Small Animal Surgery Internship

An opportunity exists for a veterinarian to join our Melbourne team on a 12-month, full-time, Small Animal Surgery Internship.

CARE Collingwood is a 24-hour multi-disciplinary emergency and referral hospital in the heart of Melbourne, Australia. The hospital has specialists in Surgery and Internal Medicine. Dr Guy Yates is the head of the Surgery department.  Guy is an experienced specialist small animal surgeon and Fellow of the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists, who maintains active clinical interests in soft tissue, orthopaedic and neurosurgery. We see a wide range of orthopaedic, soft tissue, neurologic and oncologic surgery and are equipped with arthroscopy, digital radiography, IMEX linear and circular external fixation systems, TPLO equipment, Biomedtrix Universal Total Hip system, plating systems (Synthes LCP and Kyon ALPS II), Interlocking Nails, Negative Pressure Wound Therapy units, Electrosurgery (monopolar, bipolar, Ligasure), neurosurgery equipment, as well as a CT scanner and access to high-field MRI.

Your New Role

The Surgery department is currently staffed by 2 Specialist Surgeons (Fellows of the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists), one surgical Registrar, a surgical Resident, and one surgical Intern, and a large team of highly skilled surgical nurses. The role encompasses assisting the surgeons with consultations, diagnostic procedures, surgical procedures, case management and patient discharges, assisting the nurses with anaesthesia, and assisting with post-operative care of patients. Interns will also be trained in performing diagnostic procedures such as radiography, CT and MRI. The commencement of the program is currently flexible, however an ASAP start is available. 

The surgery intern's responsibilities and activities support the efficient and effective management of cases presented to the Surgery Department both as primary referrals and via the emergency service.  In this role, the intern works cooperatively with, and under supervision of the surgical specialists, registrar and resident.  This affords a considerable opportunity for clinical and professional development with exposure to a wide range of surgical cases and is intended to foster the intern's interest in further learning and facilitate their progression to advanced clinical training in the discipline.  This will require a balanced approach to capitalising on learning opportunities and attendance to clinical duties, requiring initiative, self-motivation and enthusiasm in both aspects of this role.

Specifically, the regular duties of the surgery intern include:

• Assistance with admission of patients to, and discharge from, the hospital
•  Organisation and preparation for anaesthesia of surgical patients
• Induction of anaesthesia and supervision of anaesthetic monitoring by surgical nurses
• Providing assistance to, and guidance of, the surgical nurses in the preparation of patients for surgery and performing adjunctive analgesic procedures
• Scrubbed assistance in surgery
• Supervision and management of patient recovery, as monitored by the surgical nurse
• Review of patient treatment/hospital charts
• Brief evening rounds with the responsible ICU clinician to transfer case responsibility overnight
• Assistance with diagnostic imaging investigations including radiographs, CT and MRI (external facility) examinations after appropriate training and licensing requirements have been met
• Preparation of surgical reports relating to procedures that the intern has been involved in as the assistant surge
• Thorough examination, assessment and care of any hospitalised surgery patients (including cooperation with the surgery nurse in performing any ancillary tasks).
• Preparation of daily inpatient records for hospitalised surgery patients
• Timely and comprehensive reporting to the specialists on the condition of their inpatients.
• Communication with clients and referring veterinarians on behalf of the surgeons when requested.
  • The surgical intern is not required to contribute to the on-call roster although there is the potential for the intern to participate in rostered in-patient care on Saturday mornings.
• Participation in, and contribution to, weekly surgery rounds/journal club sessions

• Candidates must be eligible for veterinary registration in Victoria and have excellent communication skills and work ethic, as well as a strong knowledge base on which to build
• Clinical experience is desirable but not essential
• This position is suited to a highly motivated vet seeking to further their skills and knowledge in Small Animal Surgery
• Team coherence is extremely important to us and above all, we value someone who is a team player and an active learner

What We Offer

• Mentorship and Guidance: Our team of skilled surgeons, vets and nurses will provide mentorship and guidance throughout your internship, ensuring your professional development and continued success. Interns interested in pursuing specialisation will be encouraged to seek residency training following the completion of the internship, and will be assisted in such training opportunities, whether it be internally or externally.
• Diverse Case Load: Our hospital sees a wide variety of cases from the Emergency department as well as referrals from referring practices all over Victoria, NSW and Tasmania, offering you exposure to complex surgical procedures.
• Collaborative Environment: Join a supportive team of passionate professionals who are dedicated to providing the best care for our patients. Learn from experienced nurses, veterinarians and specialists who will guide you every step of the way.
• Professional Development: Take advantage of our comprehensive internal continuing education program, which includes regular seminars, journal club, workshops, and case
• Work-Life Balance: Although emergencies can be unpredictable, we believe in maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Our flexible scheduling ensures you have time to relax and recharge, so you can continue to provide exceptional care. The position includes 4 weeks of annual leave and 1 week of study leave
• Location: Melbourne is a vibrant city with exceptional access to cultural events and sporting events, fine-dining and is being well positioned to allow the enjoyment of the natural beauty of Victoria.

To apply: 

Send you cover letter and resume here or for more information you are welcome to contact Shauna James on [email protected]