My return
A practical guide to
returning to your veterinary career
Contents
3
Introduction
4
Stress and anxiety
4
Motivation to work
5
Veterinary jobs
8
Work patterns
10
Family support options for parents
12
Up-skilling 13
Financial aid for study
14
Looking for a new position
15
Approaching a new employer
16
Working conditions
17
Essential things in a new role
19
Getting support
© Australian Veterinary Association 2012
Disclaimer: This guide aims to provide a range of information to aid
a return to the veterinary workforce after extended absence. It is
designed to provide information available at the time of publication
to assist in personal decision-making. The Australian Veterinary
Association gives no guarantee the information contained in this
document and any online updates available on the AVA website are
correct or complete.
The Australian Veterinary Association shall not be liable for any loss
whatsoever whether due to negligence or otherwise arising from the
use of or reliance on this document.
Developed with the support of
Troy Laboratories
Silver Corporate Supporter
Australian Veterinary
Association
ABN 63 008 522 852
Unit 40, 6 Herbert Street
St Leonards NSW 2065
Australia
[email protected]
www.ava.com.au
2
My return | A practical guide to returning to your veterinary career
Introduction
After nearly six years of absence from the veterinary profession
– time spent raising two children – Sally got a full-time job offer.
It was with a mixture of joy, relief, sadness and fear that she
accepted it.
She went to Facebook and updated her status. “Going back to
work next week for the first time in ages... OMG am I doing the
right thing???”
Jason’s elderly mother has just passed away after a long illness.
Jason gave up work three years ago to be his mother’s full-time
carer. Having moved away from his former practice, he is worried
and getting stressed about how he’ll cope with all the changes
that have happened in the field he enjoys the most – working
with horses.
Sally’s and Jason’s feelings are not uncommon. Most psychologists and career experts say this range
of emotions is more the norm than the exception.
After any extended period out of the workforce, be it a career break, maternity leave or carers leave,
you may be fearful your skills have deteriorated. A long absence often causes feelings of reduced
confidence and lack of certainty about your ability to perform your job when you return to work.
There will be challenges, however you already have a unique set of skills and experience. You may
simply need some guidance and knowledge to regain your confidence.
While there is a focus on parents returning to work, this resource is designed to support all
veterinarians re-joining the profession. It’s intended to help you plan the next steps in your career.
My return | A practical guide to returning to your veterinary career
3
Stress and anxiety
Following extended leave periods, many people experience a lack of self-confidence when it comes to
restarting their career. It’s simply a result of not being in the workforce for a while.
Once you have returned to work you’ll be surprised at how quickly you’ll fit back in and how much knowledge
you have retained. Self-perception can be the biggest hurdle to overcome. You need to recognise the value of
your skills and ability. Remember the things you have already achieved and don’t doubt your capability.
If you are experiencing high levels of stress as you think about a return to work, the AVA offers programs and
services to support you with the transition. This includes a confidential telephone counselling service, with
support available day and night, and opportunities to meet with other vets through division and branch
activities.
Visit www.ava.com.au/veterinarians-0 for more information.
Motivation to work
Whatever your age and motivation, resuming a career in the veterinary profession can seem an impossible, or
at least a very daunting, task. However, the first step towards starting a new role is understanding what you
want to achieve.
“I really liked what I was doing before I took this break”
When making the decision to return to work it may help to make a list of the reasons for returning to work.
This could include financial reasons, social aspects, a need for challenges or further education, or because
it’s your business that you need to get back to. Score the reasons based on your personal motivations. Look
closely at the top three reasons and ensure that a return to work would satisfy these reasons.
This should help form the basis of your job search.
Career dissatisfaction is rarely the reason veterinarians take a break, so many are keen to return to a similar role
to the one they held before. If this is how you feel, you can make sure by making two lists – ‘liked’ and ‘disliked’
– about your old job. If there are more likes than dislikes, you’re probably suited to a similar role.
Prioritise your likes and mark the more important dislikes. You can use these as a guide for comparing and
researching roles. If there are more dislikes, or if the dislikes are likely to have a big effect on your daily work
satisfaction, it may be worth investigating a change of direction.
“I want to do something different”
You may feel that your previous job wasn’t fulfilling your needs and you want to challenge yourself further.
You may have developed an interest in a particular field that you would like to explore. Or you may feel that
your previous role was too demanding and you need more flexibility to spend time with your family. If this is
the case you may not be in the wrong profession, but maybe just in the wrong job!
