Island calling for vet
THE number of vets in the Solomon Islands will double when James Cook University graduate Joyce Anita returns home.
Currently, the only vet in her home country is her father.
But she’ll always remember Townsville.
Ms Anita said she owes a lot to the strangers who came to her rescue when her car was stolen a few months ago.
“I lost my passport and my laptop. When my car was stolen they threw my bag and all my stuff out the window,” Ms Anita said.
“My laptop ended up at The Cathedral School and the principal called me to say they had my stuff.”
For a university student in the middle of assignments, the device was critical.
“Another local found my passport somewhere else and she drove all the way to drop it off at the university desk. She was a complete stranger, I don’t know who she is or how she knew I was a JCU student, but I’m very grateful,” Ms Anita said.
In the end, everything was found and returned.
The 25-year-old spent five years studying a Bachelor of Vet Sciences, jumping straight into the degree after finishing high school.
“In the short-term I want to work back home and get some experience,” Ms Anita said.
Long-term I want to spread awareness in the Pacific nations about the importance of animal health and how crucial it is for public health and food safety.”
The Solomon Islander said she chose JCU because of the university’s emphasis on tropical diseases and rural medicine.
“The highlight of the degree was the placements. I worked in Tully, Mareeba, Mt Isa, Blackall, I got to study, travel and learn slang,” she said.
Ms Anita’s favourite slang is “chuck a U-ey”.
When asked why so few Solomon Islanders were taking up vet studies, the 25-yearold said many didn’t understand the full scope of vet work and weren’t confident enough to move overseas to study.
“I had to move on my own at 20, but I had so much support from the JCU international team,” Ms Anita said.
“In Covid it was challenging doing eight hours of online lectures while stuck in quarantine but the international team would remind us why we were here and we weren’t alone. They’d do get-togethers every Tuesday.”