Whakamihi, animal lovers! You did it! A huge and heartfelt congratulations on completing this programme. Here’s a checklist to remind yourself of the skills and knowledge that you have just gained:
| Do I have some theoretical knowledge and related practical skills for caring for companion animals in New Zealand? | YES |
| Do I know about the form and function of different companion animals and how this relates to normal health and behaviours? | YES |
| Do I have techniques for the day-to-day care, handling, transporting and husbandry of animals? | YES |
| Do I have broad knowledge of the legislation that helps protect animals in New Zealand? | YES |
| Do I have the ability to communicate well with other staff and owners of animals on topics like animal health and well-being, policies and procedures, and ethics? | YES |
| Do I know what to document, when to document and why recording information in the work place is important? | YES |
| Do I have basic problem solving skills for the kinds of issues that might occur in the animal care industry in New Zealand, including changes in animal health condition and providing basic animal first aid? | YES |
You’re now well-equipped to be an exceptional pet owner or carer. For those of you who want to make your passion a career, you now have both practical experience and a qualification to help with job seeking. Should you wish to do further studies, this programme is a great first step into a veterinary career. You are more than welcome to contact us if you have any questions about further study options.
Job-Hunting Tip
Make a copy of the points in the table above: you can use this information to put on your CV and discuss in a job interview when you are asked about what skills you have for a potential animal care job.
We really hope that your learning journey as part of the NZMA whānau has been meaningful for you. We’d love to hear your thoughts on your experiences. First though, let’s check in one final time with Emily, Caleb, Zoe, Aroha and Kai.
Case Study
Emily’s future study plans
I have great news! Completing this qualification has helped me successfully enrol in a veterinary nursing programme here in Wellington, which I start in a couple of weeks. I’m now pretty confident that I can handle the study requirements for the nursing course because I was able to stay on top of my studies here as well as working part time. The staff at the SPCA have been so supportive of my learning and really inspired me to take the next step. It’s also been really great studying with people who also have the same interests as me. Thank you and good luck to everyone here for whatever your next steps are!
Case Study
Caleb’s first grooming competition
Heeeeeeey friends, wow where has the time gone! Didn’t we just start studying?! It’s definitely been a juggle working part-time as well as studying but I’m glad I did it. What I’ve really noticed, and my boss has said so too, is that I have really gained confidence in talking with customers about their puppers. I’ve always been chatty, but now I know way more about specific breeds of dogs and what their health care needs are. I have even more regular clients now because they trust my judgement and word is getting around about my services. I still have the same goal as I did at the start of the course, which is to improve my grooming skills. Also, next month I am entering in my first grooming competition! My boss and I have been practicing really hard towards this and I’m excited and nervous at the same time. More qualifications are definitely on the cards, and now that I have done this course, I should be able to enrol in an advanced grooming course. Cheers to everyone here, it’s been a blast studying with you. Stop by the shop next time you are in Hamilton and bring your puppo in for a glow-up!
Case Study
Zoe: business is booming!
Kia ora everyone! The past few months have been amazing. My dog walking business has really taken off and two weeks ago I was able to finally quit my banking job and switch to being fully self-employed. It doesn’t feel real just yet, and honestly it’s still a bit scary but I’m really happy. Studying has been super useful – I’ve noticed the same thing about myself that Caleb mentioned which is that I can have much better conversations with my clients about their dogs. I have to say though, I’ve always been a dog person, but learning about cats has been really pleasant. I don’t think a cat walking business will take off any time soon, but I totally get cat cafes now! My main focus for the next year or so will be growing my business. While I would love to study more about animals, I think I need some small business skills under my belt. I’m chatting with the NZMA team here about business course options. Ngā mihi to everyone here, follow your passion and I hope your dreams come true!
Case Study
Aroha’s business management plans
Kia ora mai tātou. Ngā mihi nui ki a tātou. Hello and well done to everyone! A huge thank you to our kaiako for taking us on this journey, we really appreciate your help and guidance. It’s been really great studying on this programme. I use what I have learned every day when I am talking to customers in the shop. My supervisor is really impressed with my mahi, and I have been getting great performance reviews. My next step is really clear: I’m going to enrol in an online Level 4 First Line Management business programme which is for staff who lead workplace teams. I’ve already talked it over with my supervisor and we have a plan in place for me taking on some supervisor responsibilities at this store and possibly at one of the other Christchurch branches. One step closer to my store manager dream! Aroha nui!
Case Study
Bye from Kai!
Hi everyone, it’s been really nice to get to know you all. Sorry for still not posting a full picture of me here, I still get a bit nervous. Here’s a picture of Freya getting spoiled by my young cousins instead. Freya and Ravenna are doing great. A couple of you have asked me about Ravenna’s hock sore. It’s nearly healed now. Mum and I found an organic mat online to put on our kitchen floor. It’s made of grass, so the rabbits can chew on it without getting sick, but it’s soft enough to protect their feet. They go nuts on it in the evening doing binkies, so it’s been a hit with them. I’m not sure about future study – maybe yes? I love the rabbit rescue though, so I am going to keep volunteering there. I’m really grateful that this programme pushed me to go out and find it for my work placement. I just want to say thank you to everyone here, I’ve really enjoyed studying with you. Thank you also to our tutors and your patience with my many questions. I got so nervous with every assessment, but you guys were so helpful with getting me through the course. Bye!
It's nearly time to say farewell, but we’d love for you to have the final word. Head on over to the forum one last time - tuhia mai ōu whakaaro ki konei. What did you enjoy about this studying on this programme? What could we do to make it better? What are your plans now that you have finished? Do you have any words for your classmates or your tutors? Let us know.
We have more to learn from animals than animals have to learn from us.Anthony D. Williams
Thank you for being such great ākonga/learners! We wish you all the best for the future. Haere rā!