Changing direction within the veterinary profession is common, but it’s important to be sure of the direction
you want to take. Make a list of the:
• skills you already have that you wish to continue to use in a new role
• aspects of your previous role you no longer want to pursue
• skills, training and education you may want to pursue in the future.
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My return | A practical guide to returning to your veterinary career
Veterinary jobs
At this stage you have already tackled the hardest part of the process, making the decision to restart your
career. Now you need to analyse that decision and decide what direction you want your career to take. This
can be done by:
• re-evaluating your skills
• reviewing the different veterinary career paths open to you
• reviewing case studies of those working in the industry.
“What skills do I have?”
It may help you to list the skills and experience you already have and which ones you enjoy and wish to use in
your future career. Make sure you include all skills and experiences, not just the ones you enjoy, because listing
the positives and the negatives will really help you focus on the direction you want to take.
Once you have finished, highlight the skills that you would ideally like to use in your future career. Try not
to specialise too much by only choosing a few skills – this could make it hard to find a suitable career path.
Around ten skills will give you broad base to work from.
Next, rank your chosen skills from one to ten in relation to both competence and confidence. This will give
you an idea of both the career path you may be suited for and the skills you may need to follow a new one.
If you already have an idea of the new skills needed for your chosen career you may wish to apply a ranking
system to these as well, in order to decide which to focus on when seeking experience and training.
“What other veterinary roles are there?”
Reading through the next section will help you to think about the skills and experience needed to embark
on the different career paths open to veterinarians. The list is not exhaustive and there are many other areas
in which veterinarians can find employment. Once you’ve read through these, you may need to add to or
change your skills evaluation.
Academia
• There are academic positions in universities teaching undergraduate and postgraduate students in
specific areas.
• You may require postgraduate qualifications, such as Masters or PhD degree.
• Often the first step to an academic clinical career is a residency at an academic institution.
• A clinical specialist accreditation gained through the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary
Scientists may be an advantage.
• Teaching roles are available for veterinarians in the TAFE system.
• Research roles may be found in a university’s veterinary and other facilities
or other organisations such as CSIRO.
Animal welfare
• There is work in research,
education, clinics, in the field,
animal welfare charities or in
state regulatory organisations.
• Undertaking specific animal
welfare qualifications or
courses would be an advantage.
• Experience can be gained
through volunteer work with
charities or overseas
organisations.
My return | A practical guide to returning to your veterinary career
5
Equine medicine and surgery
• These roles involve clinical work with horses only, often in referral centres in private practices or
university teaching facilities.
• You may be required to work long hours, do shiftwork and make after-hours calls.
• Entry is through advanced postgraduate qualifications or clinical experience through training or
residency programs.
• Alternative entry may be through diplomas or certificates awarded by specialty colleges.
• Skills and knowledge can be gained through attendance at Equine Veterinarians Australia (EVA) seminars
and conferences.
Visit www.ava.com.au/veterinarians/centre-professional-success/my-success/career-paths-0 to read a
case study of a vet working in equine practice.
Government and regulatory agencies
• You would be dealing with regulatory animal disease control and eradication, quarantine, export and
import controls, and food safety.
• You may be working with veterinarians from diverse backgrounds.
• You may benefit from postgraduate education in veterinary public health or policy development.
• Entry is through training programs offered by government agencies.
Visit www.ava.com.au/11013 to read an article about what government vets do.
Industry
• Careers are offered in a range of businesses related to the management of animal health, including
pharmaceutical and animal nutrition companies, as well as those dealing with human health.
• You may be working with veterinarians from diverse backgrounds.
• Although practice experience is often an advantage, full training is usually given on the job.
• Some travel may be required.
• You may benefit from business courses such as budget management and marketing.
Visit www.ava.com.au/industry-veterinary-careers to read a case study from a vet working in the
pharmaceutical sector.
International development and public health
• You would be working towards national or world goals of better animal health and management and
public health.
• These roles may be entered through government work, individual work in developing countries or by
joining an animal development organisation.
• Requirements for licensing or registration to practise as a veterinarian will vary from country to country.
You should check the requirements before applying for these roles. You should check the requirements
before applying for these roles.
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My return | A practical guide to returning to your veterinary career
Large animal practitioner
• You would be working with animals such as cattle, horses, sheep, pigs and goats or with less common
species such as alpacas.
• Most work will be based in or involve travel to rural towns, however some large animal work can be
found in cities.
• If you have not entered this area of work straight from graduation you may need to update your
knowledge and skills through meetings, seminars, conferences and work experience.
