The VLVS program is a not-to-be missed opportunity for early career vets in Victorian rural mixed practice!
Candidates receive:
- structured support and training in ambulatory livestock work from an experienced supervisor,
- fully funded, graduate-focused, clinical and professional training
- evaluation and monitoring of skills acquisition
- peer support and network building
- active support to engage and integrate into local community and agriculture.
Find out if you are eligible to apply!
Eligibility Criteria
- Hold a nationally recognised veterinary science degree
- Registered to practice as a veterinary surgeon in the state of Victoria.
- Less than 2 years graduated*
- Employed full-time in a Victorian rural/regional practice
- Able to carry out a minimum veterinary workload of 50% livestock duties**
- Strong interest and commitment for continued veterinary work with production animals
*Candidates graduated more than 2 years will still be considered if they have had limited exposure to production animal work in their career to date.
** 50% is a rough guideline only and is suggested to ensure the candidate gains sufficient exposure to livestock animal caseload to develop the appropriate clinical skills.
Expectations
As a VLVS candidate, you are required to
- carry out at least 50% of my clinical work across a year with production animal species.
- take my supervisor in my vehicle to livestock calls up to 5 days per month for the first 6 months of the program, then reducing as experience is gained (i.e. fortnightly for the subsequent 6 months then monthly in the second year of the program).
- act as the attending veterinarian on supervised production animal calls, carrying out as much of the clinical tasks as independently as possible whilst allowing my supervisor to advise, support, teach, intervene or carry out tasks for me as they deem necessary.
- complete/attend all compulsory CPD training as directed by Veterinary Support Services management team.
- attend and contribute to monthly online facilitated peer support meetings.
- complete one individual animal (year 1) and one herd-based (year 2) case study and present them within the candidate cohort and, where possible, to a wider audience.
- complete and submit a weekly, online production animal case log and self-reflection diary.
- submit a weekly, single response check-in status to VSS management.
- complete initial and 6-monthly candidate progression assessments and evaluations to provide a quantitative measure of clinical competency development.
- attend face-to-face meetings every 6-9 months with VSS management, supervisor and employing practice representative to evaluate program logistics, implementation, functionality and efficacy.
- complete 2 program satisfaction and feedback surveys at each year end to qualitatively evaluate program performance.
- fulfil all other obligations of my employment contract with my veterinary practice.
- remain in contact with VSS management post-program completion, providing follow up communications as required including evidence of continued regional Victorian employment in order to demonstrate eligibility for HECS debt relief payments.