Compassion • Respect • Professionalism • Teamwork

Above award salary + 38hrs per week over four days + extra paid leave for study + access to EAP + friendly and supportive team = great opportunity!

The Ballarat Veterinary Practice is proudly Australia’s first AVA accredited Employer of Choice.  We have been proudly servicing the veterinary needs of the community in Ballarat and surrounding areas, for over 80 years.

The Ballarat Veterinary Practice Equine Clinic was established in 1945 and is one of the largest and most experienced equine hospitals in the Southern Hemisphere.  It is a full-service equine hospital offering both primary and referral consultations.  Our fully equipped hospital offers a complete range of services including surgery, medicine, racetrack ambulatory, and advanced diagnostic imaging.  

The broad experience base of our highly skilled team means that not only are we well equipped to provide superior care and service to our equine patients, but also there is remarkable potential for you to learn and grow.

Working under the guidance of our highly skilled team; this is an opportunity for a solid equine professional to hone their interests and develop expertise in an equine clinical setting.

In this role you will be rotating through tasks including:

• surgical nursing in a busy and well-resourced equine hospital
• providing assistance with diagnostic imaging
• trained in in-house pathology, sterilisation and biosecurity practices 
• perform one-on-one assistance to vets and specialist surgeons 
• exposure to a wide range of ambulatory cases

To be successful in this role you will be:

• Calm under pressure
• Able to work with a sense of urgency
• Highly competent in and have an excellent understanding of general animal care principles
• Experienced and confident handling horses of all breeds and temperaments
• Due to the requirement for on-call, applicants must have a valid driver’s licence, and live within a reasonable distance from our clinic (no more than 20 minutes’ drive) to allow for attending to emergency call-outs.  

This role involves direct animal handling and standing for extended periods. Applicants must be able to safely perform the physical requirements of the role, with or without reasonable adjustments.

A Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing qualification is very much preferred, but we will consider applicants with excellent horse handling skills and a willingness to dedicate themselves to a career in equine veterinary nursing, and a preparedness to undertake the rigors of study required to become qualified.  Financial support for undertaking study will be provided for the right applicant.

Applicants must have unrestricted work rights in Australia, as visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

Ballarat is a beautiful, thriving city of more than 100,000 people, making it the third largest inland city in Australia.  It has a vibrant sporting, arts and cultural community. Ballarat boasts affordable living, top class schools, hospitals, sporting and entertainment venues of its own, whilst Melbourne is little more than an hour away via train or on the freeway. Take a look at www.vetlifeinballarat.com.au to find out more.

How To Apply:
At BVP, you’ll be supported by a collaborative, compassionate team who genuinely care for each other and the animals we treat.  If this sounds like the place for you, send your covering letter and resume to careers@bvp.com.au to the attention of Jessie Koene, Clinic Manager – Equine.

Applications close on Friday 31^st October, 2025 at 5:00pm. A full position description can be provided on request.

Small Animal Veterinary Nurse

The Ballarat Veterinary Practice is proud to be Australia’s first recipient of the Australian Veterinary Association’s Employer of Choice accreditation. This means that we are recognised as an exemplary employer within the profession and are recognised for our high-quality standards.
Due to internal staff movements and parental leave requirements, we have a need for a highly motivated, and experienced Small Animal Veterinary Nurse to join our dedicated and professional team.  We are highly supportive of working parents, and encouraging work/life balance so there is some flexibility available in this role.  Full days (8:00am-6:00pm) are required, but there is flexibility around which days you may choose, and also the option of working evening and/or weekend shifts to fit around your family life.

Our business is centred on four core values: Compassion, Respect, Professionalism and Teamwork. Your ability to embody these values is of great importance to us, and so your personality, and ‘fit’ within our team’s culture is paramount.
The role will consist of duties such as:

• Animal handling
• Cleaning and sterilising equipment
• Assisting vets in consultations
• Basic medical procedures such as taking blood, placing catheters and monitoring anaesthetics
• General patient care

To be successful in this role, you will be a self-starter who shows strong initiative and is able to demonstrate:

• A strong alignment with our company values
• Extensive and proven experience in safe animal handling
• A commitment to continuing education
• Calmness under pressure, but with a keen sense of urgency and an ability to be proactive
• High levels of motivation and an energetic outlook on your work, and in life in general
• The ability to multi-task, prioritise and adapt quickly to change
• Maturity and a strong work ethic
• Exceptional customer service skills
• Genuine compassion for people and animals

Currently, we are only seeking fully qualified veterinary nurses who already have a minimum of 12 months’ worth of clinical experience behind them.

This role offers you the opportunity to work within one of Ballarat’s most long-standing and celebrated organisations, among a team of dedicated and committed professionals. You’ll enjoy a wide range of benefits including:

• Above industry award salary
• Highly supportive environment, in a dynamic group comprising of six clinics
• An encouraging learning environment with access to continuing professional development
• Modern equipment and facilities
• Access to our Employee Assistance Program
• Health and wellness initiatives
• And… free parking, uniform allowance, staff discounts, opportunities to be involved in charitable/community based initiatives, and a fun and sociable team of workmates!

If you wish to apply for this position, please forward your resume and cover letter to careers@bvp.com.au marked to the attention of Sue Phillips, Director of Nursing. To put yourself ahead of the pack, your cover letter should include a thorough summary of how and why you feel you can represent our four key values of Compassion, Respect, Teamwork and Professionalism.