Amy Coetsee

Amy is a Threatened Species Biologist at Zoos Victoria, working to protect the Eastern Barred Bandicoot and hopefully recover them from the threatened species list. She is also inspiring women and girls as a 2019 Superstar of STEM.

amy coetsee

Every day working in conservation is different. Some days, I'm fighting my way through dense tea tree and blackberry on French Island. Other days I'm at my desk, sorting through thousands of camera trap images or talking to students and the community about my work. My favourite thing is introducing new volunteers to their first Eastern Barred Bandicoot – it's always love at first sight.

There were many times when I thought I would never work in conservation, but I persevered. 13 years after finishing my undergraduate degree and four years after finishing my PhD in Science at the University of Melbourne, I got my dream job.

For anyone interested in becoming a conservation biologist, volunteering can be key to your success. Not only does volunteering increase your skill set but it also grows your network – the more people who know what you're capable of, the easier it will be to get a job.

I love what I do, the challenges and variety it brings, the amazing people I get to work with, and that I’m making a difference for threatened species. I can’t imagine doing anything else.

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