How one degree lead to a global career: Zoe Rosa's journey
Introduction & Background
Q: Zoe! The last time we did an article with you was in January 2023 'An eye-opening volunteer experience that led to a healing career'. What have you been up to since then?
A: Our last interview was fresh after I had graduated from Endeavour! Soon after, I packed up my life in Sydney and moved to Europe and started an online naturopathy clinic, so I could live and work remotely and treat people worldwide. I lived in both Ericeira, Portugal and Paris, France for two and a half years total, and now I've found my way back to beautiful Australia and chosen Byron Bay for the next chapter!
Q: For readers who may not know your story, when did you graduate from Endeavour and what did you study?
A: I graduated at the end of 2022 and studied a Bachelor of Health Science in Naturopathy.
Q: What first sparked your interest in naturopathy and natural health?
A: My own healing journey and healing my acne naturally.
Student Experience at Endeavour
Q: Looking back, what was your experience studying at Endeavour like?
A: It was great. At times the workload was a lot to juggle, but looking back I have fond memories of being surrounded by other students all passionate about the same thing.
Q: Is there a particular subject, placement or moment that had a lasting impact on you?
A: Student clinic definitely had a lasting impact on me. It was the first time we got to put into practice what we were learning. I had wonderful clinic supervisors who inspired me, and I loved the 1:1 consultations with the public.
Q: How did you balance study, work and life during your degree?
A: I'm not sure there is a perfect balance of the three when undertaking a college degree. At one point I had three jobs whilst studying. It requires sacrifice, but it taught me discipline and drive, which is what you need when it comes to building a business after graduating.
Life After Graduation
Q: Can you walk us through the first steps you took after graduation?
A: First steps were setting up the foundations of my naturopathy business, like a business name, registration, and signing up to an association. I then took a much needed break and travelled Asia for three months before moving to Europe. This really restored my nervous system, and I felt my creativity increasing from being inspired by my travels. I highly recommend students do something like this after finishing such a big degree!
Q: Did you have a clear plan for your career, or did things evolve as you went?
A: I definitely had a vision for my career and some pretty ambitious goals, yet at the same time I let it evolve naturally and took opportunities as they arose.
Q: What were some of the biggest challenges you faced in those early years?
A: Trusting the process in the beginning, which I think is a pretty common experience for new practitioners. When bookings are low, you have to see your career in the long term rather than putting pressure on yourself to have a bustling clinic from the get go and comparing yourself to someone many years into practice. Moving to Europe made it a little more challenging for myself, since getting hired there isn't really an option, but I liked the challenge!
Q: What are you most proud of when you look back at your journey so far?
A: How much trust I put in things working out, and taking risks. I'm also proud of the network I've built in the industry. Having strong connections is such a key part of gaining opportunities and growth in this career.
Current Projects & Career
Working in Fiji
Q: Tell us about your volunteer work in Fiji. How and when did you get involved, and what impact is the program making?
A: I've always had a desire to be involved in community work from an early age. My first exposure was in an acupuncture hospital in Vietnam when I was 18. Then at 22, while studying, I found a project called "Nutrition and Public Health" with Involvement Volunteers International in Fiji, focused on naturopaths and nutritionists performing health checks on Fijian people who have little access to these services. It makes a big impact on identifying non-communicable disease (NCD) risk factors, like high blood pressure and high blood glucose, early on, and using education to prevent the rise of NCDs in these communities.
Q: What has been the most rewarding part of that experience?
A: My evolution from volunteer to coordinator. I stayed connected with the project manager over the years, and this year I'm taking on the role as Public Health and Nutrition Coordinator, leading projects and taking teams of volunteers in Fiji and Vanuatu! I'm excited to take on a leadership role and get more Endeavour students on board.
Q: What would you say to students or graduates considering volunteer opportunities like this?
A: If you like adventure, a challenge and immersion in a different culture, don't second guess it! You'll grow and be inspired in ways you can't imagine.
Zoe's online clinic
Q: You also established an online clinic whilst living in Europe. Can you tell us about that journey and what inspired you to create it?
A: My dream as a student was always to spend two years in Europe after graduating, so I made it my mission to set up an online clinic and treat people worldwide, no matter my location. It was a steep learning curve at the start, working out functional testing and supplement companies in Europe and expanding my marketing to reach clients worldwide. But it's paid off. Now I can live with flexibility of location and have a greater reach of clients.
Q: What has it been like working with clients from around the world?
A: A great experience! It's opened up my mind to understand the challenges different countries face, from food quality to access to medical services. I'm really happy to offer services in the EU, UK, US and Canada, as they don't always have such easy access to naturopathic care.
Q: What have you learned about running your own business?
A: It's the ultimate self development. From learning to be confident on social media, to understanding business finances, to developing protocols with long-term clients. The most exciting part is that it's a constant evolution, always with room for growth, personally and professionally. Enjoy the journey, I say!
Current Life
Q: Between your practice, volunteering and other projects, what keeps you most excited and motivated these days?
A: Seeing my clients get relief from issues they've been struggling with for so long. Acne is my niche, and the mainstream medicine model for treating it is super limited, so it's rewarding to use functional medicine testing, like gut microbiome testing, and the holistic model of naturopathy to get results and help clients understand the why behind their skin issues. The growing nature of functional medicine testing is such an exciting space, and adds to the continuous learning experience of being a practitioner in natural health.
Q: You sound very busy with your current projects! How do you prioritise your own wellbeing while supporting others?
A: I'm very careful to ensure burnout isn't an option, as it can easily creep up on us as practitioners if we're not careful. Being in nature is so restoring for me: barefoot beach walks and sunshine. I currently do nervous system focused somatic yoga and meditative tea ceremonies, which keep me grounded and give me time to check in with my body, mind and spirit. I also only take on an amount of clients that feels sustainable for me long term, so I can maintain a high quality service.
Advice for Current Students
Q: What are three tips that helped you succeed during your studies at Endeavour?
A: A true passion and interest in the degree. A long-term vision as to why I was studying naturopathy. And having a strong community and friendships within the degree to lean on and connect with.
Q: What are your top three pieces of advice for graduates looking to start their own practice?
A: Have a job on the side when getting started, to take pressure off making 100% of your income from the clinic. Have a strong network: there are more opportunities out there than you think, but you need to be seen for people to find you! And think long term about what you're growing and the why behind it, like the impact you want to make.
Q: Is there something you wish you'd known when you were a student?
A: That regardless of where the degree takes you, the people you meet in this field will be super enriching for your life ahead.
Looking Ahead
Q: What's next for you? Are there any goals, projects or adventures you're excited about?
A: I'm definitely excited about the leadership role taking students and practitioners to the Pacific Islands for the Public Health Nutrition Projects. I'll also be sharing a mentoring offer soon for students and new practitioners who want to know how to set up a clinic to treat people worldwide and remotely, from testing and supplements to booking systems and more!
It was a pleasure hearing what Zoe's been up to and learning more about her exciting projects - we can't wait to see her continued impact in the community! If you'd like to read more from Zoe, you can visit her Author Page below.