• You may be required to work long hours, do shiftwork and make after-hours calls.
• You could chose to specialise in one species only, such as dairy or beef cattle.
Visit www.ava.com.au/cattle-practice to read a case study from a vet working with cattle.
Pathology
• These roles are based in private laboratories, in the government sector or in pharmaceutical companies.
• You can specialise in areas such as anatomical pathology or histopathology.
• You may require some postgraduate qualifications and diplomas or certification from the Australian and
New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists.
Visit www.ava.com.au/veterinary-pathology to read a case study of a vet working in pathology.
Mixed private practice
• Mixed practice generally requires you to work with and have knowledge of both large and small species,
but you may be able to only do small or large animal work.
• This may involve work with other practitioners or as a sole practitioner business.
• You may be required to work long hours, do shift work and make after-hours calls.
Small animal practitioner
• Clinical work is limited to small ‘companion’ animals.
• Work involves providing health care, advice and emergency help for dogs, cats and other small pets such
as birds, rabbits, guinea pigs and reptiles.
• You may be required to work long hours, do shift work and make after-hours calls.
• You can pursue postgraduate qualifications or further study in small animal medicine and surgery or in
specialist subjects such as behaviour, cardiology and dermatology.
Visit www.ava.com.au/veterinarians/centre-professional-success/my-success/career-paths to read a
case study of a small animal practitioner.
Reproduction
• These roles are focused on examining and using assisted reproductive technologies such as IVF, cloning
and embryology, and giving breeding advice.
• You may pursue this interest in a practice, working on small animal reproduction problems. You
may work advising the agricultural sector or other veterinarians on large animal reproduction cases,
particularly cattle and sheep. Alternatively, you can work in laboratories doing research into reproduction
techniques.
• Postgraduate qualifications in animal reproduction are usually needed.
Zoo, wildlife, exotic and aquatic animals
• This involves diagnosis, treatment and management of non-domestic species.
• You may pursue an interest in a veterinary practice or work in zoos, wildlife sanctuaries, aquariums or
commercial fish farming enterprises.
• You may enter through advanced clinical experience and training, through placements in certain
organisations or by undertaking postgraduate study.
Visit www.ava.com.au/veterinarians/centre-professional-success/my-success/career-paths-1 for a case
study of a vet working with exotics.
My return | A practical guide to returning to your veterinary career
7
Work patterns
Whether you’re returning to your previous role or looking for a new role, you’ll need to consider the best work
pattern to suit your lifestyle. The key things to think about are:
• full-time versus part-time work or other work patterns
• childcare (if applicable):
• what are your childcare needs?
• how much will it cost?
• how do you feel about care?
• how will you find care?
“My only option is full-time work”
Full-time work requires you to work full-time hours, an average of 38, each week and receive wages and other
employment conditions identified in your award or agreement.
You will be entitled to paid annual and personal leave and public holidays.
“It would suit me better to work part-time”
Part-time work is being contractually employed to work fewer hours than those of a full-time employee and
being paid a pro rata rate. If you decide to work part-time there are some important considerations to plan for.
The cost of being a part-time worker
When deciding to return to work part-time consider:
• your reduced wage
• your travel costs (which may be the same as working full-time)
• the availability and cost of childcare.
The most suitable part-time working arrangement
The most common permanent part-time arrangement is a reduced standard working week, two or three days
instead of five. Alternatively there are other options including (but not limited to):
•
•
•
•
a five day fortnight working in a cycle of three days one week, then two days the next
weekend work
roster work with varied hours spread over a month
varying, with days in the workplace and working from home.
How flexible you are
You may not be able to find the exact work pattern you’re looking for, so be open to a number of different
options. Keep in mind your limits for total hours, take-home pay and the number of days you’re available.
You may occasionally need to vary your hours at either your or the employer’s request. As best you can,
plan the care arrangements you need during school holidays, sick periods or if you’re asked to cover other
employee absences.
Visit www.ava.com.au/12050 to read a news article by the AVA HR Advisory Service on flexible working
arrangements for employees.
The difficulties you come across being a part-time worker and how you deal with these
You may face reduced social interactions with your colleagues. Where possible make time to catch up at
events outside work or even in your lunch break. You could even discuss with your boss the options to come
to staff meetings if they fall on days when you aren’t at work.
For parents, a work pattern that isn’t fully structured may lead to difficulties in finding childcare. However,
there is flexibility in childcare options so really assess these for your exact needs.
