Dr Helen McGregor had her first work experience in agriculture at just 10-years-old, working with her friend's farmer dad.
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For a young girl growing up in the north of England, it sparked an interest in animals that has led to a career in the veterinary profession, and taken her around the world.
"I've always been really interested in life and exploring that. I was a very outdoors kid," Helen said. "From a young age I explored what being a vet meant."
Helen gained her Degree in Veterinary Science from Glasgow University and for a time pursued the traditional role of a veterinarian.
But an opportunity to come to Australia to do locum work would lead her down a different path.
"I've just followed my feet basically through my professional life, and that's what's led me to travel to Australia and end up working here and settling here, and the range of jobs that I've had," Helen said.
The locum work took her to farms across Australia, the diversity of work giving her a broad set of skills.
"I was increasingly doing farm work that evolved into more of a whole farm advisory role rather than a clinical veterinary role," Helen said.
The whole of farm approach involves looking at every aspect within a farm ecosystem, which includes people and the environment.
When a stint doing farmstays came to an end, she and her partner decided to explore the Northern Rivers region.
One of the key things for Helen is passionate about sharing is that a veterinary degree offers so much scope. She will get to share that message as the Director of Professional Experience at Southern Cross University's new Veterinary Technology program that starts next year.
"It isn't just a straight line path to working in a clinical setting - it can be if that's what you want, and I did that for a number of years.
"It's offered me immense opportunity, and I imagine a lot more than maybe other pathways that I might have taken would."
While the course on offer in 2025 focuses on veterinary technology, the university hopes to offer a veterinary science degree in the future.
Veterinary technology is something Helen says is perhaps not well understood in Australia yet. She said it offers graduates a wide range of skills that will enable them to work in a number of different sectors - including primary care in a clinical setting, specialist pathways in a variety of areas, environmental or conservation sectors, government and not-for-profit work, farming technology, media, and biosecurity in animal health.
Helen is well placed to guide students on their path.
"My experience in the profession is quite diverse. I've worked in a general practice setting, I've worked as a farm advisor, I've worked in the biosecurity space, I've worked for State and Government, and I've worked in a university environment as well.
"I've had the opportunity to build an understanding of how it can be utilised and integrated into the veterinary workforce as it is in Australia."
Helen said it is important for regional areas such as Lismore to be the location for this kind of study, because "people who are attracted to study in a regional area are more likely to stay or understand what living in a regional area means".
The things that drew her to the area will also be a drawcard for students, who will get to work with a variety of native animals and a diverse group of organisations and businesses to build their knowledge and skills.
"The students will be working within the community and building connections, they won't be in a bubble."
