A New Graduate wanting to get their career off to a great start, wanting the opportunity to work for an experienced practitioner who not only has excellent clinical skills himself but also a keen interest in supporting less experienced vets in their journey to develop theirs.  From experience, our new graduates are often significantly further ahead in their clinical development than their peers.

We are looking for a vet who is passionate and genuinely likes helping people and their pets to achieve the best outcome.

Has sound theoretical knowledge, demonstrated clinical skills relative to experience level, dedication to continued learning and the willingness and drive to expand their abilities in all aspects of clinical practice.

Someone who is energised by a faster paced environment, has a flexible mindset, is adaptable and professional, with a positive can-do attitude and self-awareness.  A person that value’s honesty, integrity, respect and making a positive contribution to culture and to WQVH’s friendly and supportive environment.

WQVH is a progressive full-service general practice that believes:

1. The veterinary profession, pets, and pet owners alike all really need great general practitioners.
2. That there is an excellent career to be had in general practice – one that is rewarding both professionally and financially.
3. That the key to getting a good start in your veterinary career is a great first job that builds strong and broad clinical skills, confidence and experience in a supportive environment.

As a result the focus of our new graduate program is exactly that – to facilitate learning and build confidence in new graduate associates through both opportunity and mentorship in order to help get a that great career started.  We aim to build competent and confident practitioners who can do most things (something we also believe is an ideal prerequisite to possible eventual practice ownership, should that be an interest).

For all vets, WQVH also provides access to Lincoln Institute Leadership Leading Edge Vet course – aimed at helping vets build confidence and success in the consulting room (clients saying ‘yes’ to your recommendations), a key component of a successful and fulfilling career in general practice.

Guidelines for first three years

First two weeks

• Orientation
  • Get to know way around the facility
  • Shadowing experienced vet in consult room,
  • Learn computer system and how to bill.
• Assist in the hospital room.

2wks to 3mths

• Intro to consulting
  • Small numbers, half hour in length, vaccination/wellness only
• Surgery
  • Routine desexing – castrations and cat speys
  • Minor Dentals
  • Abscesses
  • Minor stitch ups
  • X-rays

3 to 6mths

• Introduction to sick pet consultations
  • Half hour consultations still
• Some basic weekend work (3hr Saturday morning shift) alongside experienced vet
• Surgery progression
  • Dog speys under 25kg
  • Dentals

6 to 12 mths

• Full weekend work supported by a second vet.
• Clinical progression
  • Consolidating routine desexing skills (speed etc)
  • Ultrasounds

12mth- 18mths

• More complex desexes (overweight spey, cryptorchid)
• Introduction to foreign body, caesarean, eye surgery, airway surgery
• Hip and elbow scores
• Reproduction

18mths to 3yrs

• More complex medical case management (cushings, diabetes, chemotherapy)
• Surgical progression
  • Introduction to orthopaedics – small dog cruciate, patella, excision arthroplasty
  • Larger lumps, splenectomy’s

Aim: at the end of three years to be confident in all the above surgeries with minimal assistance.

This program outlined above is meant as a guideline – it may vary depending on the individual capabilities of each Graduate but is a good average of what WQVH would expect a New Graduate to be aiming to achieve over a three year time frame.