
- This event has passed.
Unavailable
May 15, 2020 - August 31, 2021
Soon after the pandemic started, all my scheduled house sits cancelled one by one, as the homeowners were no longer able to travel. After a few months of waiting to see how it would all unfold, I made the decision to get an apartment of my own in Sydney. (It had been years since I had my own place!)
I was already pursuing further education in animal care. One of the reasons I had lined up 6 months of sits just in Sydney was because I had planned to be here from January to June 2020 to take the certificate II course in animal studies at the Taronga Training Institute, something I had wanted to do for a long time.
As it became evident that I wasn’t going anywhere anytime soon, I applied for the more competitive certificate III course in captive animals. That course is nearing the end (we finish in June 2021), and I have learned an enormous amount about so many aspects of animal care and about so many different species. The hands-on practical experience on different divisions at Taronga Zoo has been extraordinary. I have relished it.
I haven’t yet made a decision for next steps after the course finishes. At the moment, I’m inclined to stay where I am in Sydney until vaccinations are fully on board. Since I’m in the last adult group, that won’t be until close to the end of 2021 (as the timeline currently stands).
As I make further decisions, I’ll update this page. Until then, I hope everyone reading this is safe & healthy.
UPDATE JUN 2021: The Taronga course is wrapping up, and I have vaccinations scheduled. I’m still sorting out next steps, but I likely wouldn’t do a sit until a few weeks after my 2nd vaccination at the earliest.