Veterinarian Tania makes history

T ANIA Areori is the first woman from PNG to graduate with a Bachelor of Veterinary Science degree.
She graduated after spending six years at the Charles Sturt University in New South Wales, Australia.
Tania had dreamt of becoming an animal doctor at a very young age because she loves animals.
“My father Miri Areori (from Malalaua district in Gulf) is a health extension officer and mother Mary Samor (from Biranis village, Sumkar district, Madang) is a midwife. Their professions had a great influence on my career.”
Tania is the eldest in a family of four – two sisters and two brothers. She grew up in her mother’s home province.
Tania went to school trying to find the best way to get into a veterinary education institution because no university in PNG was offering the degree programme. Her only option was to go overseas.
Tania began her education at the Madang Christin Academic then to the Luthern Day Primary School.
In 2006, she completed her secondary school education at Tusbab and was selected to attend the School of Natural and Physical Science at the University of PNG. She pursued a Bachelor of Science and Animal Biology programme.
She graduated with a best overall academic performance from the school in 2011.
She went on to do an honors and an internship programme at the PNG Institute of Biology Research in Eastern Highlands, focusing on wild life conservation and biological research.
In 2015, she was accepted by the School of Veterinarian at the Charles Sturt University in Wagga Wagga, New South Wales.
“It was very challenging. You have to be committed and passionate (about your career path) to get through.”
One of her biggest challenges was adapting to life in a new place.
“I lived half of my life in PNG and moving into another country is another story.”
She was excited at first because of new environment and new experience but settling in was hard because she had to leave her nine-month-old son Taegen behind.
“As time went on, I started feeling home sick and I started missing my son.”
On top of that, in rural NSW where she lived, catching transport to class was hard.
“They don’t have constant transport like in Sydney and Melbourne. The bus would come every one or two hours. So if you miss the bus, then you have to wait for another hour or two to get on the next bus.”
Tania started class at 8am or 9 am. So if she missed the bus, it meant missing two hours of class. However she was lucky to have classmates and friends who helped her.
“My classmates were very helpful. They supported me. I had really amazing friends.”
She tried her best to be financially independent.
“Financially independent is very important as a single mum. I had to do what’s best for me and my son so that I can live life on my own terms. Despite any situation, at least I am financially stable.”
She thanks her parents for their support and the sacrifices they made to let her achieve her dream.
And she made them proud when she graduated to become the country’s first female veterinarian.
It was tough to be a woman and a single parent new to the education system of other country and pursuing a degree in a field she was passionate about.
And she came through with flying colours.
“If I can do it, anyone else can do it.”