Our Year 10 Science students are investigating endangered species and biosecurity so we reached out to former Timboon P-12 School student, Abbey Ralph, who is now a Graduate Ranger at Cradle Mountain in Tasmania. After graduating from Timboon, Abbey took a gap year where she originally worked in retail to help save money for a solo back packing trip around Europe. Upon her return, Abbey enrolled in a Bachelor of Environmental Science at Deakin University where she discovered a new passion and drive for land based environmental science. During her course Abbey volunteered at wildlife sanctuaries and parks before determining that she wanted to one day return to work in Tasmania. COVID restrictions made interships difficult so Abbey applied for an Honours year and, as a non-academic person, she knew she was up for a challenge, but couldn’t wait to start a fourth year of study in an area that really interested her. Abbey’s research year took her to the Grampians National Park where she studied the abundance and distribution of the Long-Nosed Potoroo and the Southern Brown Bandicoot. This research was critical as bandicoots have not been seen in the landscape since 2013 and potoroos not since 2010. Camera traps and vegetation surveys helped establish where they were sited in the Grampians and also determined the number and type of predators in their environment. Abbey later worked with Parks Victoria and was able to apply the skills about environmental management into practise in real world situations. After project management in Northern Victoria and a search for a new job and an adventure, Abbey applied for the role as Gradate Ranger of Cradle Mountain, a dream location for a job! Her role is made up of a variety of roles including park maintenance, talking to visitors, reviewing permits and walking the walking tracks. As Abbey’s career progresses, she will learn all about project planning, firefighting, helicopter operations, supporting search and rescues and volunteer programs. She thoroughly enjoys working in the Cradle landscape and this role in Tasmania is a real adventure! What an office... Comments are closed.
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April 2024
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