Veterinary Scene Down Under: Supporting early career veterinarians

For recently graduated veterinarians, experiences in their early years of veterinary practice can strongly shape the direction of the careers, and whether they decide to stay in the profession long term. After graduating in 2023, veterinarian Ben Martin, BVSc, recognized during his own early career journey that having support available was critical to ensuring a successful personal and professional transition into the profession.

“I became aware of how challenging the transition from university to clinical practice can be for new graduates. Not just clinically, but personally as well. Many of the challenges new vets face involve communication, confidence, boundaries, wellbeing, and navigating the realities of practice,” Martin shared with dvm360.

“Through conversations with many other new graduate vets I realized these experiences were incredibly common. This is what ultimately led me to start building YourVetCircle.If we can help vets feel supported, connected and confident during that period it can have a huge impact on wellbeing and career longevity,” he added.

Martin founded YourVetCircle, which is a community and mentorship program designed specifically for new and recent graduate veterinarians. “It came about because many of us felt that while university prepares you well clinically, the real-world transition into practice can feel isolating and overwhelming. The program runs as a structured six-month experience focused on the non-clinical challenges of veterinary practice and is designed to complement the clinical training new vets receive in clinic,” Martin said. “Members are encouraged to join with a buddy, often a close friend or colleague, and complete the program together which helps combat the isolation and overwhelm many new vets feel in their early years.”

Members of the initiative can attend live webinars and learn from experienced nonclinical mentors covering areas including contextualised care and patient advocacy, building trust with clients, handling challenging interactions, managing stress, and creating sustainable careers in veterinary medicine.

“I wanted to create something I personally would have valued in my first year. A supportive space where early career vets can talk honestly about the realities of practice, learn from each other, receive guidance from experienced mentors, and feel less alone in the journey,” Martin explained. “Each month focuses on a real-world theme such as client communication, difficult cases, career confidence, wellbeing, and workplace dynamics. For example, a typical month may include a live mentor webinar, guided buddy conversations, and a follow up mentor discussion inside the community where members can ask questions and share experiences.”

The broader goal of YourVetCircle is to give veterinarians the tools to navigate the non-clinical challenges of the profession throughout their careers. “By introducing these resources early, vets know where to turn for support, guidance, and shared experience. Just as importantly, YourVetCircle aims to build a lasting community where vets stay connected, continue asking questions, share resources, and support one another throughout their careers,” Martin shared.

“Our first cohort is just starting, and there has already been very strong interest from across Australia. It has been incredibly encouraging to see such strong demand and enthusiasm from early career vets. The program has also attracted support from multiple people across the profession and several veterinary industry partners who are helping provide scholarships and educational opportunities for members.

Martin said it’s exciting to be part of a collaborative effort between mentors, partner organisations, and young veterinarians - who all want to help the next generation of veterinarians thrive. “In many ways this is about helping lead the way for a new generation of veterinarians who are more connected, supported, and open about the challenges of the profession. Many of the people who have joined YourVetCircle are friends, classmates, or people I am connected with through the profession which makes it incredibly meaningful,” Martin said.

“What makes it especially satisfying is that this is something I personally wanted during my own early years in practice. I will also be learning from the mentors myself and every time I speak with them, I feel inspired by their experience and perspective.”

New regional veterinary school commences classes

The first class of veterinary students have started their degree at Southern Cross University in Lismore, New South Wales. The university campus also hosts the Friends of the Koala hospital, making the region a natural setting for veterinary training that encompasses companion animals, livestock and wildlife care.

As dvm360 reported in 2023,¹ when planning for the new veterinary course was underway, rather than replicating the traditional metropolitan veterinary teaching hospital model, the Southern Cross University program involves a distributed network of regional clinical partners, including veterinary practices, agricultural organisations and wildlife hospitals. This approach is aiming to provide students with hands-on experience in mixed animal practice, livestock health, wildlife care and community-based veterinary services.

Southern Cross University’s new Veterinary Sciences precinct was officially opened on March 16, 2026, by the Federal Government Member for Page, the Hon Kevin Hogan MP. “Veterinarians are a critical part of Australia’s biosecurity and food production system, yet workforce shortages remain most acute in regional communities where they are needed most. Strengthening the pipeline of regionally trained vets is not just a workforce issue – it is increasingly a national capability issue,” Jon Hill,PhD, BVSc, professor and executive dean of science and engineering at Southern Cross University, said in a statement.

Reference

Tucak P. Veterinary Scene Down Under: new veterinary school, plus AVA Veterinary Thought Leader of the Year and more. dvm360. Accessed April 2, 2026. September 28, 2023. https://www.dvm360.com/view/veterinary-scene-down-under-new-veterinary-school-plus-ava-veterinary-thought-leader-of-the-year-and-more