Media release

Australia is the midst of a worsening vet nurse shortage, with a 2021 workforce survey conducted by the Australian Veterinary Association finding about a third of veterinary job vacancies took over 12 months to fill. The NSW Government has moved to address the shortage in the bush, recently expanding its Welcome Experience program, giving vets, vet nurses, vet technicians and their families assistance with sourc¬ing housing, childcare and other services when moving to rural NSW.

Ms Coleman said the recent excursion to South Africa was a “life-changing” experience, both personally and professionally.

“We were able to get behind the scenes with the animals and work alongside experienced South African vets,” she said. “We fed and got up close with white lions, tigers, elephants and so many others. We relocated a zebra from the reserve to a smaller enclosure and helped vaccinate, worm and do health checks on a range of animals.”

TAFE Digital vet nursing teacher Sally Lee, a vet nurse of 20 years who travelled with students to South Africa, said the job prospects for graduates were “positive”.

“There are a huge amount of jobs for vet nurses in the industry and many of our students gain employment during their first work placement,” Ms Lee said.

“And the South African trip really was an emotional and humbling experience. It gave students priceless hands-on experience but also broadened their perception and approaches to veterinary medicine.”

Caption: ANIMAL MAGNETISM: TAFE Digital vet nursing graduate Belinda Coleman (left) during a ‘life-changing’ trip to South Africa recently.

**Media contact:**Dan Johns, TAFE NSW Communications Specialist, (02) 7920 5000.

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