{"id":8760,"date":"2017-11-14T07:00:55","date_gmt":"2017-11-13T20:00:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/veterinarycareers.com.au\/dev\/?p=8760"},"modified":"2019-02-06T00:30:10","modified_gmt":"2019-02-05T13:30:10","slug":"where-have-all-the-vets-gone-vet-practice-magazine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/veterinarycareers.com.au\/dev\/where-have-all-the-vets-gone-vet-practice-magazine\/","title":{"rendered":"Where have all the vets gone? – Vet Practice Magazine"},"content":{"rendered":"
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In researching for a proposal I have come across this great article by Vet Practice Magazine’s Merran White\u00a0 – it outlines some of the issues our profession must find new solutions for really well. Notably quoting the very competent and knowledgeable Debbie Neutze, AVA who has focused on the profession and created the AVA Workforce Data<\/a> since 2012. Great work – Vet Practice Magazine! (DrM)<\/p>\n

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Despite a steady supply of new vet graduates, practices across Australia are finding it hard to fill job vacancies. What is going on and what can be done about it? Merran White investigates<\/h2>\n

In the past decade, the number of Australian universities offering veterinary courses has jumped from four to seven; collectively, they churn out an estimated 500-550 graduates a year.<\/p>\n

Even accounting for the fact that some are overseas students who return home post-graduation, you would think there would be enough vets to go around. Yet many practices are having trouble attracting suitable candidates to veterinary jobs.<\/p>\n

For Dr Debbie Delahunty, owner and head vet of Horsham Veterinary Hospital in regional Victoria, recruiting vets to her small-animal practice was never an issue\u2014until last year. And she is not alone; at the 2016 Australian Veterinary Business Association (AVBA) conference, where she hosted dozens of delegates at roundtables on recruitment, Dr Delahunty was \u201creally surprised\u201d at the number of city practice owners expressing similar problems.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhile [most] seeking new graduates have few issues filling positions, employers in some regional areas in SA, the ACT, Perth and outer Sydney metropolitan areas have reported difficulties finding suitable veterinarians with three to five years\u2019 clinical experience seeking full-time employment,\u201d confirms AVA policy manager Dr Debbie Neutze.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s causing the vet drought?<\/h3>\n

Several potential contributing factors have been proposed to explain the recent recruitment squeeze in regional and, increasingly, some urban practices. They include:agriculture,<\/p>\n

l changing industry demographics\u2014notably, more women entering the profession, which likely means more vets seeking work in city-based small-animal private practices; taking time off for child rearing (typically five to 10 years post-graduation), then transitioning to part-time\/flexible hours;<\/p>\n