Working at the Australian Wildlife Hospital is the fulfillment of a dream for Sunshine Coast vet Amber Gillett.

“I’m an animal person through and through,” she says. “And I’ve always wanted to work with wildlife.”

While she grew up riding horses, motorbikes and working in vet clinics, Amber started an arts degree at Brisbane University before switching to veterinary science.

“I took my first trip to South Africa on a veterinary conference and wildlife capture course in 2002,” she says. “And this is when I realised that domestic veterinary practice just wasn’t for me.”

Transferring her studies to South Africa, Amber took up a job at the DeWildt Cheetah and Wildlife Trust as a cheetah handler, tour guide and educator.

After returning to Australia, Amber was quick to finish her degree and snap up a job at the Australian Wildlife Hospital in 2006.

Being back in Australia, she realises just how lucky we are to have a system where wildlife can be helped free of charge.

“I’m so glad that people here make an effort to bring injured animals to us,” she says, adding, “I hope watching Outback Wildlife Rescue makes people rethink leaving injured animals on the side of the road. There is a place that can help them, even if it’s only to end their pain.”

The caring 27-year-old admits to being slightly intimidated by the film crew at first, but says getting the important animal welfare message out was enough of a motivation to cure her nerves.

“We need to spread the word about what wildlife carers, and the wildlife hospital can do with the public’s support,” she says. “Getting an animal rehabilitated and back into its habitat is the most important thing.”