One day scholarship recipient Owen will be a vet

When Owen was much younger, his beloved dog ingested pesticide and passed away in front of him. It was an incredibly traumatic experience that left its mark – now Owen dreams of becoming a vet.

“I’m majoring in biology,” he says. “The main reason I picked this course is because it’s a pathway for me to veterinary science. I want to do something that allows me to help animals.” After completing the three-year science degree he will enrol in a Masters of Veterinary Science.

Studying animal behaviour at Taronga Zoo

Owen applied for a scholarship to help with living costs and, more importantly, allow him to do one day of volunteering per week at Taronga Zoo. “I get to have a lot of experience with animal handling, encounters with them face-to-face and then also learn about their behaviour, observe them, and help to clean out their habitat,” he says. “The keepers go to a lot of effort behind the scenes to look after the animals’ wellbeing, to keep them with a positive mindset.”

“I’ve worked with kangaroos and a lot of birds, squirrel monkeys, native animals, shingleback lizards, snakes, pythons, tree frogs.” His favourite is the wombat – “How do cubed poos come out of their body like that?!” he laughs.

His dedication has led to being offered a work experience placement at Taronga during his masters. “After placement I’ll see how it goes, they might be able to offer me a job,” he says. “I’m thinking eventually of a vet practice but I would like to get experience at Taronga to allow me to achieve this ultimate vision.

“But I am thinking of a practice because dogs and cats do suffer a lot, and from my experience, dogs saved my life and I want to save theirs.”

Being selected for a scholarship

Winning the scholarship was a standout moment. “I was almost in tears,” he remembers. “I was sitting on the train and I saw an email, I was so nervous, I had that anxious feeling.

“I saw ‘congratulations’ and I was in tears because I do come from a disturbing background and don’t really have the chance to do what I want to do. It made me feel like I am valued by somebody, people have trust in me and faith in me.

“Now I don’t need to work as much, I don’t need to stress so much with everyday living. I have the time to excel in academics, and the chance to experience this world as a person.”

Excelling at university

Owen has just finished semester one of his first year with top marks in all four subjects: biology, environmental science, statistics and French. “I really like to read. There are some books that you never forget and they become part of you,” he says, explaining why he chose French as an elective. “Like The Moon and Sixpence by William Somerset Maugham. He’s better to read in the original French. His books are so beautiful.”

He has developed a great study routine: “I condition myself!” he explains. “I have this candle with a particular fragrance, a vintage fruity kind of smell. I take everything off my desk, sit down and light the candle, and when I smell that I study. My brain understands it’s time to study and it focuses.”

On top of study and volunteering he also works as a barista at a café. “I enjoy it, it’s a nice place,” he says. “The customers are locals, the best part is they bring their dogs to the café, if it’s quiet I have the chance to pet them, offer them a treat and groom their fur.”

About the Tertiary Scholarship Program

The Sisters of Charity Foundation awards tertiary scholarships to young people from out-of-home care backgrounds. Financial support helps recipients afford university or TAFE study expenses (course fees; textbooks; technology; and attending workshops, networking events and internships) as well as the cost of living on their own with no parental support. The scholarship lets them focus on their studies, rather than having to hold down multiple jobs.