Experienced Mixed Practice Veterinarian – 3+ Years

Great medicine. Genuine variety. Limited after-hours. Brand-new facilities.

Western Victoria Vets is looking for an experienced veterinarian with 3+ years’ experience to join our privately owned mixed practice in Ararat, Western Victoria.

We’ve recently moved into our brand-new, purpose-built veterinary hospital, giving our team the facilities, equipment and space to provide a high standard of care while continuing to offer the variety that makes mixed practice interesting.

We’re looking for a vet who is confident in general practice and wants to become an important part of a growing, supportive team.

The Role

Our caseload is approximately:

• 70% small animal | 30% large animal
• Large animal work predominantly involves beef cattle and sheep, with equine work and the occasional goat or alpaca
• A varied small animal surgical and medical caseload
• Plenty of opportunity to pursue your own clinical interests
• Scope to develop further in surgery, production animal medicine, herd health or another area of interest

We want our vets to have the autonomy to work up cases properly, while having colleagues available to discuss challenging cases when needed.

Small Animal

Our small animal caseload includes everything you would expect from a busy regional practice, including preventative medicine, internal medicine, trauma and wound management, abdominal surgery, emergency caesareans, dentistry and orthopaedic cases.

Our new hospital includes separate dog and cat waiting areas, dedicated dog and cat hospital wards, a dedicated dental suite, modern surgical facilities and improved diagnostic and treatment areas.

We also have visiting specialists and experienced clinicians working from the practice, allowing us to expand the services available locally and providing excellent opportunities for collaboration and professional development.

Large Animal

For vets who enjoy getting out of the clinic, our large animal work includes:

Cattle pregnancy testing, herd health, calvings, lameness investigations, disease investigations, sheep work, ram vasectomies, brucellosis testing, colics, wounds and general field work.

If you have a particular interest in beef cattle or sheep consultancy, there is significant opportunity to help develop this side of the practice.

A Roster That Leaves Room for a Life Outside Work

We know experienced vets increasingly value sustainability and flexibility.

Our roster includes:

Only 1 Saturday morning in 4 – 9am to 12pm

Limited after-hours commitments

We’ve deliberately structured the role to provide the benefits and clinical variety of regional mixed practice without expecting veterinary medicine to consume your entire life.

What We Offer

• Generous salary package, negotiable based on experience
• Generous CPD allowance
• 1 week paid conference/CPD leave
• 4 weeks paid annual leave
• Additional unpaid leave encouraged where appropriate
• Brand-new purpose-built veterinary hospital
• Modern equipment and excellent facilities
• Visiting specialists and opportunities for collaboration
• Interesting and genuinely varied caseload
• Clinical autonomy with support when you need it
• Strong focus on professional development
• Supportive, approachable and privately owned practice
• Opportunity to develop an area of particular clinical interest
• A workplace where experienced vets can have meaningful input into how the practice continues to grow

Why Ararat?

Ararat offers the lifestyle benefits of regional Victoria while still being within easy reach of Melbourne.

We’re located at the foot of the Grampians, surrounded by wineries, hiking, cycling and some of Victoria’s best regional food and outdoor experiences.

We’re approximately 2 hours from Melbourne and 1.5 hours from the coast, with affordable housing and the kind of commute that rarely involves sitting in traffic.

It’s an excellent option for someone looking for more space, a better work-life balance and an interesting veterinary career without giving up access to Melbourne.

Who We’re Looking For

We’d love to hear from veterinarians with at least 3 years of clinical experience who are comfortable working with a degree of independence.

You might already be an experienced mixed practitioner, or you may be a predominantly small animal vet who would like to incorporate some large animal work into your career.

We’re particularly interested in someone who:

• Enjoys being part of a collaborative team
• Takes pride in providing a high standard of patient and client care
• Is confident with routine medicine and surgery
• Enjoys clinical variety
• Values autonomy but also enjoys discussing cases with colleagues
• Has an interest in surgery, beef cattle, sheep or production animal medicine — although this is not essential
• Wants to contribute to the ongoing development of a growing regional practice

Most importantly, we’re looking for someone who wants to build a long-term role that works for both their career and their life outside veterinary medicine.

Interested?

A formal application isn’t necessary to start the conversation.

For a confidential chat about the position, call Ali on 03 5352 1021.

Alternatively, send your CV or an expression of interest to clinic@westernvictoriavets.com.au.

Come and practise great veterinary medicine, enjoy genuine mixed-practice variety, and do it from a brand-new hospital with a roster designed to be sustainable.