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My return | A practical guide to returning to your veterinary career
“My friend has suggested job-sharing…”
Job-sharing involves two or more people working one job. It can take two forms:
• working on a part-time basis to share the workload of a full-time job
Employees do the full range of tasks within the single position. Some things to consider are:
• good organisation and communication are needed to keep track of what has already been done
and where tasks and projects are up to
• how you determine who will take overall responsibility for each task.
• working on a part-time basis and performing separate tasks, but generally working in the same type of role
You will need to:
• understand how the workload and duties of the job will be delegated
• determine if handover or support is needed for tasks
• assess how supervisory responsibilities will be divided
• determine how to tackle tasks that were assigned to your job-share partner if they need to be
addressed when that person isn’t working.
In both cases it’s important to discuss any issues with your employer. Together you can consider how your
role will fit in with other staff and clients. Ideally, the terms and conditions for the job-share should be put in a
written agreement so everyone’s responsibilities are clear.
My return | A practical guide to returning to your veterinary career
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Family support options for parents
“I will need someone to look after my children.”
There are a range of childcare options available. Some have waiting lists and may charge for registering your
child’s name. The possibilities include:
Family day care
A government funded and accredited program where care is provided for your child by a carer in their home.
There is usually a small group of other children, who could range from newborn up to 12 years old. The carer
will be registered with the Australian Children’s Education & Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) and monitored
by a government coordination unit. The carers will not necessarily have formal training, but will have training
courses available to them through the coordination unit (usually the local council). They must have passed a
police or criminal history check, be fully insured and have a current first aid certificate.
Benefits
Disadvantages
Generally small groups
Food and drinks not provided
More flexibility if carer can accommodate
Only one or two carers for group
Child Care Benefit or Rebate available
Different ages or development of children
Closer relationships can develop
No monitoring of performance
Relatively inexpensive
May be a waiting list
Siblings stay together
Safer, more homely environment
Childcare centres and long day care
Care is provided for your child in a centre with multiple carers and children. Open standard office hours,
childcare centres mainly cater for parents working standard working weeks. Centres may be government run
or operated privately but all are registered and approved by ACECQA and must obtain licences. Many have
educational components to care.
Benefits
Disadvantages
Multiple carers – reduced unsupervised time
No continuity of carer
Interaction with groups of children of same age
Less personal interactions
Care not affected by carer sickness
No flexibility for after-hours or weekends
Age groups separated
Long waiting lists
Structured programs
Unfamiliar environment
Increased variety in entertainment, education activities and toys
Expensive option if more than one child
Child Care Benefit or Rebate available
Occasional, holiday and after-school care
This is flexible short-term childcare with no set schedule to be used on a casual basis. This is often used by
parents doing unscheduled activities or those who want their child to have increased socialisation. All centres
are registered and approved with ACECQA.
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Benefits
Disadvantages
Good for parents with no set working schedule
Prices and hours can vary a lot
Carer illness does not affect care
May still require bookings
Increased variety in entertainment and education activities
Space not guaranteed
Age groups not always cared for separately
Less personal interactions
Child Care Benefit or Rebate available
Unfamiliar environment
My return | A practical guide to returning to your veterinary career
Private arrangements
This is where your child is cared for by carers known to you, such as grandparents, family or friends. Fees may
or may not be charged. There is often no set hours or days of care so this is a flexible option. The child will be
cared for in your own home or the home of the carer. Carers do not have to be registered and they are not
required to be licensed or approved by the government.
Benefits
Disadvantages
Large amount of flexibility
Lack of registration, regulation or training
Normally cheapest option
May not be guaranteed
Less stressful for child initially
Affected by career sickness or absence
Reduced socialisation with other children
May not be able to claim Child Care Benefit or Rebate
Familiar environment
Babysitters, au pairs or nannies
This care is privately arranged and sourced. Babysitting often has no set arrangement and is done on a casual
basis. It can be sourced by word of mouth, through websites or agencies. Nannies and au pairs are often livein carers who care for just your child or children. This can involve regular hours or be on an ad hoc basis. There
is a large amount of flexibility in this option and there are no costs or time involved with transport. Nannies
and au pairs are often arranged through agencies. Although carers are often subject to background checks
and can register if they wish, however they’re not required to be licensed or approved by the government.
