Wrangling crocs in a pen is a far cry from the white sandy beaches of the Gold Coast, but Sam Stredwick wouldn't have it any other way.
After 10 years of working as a lifeguard, Ms Stredwick is ready to change careers to become a zookeeper and work specifically with crocodiles.
"I feel they're misjudged, and there's not enough knowledge about these animals," she said.
"They're amazing. They're unique. They're beautiful.
"I just want to get in there and learn as much as I can and educate people as well."
Ms Stredwick has travelled to central Queensland to get hands-on experience with the reptiles, completing a crocodile handling training course under the guidance of John Lever, a world-renowned croc expert who owns the Koorana Crocodile Farm near Rockhampton.
It's the cherry on top of her work and study in exhibited animal care.
Mr Lever designed the course in the late 70s after returning from training people on crocodile farming in Papua New Guinea and saw there was no training available in Australia.
"We call it a crocodile-handling training course, but in actual fact, it's a bit of everything.
"It's also conservation. It's also tour guiding. It's also how to set up a hatchery … all things that are needed in the industry."
Handling crocs 'simple process'
Participants start in the hatchery with the babies before working their way up to full-sized breeding crocodiles.
"They've been handling some larger crocodiles … you don't pick them up in your hands. You've got to do with ropes and poles," Mr Lever said.
"The whole process of handling crocodiles — it is a simple process, and once you've learned it, you can handle crocodiles from 2 metres to 6 metres."
Cairns-based tattoo artist Tommy Hayes is starting his career in crocodile conservation after two decades of working with a tattoo gun.
"I think it's every eight-year-old boy's ultimate thing to be a crocodile or be a dinosaur," he said.
Mr Hayes said he'd been going through a difficult period in his life but watching crocodiles on a river bank gave him hope.
"I was up there every day, just self-destructive stuff, and then I started to notice the crocodiles notice me," he said.
"Going out and seeing that big bull croc all the time saved my life … and then he was removed and that kicked me in the butt because that was unfair."
Mr Hayes said the experience made him want to work in conservation.
Mr Hayes said he learnt "mountains of information" in the course.
"I'm completely exhausted mentally and physically, but it's brilliant," he said.
Mr Hayes is working with the Community Representation of Crocodiles group, which is a newly formed organisation advocating for crocodile conservation and croc-wise behaviour.
"It's a massive problem in Queensland. People just are not getting it," he said.
Croc-wise behaviour includes reporting all crocodile sightings, staying 5 metres from the water's edge in croc-country, not feeding crocodiles and being extra cautious at night, dusk and dawn when they feed.
Many pathways for working with wildlife
Mr Lever said the majority of the participants in the course were looking to pivot into conservation and zookeeping, while some already in these industries were looking to upskill.
Participant Casey Hill works in intensive care rehabilitation of lace monitors with Hunter Wildlife Rescue in New South Wales and is also studying with Taronga Zoo.
Ms Hill said she was passionate about reptiles and had used the croc course to further her knowledge.
"The coolest things that I've learned would be about the management of crocodiles, the husbandry and keeping them healthy," she said.
"How to keep yourself safe, [I am] already working with apex predators and dangerous animals. This is another add-on to my list."
Mr Lever decided not to pursue having his crocodile handling course officially registered, so participants receive a certificate of competency rather than accreditation.
A spokesperson for the Zoo and Aquarium Association Australasia said there was no one-size-fits-all approach to entering the industry.
It said veterinary care roles would require a relevant degree or certificate, but for other care roles, different institutions required different qualifications.
"The best place to start is usually by identifying the organisation best aligned to your values and seeking a volunteering position or discussing their qualification and experience requirements," it said.
