VSS offers clinical, practical, educational and mentoring services for rural veterinary graduates, building confidence and competence and promoting rural vet sustainability.
VSS understands the challenge of mastering clinical veterinary skills for new graduates in ambulatory work. Reduced time and opportunity for skill acquisition through veterinary degrees increases the pressure and expectations felt by post-graduate vets and can impact confidence.
Whilst many practices work hard to support and train their new graduate employees, time, staffing and finance are significant barriers to delivering high quality, proactive support in the field. VSS works with rural clinics to provide another layer of support and experience, reducing barriers to structured support and promoting a sustainable workforce.
An authentic, veterinary trailblazer, who passionately advocates and innovates for a sustainable rural veterinary service, Becky strives to improve and develop a strategic transition to clinical practice for Australian veterinarians. Through design and implementation of entrepreneurial mentoring, training and networking programs and services for graduate vets, Becky seeks to improve veterinary retention in regional Australia by creating neoteric pathways for new veterinarians. She nurtures enthusiastic young vets supporting them to develop the confidence and drive required for a sustained rural career.
Becky has worked in mixed animal clinical practices across regional Australia since 2007, with dairy cattle being a major focus. She completed a Dairy Residency through The University of Melbourne in 2013, gaining experience in and a passion for veterinary education which inspired the launch of VSS in 2022. Becky combines her veterinary experience, passion for teaching and strong interest in mental health and well-being, to support, educate and advocate for veterinary graduates with one lofty goal – to transform post-graduate veterinary education and support for rural vets.
“Recognising a lack of structured, formal post-graduate support and training, coupled with multifaceted challenges facing clinics providing this, I am determined to find financially viable and efficient ways to holistically support early-career vets in their demanding and remote rural work. I am motivated to continually advocate for necessary change to build a future-proof rural profession, which is capable of compassionately and sustainably servicing regional Australia’s livestock industries.”
Ongoing and Future Work
Veterinary Support Services runs 2 programs funded by the Cattle Compensation Fund, Agriculture Victoria: The Victorian Livestock Veterinary Scholarship Program and FarmVet Connect.
We plan to reapply for a grant to run the VLVS program commencing early 2027. To keep up to date with progress on this program and receive more information, complete this expression of interest form.