Making it Down Under

RTE Commission 6 x 24 min

Irish people have long been a presence in Australia, and they've made the most of the opportunities on offer. Making it Down Under takes a look at some recent arrivals who are working in challenging careers. From medics to truck drivers, mine workers to jockeys, we meet some of the Irish living and working in this extraordinary land.

Garda Down Under

RTE Commission 6 x 24 min

Western Australia is the largest police district in the world. The island of Ireland would fit in the region 30 times over. This vast area saw a massive boom in recent years and with the population of the region growing by more than 1,000 people a week, the government recruited Police officers from overseas, including Ireland. Gardai are regarded as highly trained by the WA Police. From 2005 to the present day, 30 Guards chose to leave their careers in Ireland and move lock stock and barrel

to become cops in booming Western Australia.

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For the first time ever, the Western Australian Police Department opened their doors to our cameras. With unique and unhindered access, we get an exclusive look at how crime fighters operate down under.

We follow the Irish recruits on the job and off duty.

Junior Vets

RTE Commission 6 x 24 min

University College Dublin has Ireland's only school for vets where those clever enough to gain entry learn all aspects of small and large animal health. We chart the highs and lows of four fifth year students as they work through the last phase of their course in veterinary medicine. This six-part fly-on-the-wall series follows the lives of junior veterinary students
as they make their way through their last year of study at UCD.

Animal Clinic

RTE Commission 18 x 24 min

We followed the extraordinary work at Ireland's largest animal charity, the Dublin SPCA.

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There's a constant stream of cases at the Rathfarnham based shelter. They deal with every kind of animal, not just cats and dogs, and there's a huge variety of creatures needing attention. As the charity continuously grows, so does the number of patients they treatand they take care of thousands of animals every year.