Animal loving teacher

More information about this house sitter

Hi,

I am currently in the UK for an indefinite period. I will update my profile upon my return.

I am a very well travelled, English language university lecturer, (now only doing casual/relief teaching as and when). Although I had done some housesitting previously from time to time mainly in Perth, I really fully utilised housesitting in 2015 while studying to finish a Master degree at the Australian National University in Canberra and I've continued off and on from there.

After completing my degree, I went overseas and had a wonderful time housesitting in Spain and the UK, where I taught at Cambridge University over the summer. I returned to Australia and then went to Nauru Island in the South Pacific to teach refugees until Dec, 2016.

Until the end of October 2018, I was teaching on a casual basis in Canberra at ANU College, as well as refugees and new migrants with Navitas while housesitting so I could go on writing a very drawn out book!

Now I am back in my home base of Perth and finally am quite addicted to housesitting one way or the other, loving experiencing living in different suburbs and most importantly, being able to have the company of lots of incredible pets, plus my book is a never-ending project. So I am continuing to housesit and am seeking to develop a network of house/pet owners so I can probably go on housesitting long into the future. I have now moved into my apartment in Mosman Park but it’s a tad too small to comfortably keep pets.

While housesitting initially helped make fast-tracking completing my degree a possibility in a year, it has gone on to prove to be just a fantastic way to stay in places for longer periods of time than would otherwise be possible in some amazing locations. As I love all animals and seem to have a wonderful rapport with them, it really is a win/win.

I've also been thinking I would like to experience managing Airbnb accommodation on site. I have noticed that some housesits involve maintaining Airbnbs while the owners are away in return for some financial remuneration...so if you have an Airbnb and are hoping to go away for a spell, think of me!

In my time housesitting, I have looked after a wide variety of dogs, cats, horses, exotic birds, reptiles, a pig, a sheep and chickens! I've helped in training a young lab, and had to give daily medication, including pills, to dogs, cats and horses. Some rescued animals in particular had personality issues reacting badly to other dogs and so on, which I coped with well. I've had to take animals occasionally to vets - one emergency, otherwise routine, fortunately, all survived (most notable was a large cross breed dog suffering from paralysis in its back legs after a tick bite - speedy intervention saved her!) I previously looked after two sickly cats who both took pill medication twice a day and one had to have weekly visits to the vet for cancer treatment.

I enjoy weeding when it comes to gardens if I have the time, as I find it very relaxing (and in truth can become quite fanatical when it comes THAT time to get writing :( ). I can mow lawns and I am also accustomed to tending/watering veggie gardens and looking after pools.

Because I love housesitting so much and take it very seriously, I am extremely conscientious and give above average attention to the houses, animals and gardens in my care as my numerous 5 star housesitting references concur. You can see references from other housesitting websites I am associated with in the media section and photographs, and I can provide direct links.

For teaching at ANU College and Canberra Institute of Technology (Navitas) while studying in 2015 in Canberra, I had to have police checks done, plus I have a valid Australian Working With Vulnerable People clearance For ACT & NSW. I also have police clearances for Australia, UK, Japan, and Oman up to 2010 which were necessary for gaining permanent residency for the USA. I received a police and Working with Vulnerable People clearance for teaching at Cambridge University. Most recently I had to have a medical and police check for teaching on Nauru, and then with a Carer organisation in Canberra. I now have a police clearance and Working with Children clearance for West Australia.

I have had an ongoing connection with Zanzibar, Tanzania, volunteering and organising other volunteers, as well as being the co-organiser of a project to bring 40 donated computers to a village from Oman in 2010. Also see 'Volunteering Zanzibar' Facebook page which I oversee. You can find my resume of work and life experience on Linked in.

Phew, enough about me - I just keep adding to this but it needs a "good trim"! I look forward to hearing from you if you think we can help each other out :)

Sarah Read more...