Benefits
Disadvantages
Largest amount of flexibility in hours
Often more expensive option
Can chose the carer
May have to share your home with a stranger
One-to-one care
Lack of social interactions with other children
Often does other jobs as well
Affected by carer illness or absence
Familiar environment
Cannot normally claim Child Care Benefit or Rebate
Multiple children cared for by same carer
Need to consider holidays and sick leave
Lack of registration, regulation or training
Childcare financial assistance
There are government schemes including Child Care Benefit, Child Care Rebate and Jobs and Education
Training Childcare Assistance for which you may be eligible and will help you with childcare costs. It’s
important to contact the Family Assistance Office or Centrelink through the Department of Human Services
(www.humanservices.gov.au) – to find out which of these schemes apply to your situation.
“I’m ready for work but how do I get the rest of the family prepared?”
It’s important to get all of the family ready for your return to work. Here are some things you can do:
• include your family in your decision – if your children are old enough get their opinion (so you know how
to deal with it) and keep them up-to-date on how you’re going. Tell them about the changes they might
expect – describe the childcare centre, the activities and carers.
• Spend time with each family member on their own.
• Be realistic about what you can do with the time you have and get help where you can. You won’t be able
to do all the tasks you were able to manage when you weren’t working. Write down all the chores and
domestic duties that you need to do throughout the week. Try to divide or delegate responsibility for these.
“Where can I get more information?”
Try:
• www.acecqa.gov.au
• www.careforkids.com.au
• www.mychild.gov.au
• www.findababysitter.com.au
• www.familydaycare.com.au
My return | A practical guide to returning to your veterinary career
Support groups for
working parents include:
• www.mumsatwork.com.au
• www.careermums.com.au
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Up-skilling
The best way to optimise your skill set is through a combination of practical and theoretical retraining. The
AVA suggests a combination of the following:
• Time in practice working under the supervision and mentoring of an experienced veterinary practitioner.
• Through successful completion of a variety of theoretical continuing professional development activities,
including private reading, online activities, study through recognised providers or attendance at
conferences and seminars. Visit www.ava.com.au/vet-ed for more information.
• The AVA’s Vet Ed retrain and refresh program.
AVA Vet Ed retrain and refresh program
The AVA has developed a practical, self-managed retrain and refresh program that you can use while
volunteering in a veterinary practice and being mentored by a resident veterinarian in key competencies.
Once completed, you can then claim unstructured Vet Ed points, which can be used to assist with state
veterinary registration.
The AVA recommends that you seek a practice willing to accept and mentor you as an AVA member who
wishes to undertake retraining or refreshing of their skills. This is on a voluntary basis, and may be difficult in
some regions due to practice demands.
To validate the time spent in training for Vet Ed purposes, the practice must:
• have at least one practice principal who is an AVA member
• provide a supervisor with at least five years or more clinical experience in the field of retraining
• provide a designated supervisor who has undertaken continuing professional development activities
within the past three years.
To complete the program you should spend a total of 80 hours within your nominated practice. The AVA
recommends a schedule of four hours per day, five days each week for a period of one month. However, this
could be split into shorter times over a longer period, with a maximum training duration of three months.
The AVA has developed a list of competencies and skills you should undergo, completing a minimum of
75% and receiving a score of three or more from the supervisor in all activities for the relevant species. Once
completed, you and the trainer sign the competency form and return it to the AVA. The trainer can also claim
one point for every two hours of training, up to a maximum of 40 points.
For more information about the AVA Vet Ed retrain and refresh program visit
www.ava.com.au/veted/info-hub/who-does-what/australian-veterinary-association-1.
“What else can I do?”
Other practical activities that can assist you to retrain and refresh include:
•
•
•
•
•
going to a local continuing professional development event
creating a professional development plan
joining clinical rounds within the practice where you’re volunteering
participating in small group learning within the practice where you’re volunteering
doing a clinical review project within the practice where you’re volunteering.
For more information as well as templates and guildelines for the above activities
visit www.ava.com.au/veted/info-hub/who-does-what/australian-veterinary-association-1.
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My return | A practical guide to returning to your veterinary career
Financial aid for study
“I want more qualifications. Can I get a loan for further study?”
If you are looking for more formal qualifications there are loans available for those who wish to take their
training further.
Loan schemes for postgraduate studies
The Australian Government introduced the Higher Education Loan Program (HELP) to assist students pay for
their studies. The loans available for postgraduate studies are:
• FEE-HELP which provides eligible fee-paying students with a loan to cover their tuition fees
• HECS-HELP which provides eligible students in a commonwealth supported place with a loan to cover
payment of their student contributions.
“And scholarships?”
Australian Postgraduate Award (APA)
The APA provides fees and a small stipend for students in full-time postgraduate research courses. It also gives
a small number of scholarships to students undertaking coursework-based study.
