Student Spotlight - Donna Forster
How a GOTAFE Qualification Helped Donna Build Her Dream Business
How a GOTAFE Qualification Helped Donna Build Her Dream Business
From doubting herself to winning a business award, Donna Forster's GOTAFE journey has been one of courage, determination and transformation.
At 46, Donna made a decision that would change her life. With encouragement from friends who knew her passion, she enrolled in the Certificate III in Animal Care Services (ACM30122) at GOTAFE, which was the first step toward a lifelong dream of working with dogs.
Fast forward just over a year and Donna is a successful business owner, who recently won the Asuria small business start-up award.
"I lacked confidence being an older person thinking of going back to studies," she admits. "But I reached out and signed myself up. It helped me make the first step in reaching a lifelong dream."
The Certificate III gave Donna a broad, practical foundation, covering animal care, first aid, workplace health and safety, industry legislation and business compliance, alongside hands-on grooming training. It was during the practical component that everything clicked.
"I think maybe a few months in I started to feel I had it in me to produce good grooms and from that my confidence grew."
The commitment was real. Every week, Donna made the four-hour round trip from Wandiligong, stayed overnight away from her husband and son, and pushed through the challenges of returning to study.
When things got tough, her GOTAFE teacher was there to support her.
"It was helpful to have a mentor I could trust and have a wonderful connection with. It really did help me have the confidence to keep moving forward."
After graduating, she launched Wandilidogs Grooming in Victoria's Alpine Shire, a personalised one-on-one grooming service built on everything she learned through her studies. Through hard work, determination and a willingness to step outside her comfort zone, Donna has grown the business into a thriving part of the local community.
"I'm so proud of myself for stepping out of my comfort zone and giving it a go. It's the most rewarding thing I've ever done in terms of a professional career."
Her advice to anyone considering studying later in life?
"GO FOR IT. It can be the most rewarding thing."
For Donna, it already is.