Vet Employment NSW - 212,530JCM

Looking for a practice that will support and encourage you to follow your dream? Looking for a position without the negatives that's flexible and will fit in with your life? The experienced team of vets and support staff at this privately owned 5-6 vet practice are looking for a vet to join their welcoming, collaborative team.

Both new/recent graduates and experienced vets are encouraged to apply. The practice owner has almost 30 years of experience and has memberships in canine medicine and a Masters of Veterinary Medicine in Companion Animals. Special interests are encouraged and supported. The practice has mentored and supported vets in obtaining their memberships, with one even going on to complete a fellowship. Regular staff meetings are held, and vets discuss cases daily. The employer believes each staff member is as important as the next!

The practice sees a good client base, with the caseload being mostly dogs and cats, with the occasional bird, pocket pet and wildlife. In addition to this, the practice works with the local pound, RSPCA branch and other welfare organisations.

Consults are 30 minutes, with the exception of vaccination appointments, which are 15 minutes. This provides vets with enough time to work things up without feeling rushed - communication with clients is key. They also nearly always work with nurses in their consult rooms to write up notes, support vets and help educate clients.

Each day, there are a minimum of 2-3 fully qualified nurses in addition to a receptionist and 1-2 administrative staff who assist with the days running smoothly, allowing vets to do what they do best! There are also helpful trainees and kennel hands to provide additional support to vets and nurses.

Feedback from a vet who started at the practice as a new graduate and only left after working there for almost 6 years to head overseas:

I started here as a new graduate in 2017 and have been here since. They are very accommodating for a new grad. I was never pushed into doing anything I wasn't ready to do and could go at my own pace. When I started doing on-call work after a few months, I was well supported, and the practice owner will still answer my calls now to provide advice and come in to help out if needed. The support staff, including nurses, kennel hands and receptionists, are all great. It's a really lovely team. The nurses are very experienced and capable; they will insert IV catheters, take bloods, set up fluids, etc. The caseload is varied and interesting. Because of the location, we do get the opportunity to treat a lot of things in-house, but referral is an option. I had never been to the area before moving here, but I absolutely love it. It's a small town, but there is a lot going on, so it doesn't feel like a small town. There are many social sports, markets, festivals and food & wine weeks. There is always something happening!

Well-being is one of the employers' priorities. The team work collaboratively and value work-life balance and mental health. They are a family-friendly practice and understand flexible working hours, sick children and holidays.

***New Graduates***

The team understands how hard the transition from study to practice can be. As such, they are a new graduate-friendly practice that genuinely cares for and mentors graduates. This is done by shadowing other vets in surgeries and consults until comfortable, easing graduates in with vaccinations only to begin with (if desired) and no on-call until confident (be that one month, three months, or longer!). Once graduates begin on-call, there is always advice and backup from other vets, and they are only 5-15 minutes away. The practice has also mentored vets to get their memberships.

The role can be full or part-time. Full time vets generally work four days per week; however, this is flexible. After-hours include one weeknight on-call, and weekends are shared 1:3 plus on-call. The after-hours load is light. Days at the practice are structured to avoid vets having to stay behind.

Vets are provided with all the equipment to help with diagnostics, including digital xray, ultrasound, iM3 dental equipment, dental x-ray, endoscope, IDEXX procyte and catalyst, urinalysis machine, Vetscan Imagyst (remote cytological diagnosis by pathologists), and Vcheck (biochemistry analyser). The practice is computerised with Clinicware. Each vet has their own computer. If there is a piece of equipment that you want that they don't have, they can get it!

The employer is willing to assist with a work permit (sponsorship) for suitable overseas candidates. Applicants must have a Bachelor of Veterinary Science (or equivalent) and be eligible for registration as a veterinary practitioner in Australia.

The practice is situated in a beautiful town in Central West NSW. It is truly a place of four seasons, with great food, wine, a variety of sporting teams, cafes, a multitude of social activities and good schools. It is close enough to Sydney and Canberra that you can travel easily while being far enough away that you are out of the traffic jams and the hustle and bustle! There are farmer's markets, food and wine weeks, mountains and hikes to conquer, and lakes to read and sit by; there is something for everyone!