Students must have received first-class honours in their undergraduate course. The application process is
competitive and higher education providers have varying selection criteria.
Visit www.studyassist.gov.au for more information.
Educational provider scholarships
Universities and other education providers provide a variety of scholarships that can be based on academic
merit or on equality. See your local institution for more information.
Specific veterinary specialism scholarships
This can be funded through education providers or private organisations. As well as scholarships offered by
educational providers for specific fields of study, there are many private individuals or organisations that have
donated money for scholarships in a veterinary specialty that is related to their business or personal interests.
Most of these are organised through universities. Visit www.myfuture.edu.au for more information.
Postgraduate Scholarship Database for Australia
JASON is a postgraduate scholarship search engine. Australian students wishing to study at home or abroad
can search through the database. Visit www.jason.edu.au for more information.
My return | A practical guide to returning to your veterinary career
13
Looking for a new position
“Help me look for a job”
So you have completed your training and you feel confident in returning to the workplace. The next step is
finding the right job for you. There are a variety of ways you can start your job search. This includes using AVA
resources, such as online classified advertisements (Visit www.ava.com.au/classifiedsview) or the classified
job listings in the Australian Veterinary Journal (AVJ).
Some other ways to find work include:
•
•
•
•
•
14
asking about current or future vacancies at your host retraining practice
contacting previous employers, colleagues or friends
distributing your resume at all the practices and organisations in the area where you would like to work
looking in the local paper
searching the internet:
• www.vetlink.com.au – Vetlink Employment Service is a specialist recruitment company for the
veterinary industry and is a free employment service for veterinarians.
• www.kookaburravets.com – Kookaburra Veterinary Employment promotes veterinary jobs available
worldwide, including permanent and temporary vacancies for veterinarians, as well as advertising
veterinary practices for sale.
• Online job sites, including www.seek.com.au, www.careerone.com.au, www.jobsearch.gov.au
and www.jobs.com.au. Many of these sites allow you to create your resume online, browse job advertisements and receive emails when jobs are listed that match your criteria.
• www.parttimeonline.com.au – Part Time Online offers a complete suite of flexibility resources and lists part-time, job-share, flexible, contract and casual positions.
• www.careermums.com.au – CareerMums is a dedicated careers centre and jobs board for working parents and parents returning to work.
My return | A practical guide to returning to your veterinary career
Approaching a new employer
“Do I need a resume?”
A resume is a self-marketing tool designed with the goal of obtaining a job interview. The information in your
resume should be targeted at a specific role and address the needs of the employer. Your resume should
market your relevant skills, knowledge and accomplishments in relation to the advertised selection criteria.
You should:
• outline your key skills and career objectives in a short statement
• exclude irrelevant information and experience – a two-page resume should be ample for demonstrating all
your skills and experience relevant to the position
• use an easy-to-read font style and size (10–12 pt)
• create visual impact using bullets, boldface or italics and short paragraphs
• list your previous work experience and responsibilities in chronological order, emphasising your key
responsibilities, value added to the organisation, transferable skills and adaptive abilities mastered
• make sure you list all your technical skills, computer skills – including software applications, hardware and
operating systems used – and communication skills
• list the highest level of educational attainment first, working from your most current degree. Include
information about the type of degree, name and location of the university
• outline any extracurricular activities that have developed skills you can use in the role – e.g. significant
positions of responsibility in voluntary associations or groups, leadership roles and relevant achievements
• check spelling and grammar – ask someone else to read it through.
Visit www.ava.com.au/my-return for a sample resume.
“What do I write in a cover letter?”
Your covering letter is an important marketing tool. It highlights your most attractive qualifications as an
employee and aims to quickly convince the employer that you’re a good match for the position. You should:
• personalise your cover letter – include the organisation or practice name and address and the name of the
person you are applying to if you know it
• state why you’re applying for the role or contacting them
• consider the potential employer’s requirements and needs and how you can fulfill these
• specifically address your relevant experience and skills to any selection criteria. For some positions
employers ask candidates to address individual selection criteria in a separate document (you can ring
them and check the format they want)
• list only the accomplishments and skills that are relevant to the position
• check spelling and grammar – ask someone else to read it through.
Visit www.ava.com.au/my-return for a sample cover letter.
“I hate interviews”
• Preparation is the first key to a successful interview.
• Carefully research the job and the practice or organisation.
• Write yourself some preparation notes (one page) and have them handy during the interview. Frame your
answers to questions with a clear indication of how you have performed in the past.
