Young Maori mum paves way in Veterinary Science

Young Maori mum paves way in Veterinary Science in Australia

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Department of Agriculture and Food Director-General Rob Delane and Natural Resource Management/Biosecurity acting Director Eric Wright congratulate Dr Kylie Snowden-Tucker on her appointment as a veterinary officer

A young mother of three, with close Maori family connections on the North Island, is the latest veterinarian to join Australia’s animal surveillance efforts.

Dr Kylie Snowden-Tucker is an Honours graduate in Veterinary Science from Western Australia’s Murdoch University, and recently completed a veterinary cadetship with the Western Australian Department of Agriculture and Food in Perth.

Dr Snowden-Tucker is one of only two indigenous women who have graduated from Perth’s Murdoch’s Veterinary school with Honours, and is understood to be the only indigenous woman in Australia to have completed Honours in Animal Welfare.

She was appointed this month as a department veterinarian to the Moora regional area in Western Australia’s mid west.

Dr Snowden-Tucker’s father is from the Nga Pui Iwi in the Bay of islands region, while her Australian indigenous mother is from Ngemba and Kamilaroi tribes in the Bourke region in New South Wales.

Her father was a shearer in New Zealand, moving to Australia to work as a slaughterman.

Dr Snowden-Tucker said most of her family had worked in abattoirs

“So I have had a long time interest in animal welfare, and I wanted to work with animals,” she said.

Dr Snowden-Tucker was born in Perth where she is a member of a Maori Culture group, Nga Uri O Nga Waka. She has taken part in the Australasian Maori Festival, and maintains close family connections in New Zealand including a half sister.

Dr Snowden-Tucker said she hoped her accomplishments would help other indigenous women, including Maori women.

“I would like young indigenous women to know that dreams can come true with hard work and dedication,” she said.

When Dr Snowden-Tucker began her veterinary studies, she had a two year old son. She subsequently had two more children during her studies.

“I attended an indigenous women’s conference at the University of Western Australia where I discovered Murdoch University had a bridging course for Indigenous students to gain entry into its veterinary school,” she said.

“I thought it was a brilliant opportunity. The veterinary school also has a six year professional programme for indigenous students (the Waardong programme), that takes in just five students a year from around Australia to undertake veterinary studies.”

“I have a very supportive family and husband who have helped me get through my studies while looking after a young family,” she said.

Dr Snowden-Tucker also registered with the National Indigenous Cadetship programme, successfully gaining a cadetship with the Department of Agriculture and Food in Western Australia in 2005.

ENDS

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