Dr Snowden-Tucker is an Honours graduate from Murdoch University’s six year professional program in Veterinary Science for indigenous students. She also recently completed a veterinary cadetship with the department, working in the Animal Health Laboratories in Perth.

Department Director General Rob Delane said regional veterinary services were crucial in the early detection of animal diseases.

“Dr Snowden-Tucker will play an important role in collecting data, monitoring endemic diseases and in assisting farmers with information on disease prevention and control,” Mr Delane said.

Dr Snowden-Tucker has already proved to be quite an achiever. She is believed to be the only indigenous woman in Australia to have completed an Honours Degree in Animal Welfare, and her Honours thesis was the first QBA program to be conducted in Australia in beef cattle,” he said.

“She is also the mother of three young children, two of them born while she was studying for her qualifications,” Mr Delane said.

Dr Snowden-Tucker was born in Perth, and comes from a Koori and Maori family.

She said that as an indigenous woman, she saw her achievements as very important.

“I would like young indigenous women to know that dreams can come true with hard work and dedication,” Dr Snowden-Tucker said.

“Most of my family have worked in abattoirs, so I have had a long time interest in animal welfare, and I wanted to work with animals,” she said.

“I attended an indigenous women’s conference at the University of Western Australia where I discovered Murdoch University had a bridging course for indigenous students to gain entry into their veterinary school.

“I thought it was a brilliant opportunity. The veterinary school also has a six year professional programme for Indigenous students, known as Waardong. The program takes in just five students a year from around Australia to undertake veterinary studies.”

Dr Snowden-Tucker graduated last year.

Dr Snowden-Tucker also registered with the National Indigenous Cadetship programme while studying, successfully gaining a cadetship with the Department of Agriculture and Food in 2005.

Dr Snowden-Tucker’s Australian family are from the Ngemba and Kamilaroi tribes in the Bourke district in NSW. Her New Zealand family are from the Nga Pui tribe on New Zealand’s North Island.