• Remember, it’s not only about your qualifications and experience – personality, confidence, enthusiasm, a
positive outlook and good interpersonal and communication skills will also count.
• As well as answering the interviewer’s questions, ensure you are also gathering information about the job
and future career opportunities to determine if the position and work environment are right for you.
• Be prepared to answer questions regarding your long-term goals.
• Questions from you demonstrate that you have done some research and are genuinely interested in the
job. These could be specific questions clarifying aspects already discussed or follow-up questions enquiring
about the next stage of the recruitment process.
• Plan your journey, taking into account traffic and arrive at least 10 minutes early.
My return | A practical guide to returning to your veterinary career
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Working conditions
There are differing conditions between workplaces. Be aware of the terms set out for your role and ensure that
they your meet minimum requirements. Here are some of the rules on working conditions and some useful
links for more information.
“What working conditions should I expect?”
Leave entitlements
As a full-time worker you’re entitled to at least four weeks paid leave each year. This is calculated on ordinary
hours, not actual hours. A part-time worker receives a pro rata rate. If your shift falls on a public holiday you
should be compensated either by additional days off, annual leave or extra wages.
Maternity leave
While some employers offer paid parental leave, others do not. At the least, expectant mothers can request
twelve months unpaid leave from six weeks prior to their expected due date. They can also request an
additional twelve months unpaid leave if the required notice is given before their date of return. Spouses can
request up to three weeks’ concurrent unpaid leave.
Wage entitlements
Minimum wages vary depending on your level of expertise. You’re entitled to a communication system and
vehicle or travel allowances if you’re required to be on-call. You should also receive higher duties allowance if
acting in a more senior role, as well as clothing and laundry allowances. You should be paid at least monthly.
The employer is required to pay the minimum superannuation contribution to your chosen fund and relevant
taxes on your behalf.
Hours of work
Full-time employees should work an average of 38 hours per week and no more than 152 hours in 28
consecutive days. This can be averaged over a twelve month period.
You can be asked to work additional hours, but may refuse it if the request is unreasonable. You should be
compensated for additional hours – either by wages at your ordinary rate or additional time off. You should
have a least three full days off per fortnight.
“What are my obligations?”
HR requirements
You should be provided with a written contract that includes working conditions. This should be signed by
you and by your boss before you begin working.
Termination of employment
Both you and your employer should give at least one month written notice of termination of contract.
Redundancy pay
If the business has fifteen or more employees your employer must pay you redundancy pay if your position is
made redundant. The actual amount is determined by length of service.
Continuing professional development
You and your employer should put together an agreement regarding criteria for continuing professional
development, taking into account costs, availability, needs of the practice and other veterinarians. A full-time
associate is entitled to one week paid study leave for each completed year of service and an employer must
pay registration fees for any previously agreed activities.
You can get further information from:
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Animal Care and Veterinary Services Award 2010
Fairwork Australia or www.fairwork.gov.au
AVA HR Advisory Service at [email protected]
Australian Taxation Office or www.ato.gov.au
AVA’s free phone advice on finance and superannuation, visit www.ava.com.au/contact/memberhelpline-numbers. You must be logged into the AVA website to access the helpline number.
My return | A practical guide to returning to your veterinary career
Essential things in a new role
“Do I need to be insured?”
All veterinarians must consider their need to be covered by insurance. While working in the practice this cost
is covered by the employer’s professional indemnity and public liability insurance, but on some occasions
it may be the responsibility of the individual vet. Examples include doing any veterinary work outside the
practice or working as a locum.
Some state legislation, such as in South Australia and the ACT, require veterinarians to have indemnity
insurance to become registered.
AVA members receive a premium reduction for professional indemnity insurance provided through Guild
Insurance. For those who don’t own a practice, the reduction can be as high as 50%.
“Do I need to be registered?”
To practice as a veterinarian in Australia, you need a veterinary degree that meets the criteria of your state’s
registration board and you need to be registered in each state you work in. Registration periods vary in each
state and you may be able to pay a half yearly fee if you’re not registering at the start of the registration
period. In some states, if you have obtained full registration in the past, you may not need to complete a full
application and registration fees may be reduced.
Most registration boards now have requirements that must be met before registration can be granted. These
include providing certified copies of qualifications, showing a minimum amount of continuing professional
development, including structured and unstructured activities, and a letter of professional standing if you
have been previously registered in another state.
Below are the websites for each registration board.
