Open Colleges Blog

Balancing family life, a passion for volunteering, and a desire to formalise years of community experience is no small feat. For Erin, a background in hospitality and event management was fun, but it didn't fit into her lifestyle once she had children. Having volunteered for organisations like the Australian Army Cadets, Scouts Victoria, and the Raise Foundation since her own youth, she decid...

Whether you’re looking to turn a backyard passion into a business, pivot your career into something more grounded, or simply get your hands dirty, stepping into the world of horticulture offers endless opportunities. But where do you begin, and what does it actually take to study it online? We sat down with one of our expert horticulture trainers to get the raw, unfiltered truth about course le...

Kyle Gailey can read the fear in a cat's dilated eyes, spot the meaning behind a dog's tucked tail, and calmly scoop up a juvenile lace monitor with the same steady hands you'd use on a baby crocodile. This is what a lifelong love of animals looks like when it finally finds its course. As part of our ongoing series sharing student stories, we sat down with Kyle to hear straight from him about h...

In part one of Kyle's story, we heard how he found his way to studying his Certificate in Animal Care with Open Colleges, and how flexible, self-directed study has worked for him. In part two, we follow Kyle beyond the classroom - into work placement, volunteering, and life at home with his own animals. Hands-On Experience: Work Placement Some of Kyle's most memorable moments have come during w...