s also involved in the operating theatre, administering treatments and assisting in operations. Additionally, Rhiann cares for rescued wildlife that wildlife organisations in the community bring in for treatment, rehabilitation and release.
“It’s a long commute and an early start, but I feel really supported. This is my dream job. It’s all worth it and I love it so much,” she says.
Castle supported Rhiann behind the scenes with her transport and vaccination costs, and with confidence to identify and apply for roles working with animals.
“At first, it was hard to find the motivation to get back into the workforce after a lot of challenging stuff had happened in my life. But this role really reignited my passion and I’m grateful for Castle’s support and advice along the way,”
Rhiann
Volunteering helped Rhiann on her path to employment, but also to build confidence and manage her anxiety.
“Volunteering gave me time to build trust with the team and to get to know how everything works. I think it made a big difference when the traineeship came up. I already understood the systems, and they knew I was committed. My supervisor at Taronga was a great mentor through the process.”
When asked about the advice she has for others considering volunteering as a way to build a career, she says:
“Do it. You can do the study and get the certificates, but you need to put yourself out there to get noticed and stand out.”
Rhiann has now been in her traineeship with Taronga Zoo Sydney for almost a year and continues to thrive in her role. She graduated from the Castle program as an independent worker, and we wish her all the very best on her journey.
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