Northern Terrritory
www.nt.gov.au/d/vetboardnt
Queensland
www.vsb.qld.gov.au
New South Wales
www.vpb.nsw.gov.au
Western Australia
www.vsbwa.org.au
Australian Capital Territory
www.health.act.gov.au
Victoria
www.vetboard.vic.gov.au
South Australia
www.vsbsa.org.au
Tasmania
www.dpiw.tas.gov.au
My return | A practical guide to returning to your veterinary career
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“How do I find out what’s changed since I left?”
You will need to update your knowledge on changes in the profession, such as new procedures, legislation or
policy. Some of the main ones to check include:
Vaccinations
There have been changes to recommendations for core vaccines for dogs and cats. It’s important that you
update your knowledge on the current research and find out what your practice recommends.
Radiography
To use X-ray equipment, you will need a licence from your state regulation body. Licences are issued by your
state department of health or department for the environment.
Pharmacology
Check if your practice has a current MIMS IVS or consider purchasing one www.mims.com.au. MIMS IVS
is available in hardcopy or as a CD and gives detailed product and prescribing information classified by
therapeutic category, on veterinary medicines and products. The IVS contains information on over 2,500
products, one-third of which are revised each year.
Antibiotics
The use of antibiotics is a strongly debated issue because of the increase in resistant strains. Consult your
practice’s policies for more information.
Microchipping
In New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland, you’re required to have your own authorised microchip
implanter number. You may also need to do a specific course before you can perform this procedure.
Anaesthesia
Knowledge and techniques have developed greatly over the past decade.
Other areas that may have changed include chemotherapy, euthanasia, animal welfare and biosecurity.
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My return | A practical guide to returning to your veterinary career
Getting support
“I haven’t even started and I already feel nervous…”
Getting the work-life balance right can take time and when you return to work you take on additional
responsibilities that you may not have had to deal with for a while. Even if you manage to cope with the
immediate stress involved in this change, the effects can build up slowly if conditions at work or at home are
difficult to manage. Take care of yourself at this time.
Stay healthy
Eat a healthy diet and exercise regularly.
Maintain a good work-life balance
Check your boundaries and learn to say ‘NO’ (gently) to extra demands at work and at home. Engage in social
or leisure activities, where work and finances are not discussed. However, ensure that your leisure time activities
are not putting further strain on you, such as very competitive sport. And don’t forget to share your care
workload.
Take regular holidays. Regardless of the hours you work, you still need a break.
Stay organised at work
Easy to say but harder to put into practice. If appropriate, when you first get to work each day, make a list of
things you need to do during the day and tick them off as you go. Some other tips include:
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tick off your appointment list as you finish each patient
stop for one minute in between patients to gather your thoughts
prioritise tasks so things don’t get on top of you and you don’t have to do additional hours
reassess your working hours or tasks after a few months
perhaps you can reduce or increase your workload or hours
don’t be afraid to ask for help.
Deal positively with conflict
Talk about any concerns you have with your employer or your family. Sometimes people have trouble
recognising the signs of stress. Try to be as open as possible about how you’re feeling with colleagues and
family. For more information visit the AVA’s Managing conflict web page at
www.ava.com.au/veterinarians/vethealth-6.
• Advice and support if needed
• Visit the AVA’s Vet Health web page at www.ava.com.au/veterinarians-0.
• Contact the AVA’s free and confidential telephone counselling service, visit www.ava.com.au/contact/
member-helpline-nembers. You must be logged into the AVA website to access the helpline number.
“I am a professional”
Once you’ve returned to the workforce and have settled into your role, it’s important to maintain the standard
and relevance of your knowledge and skills. The AVA has many resources to help you keep up-to-date
including:
the AVA website – www.ava.com.au
the AVA monthly electronic newsletter eLine
the Australian Veterinary Journal
AVA member alerts for urgent news and emergencies
AVA Vet Ed offers around 130 continuing professional development events and gives information on and
discounts for other continuing professional development options, including online and correspondence
learning courses. There is also a service for recording and tracking your continuing professional development
activities to make annual state registration much easier. Visit www.ava.com.au/vet-ed
• the AVA speaks out on behalf of veterinarians by advocating policies and positions at the governmental level
and in the media. You can use the AVA as a reference source and if you believe a veterinary policy needs to
be investigated, reviewed or better communicated, contact the AVA at [email protected], who can do
the lobbying for you.
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My return | A practical guide to returning to your veterinary career
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Australian Veterinary Association ABN 63 008 522 852
Unit 40, 6 Herbert Street St Leonards NSW 2065 Australia
[email protected] www.ava.com.au