Ag Challenge tutor 'born to work with animals'

Melanie Thompson. The student has become the teacher. Photo / Bevan Conley

Melanie Thompson has answered the call that has been ringing in her ears for years.
And now the student is the teacher.

Thompson was always destined to work with animals and now she has found her niche career as tutor for Ag Challenge in her first term delivering the Level 5 Veterinary Nurse Assistant (Companion Animal) course.

The course is for those who want to make animals like dogs, cats, rabbits, birds and other small companion animals their specialty.

It covers small animal anatomy and physiology, breeding and feeding, health and wellbeing, clinical, and surgical diagnostic skills along with many other tasks that will allow the graduate to work in a veterinary clinic or other animal-related facility.

The course is also delivered within the confines of a working veterinary practice at Wanganui Veterinary Services on Somme Parade.

Thompson grew up on a lifestyle block in Whanganui and her grandparents and aunty owned dairy farms in the district. She was surrounded by small animals, but also large beast.

Apart for the dairy cows, Thompson grew up alongside her beloved horses and up until recent years competed in equestrian events.

Now Thompson is content with trekking, it suits her busy career lifestyle.

She is also a graduate of this very course through Ag Challenge, graduating in 2015.
"I was born to work with animals," Thompson said.

"I grew up on a lifestyle block and others in my family had dairy farms.

"I had horses growing up, but also surrounded by smaller animals. Even today, I have two cats, a dog and a puppy on its way, it's on order.

"I worked as a vet nurse at Vets On Carlton in Whanganui for three years and before that I did a season dairy farming in the South Island.

"While I loved it, I much prefer this.

"Teaching is going to give me so much satisfaction. I started here a month ago and we have a great bunch of students.

"Delivering the course in a working clinic allows a hands-on approach and that's crucial," Thompson said.

The course is fulltime, five days a week over 40 weeks and while it began in February, Ag Challenge's rolling intake policy allows students to enrol at any time throughout the year.