Veterinary Voices

Ready to revolutionise your vet clinic's recruitment process and say goodbye to low engagement, high turnover, and skyrocketing costs? Discover the secret to transforming your employer brand and boosting your clinic's success as we dive into the importance of values alignment, transparency, and a values-driven culture in ep 139 - The Power of Values . Join us on this enlightening journey...

Do you agree that traditional veterinary recruitment is desperately calling for a better way? Are you sick of being at the mercy of unverified employer review sites and Google to shape your clinic's employer reputation? Are you frustrated by the lack of insight into what it's really like to work at a clinic you've got your eye on?  Today, we unveil VetClinicJobs – the reimagined app...

Welcome to the exciting new chapter of the Vet Staff podcast, where we promise to help you navigate the ever-changing landscape of recruitment and employer brand marketing in the veterinary world! We're on a mission to revolutionize the recruitment market and create people-first workplaces, so say goodbye to the Paws Claws Wet Noses days and let's embark on this journey together. We coul...

Julie South of VetStaff speaks with Dr. Stuart Burrough of Vet Marlborough in the final instalment of a three-part series. Dr. Burrough discusses the strategies his clinic has implemented to mitigate the veterinary shortage and create a great place to work. He emphasises the importance of paying staff well enough to remove money as a motivator, and shares his vision for a veterinary business that...

Ever wondered how the professional skills of vet nurses could revolutionise the future of veterinary care? Join us for a captivating conversation with Dr. Stuart Burrough, a veterinarian and owner of Vet Marlborough, who shares his journey and innovative approach to task delegation. Learn how this unique principle has transformed Vet Marlborough's practice efficiency, elevating the role of ve...

VetStaff's Julie South chats with Dr Stuart Burrough ( BVSc., MANZCVS) a veterinarian with a passion for innovation and commitment to veterinary research. Dr. Burrough is the founder and director of Vet Marlborough and discusses his three-month experiences as part of a Practitioner in Residence prog at the University of Florida.   We also delve into Dr. Burrough's innovative approaches t...

This is the second in the 2-part series where Julie South interviews veterinary nurse practice manager and author of Tales of a Vet Nurse , Jade Pengelly.   We dive into the controversial topic of how vet nurses are trained and perceived in the UK versus New Zealand.  Jade Pengelly, shares her insights on the similarities and differences between the two nations and her views on what needs to chang...

Are you a veterinary nurse looking to take your career to the next level? If so, you won't want to miss today’s episode ! In this first of two episodes, we sit down with Jade Pengelly, a veterinary nurse and published author whose book, " Tales of a Vet Nurse ," is a must-read for anyone in the field. Jade is on a mission to help veterinary nurses gain the recognition they deserve b...

Are you an employer looking for ways to enhance the quality of life for yourself and your team in the workplace? Do you often find your team feeling overwhelmed and out of control? As a team leader, do you struggle to provide the right support during difficult times? While the saying "focus on what you can control" can seem trite and unhelpful, it's critical for the well-being of yo...

Want to improve job satisfaction and attract high-performing employees? You need to prioritise Quality of Life in your Workplace .  This Culture-Positive concept is gaining popularity.   But what is it exactly and how does it benefit both employees and employers?  Stay tuned as we explore the benefits of Quality of Life in your Workplace, how it can be your clinic’s recruitment superpower and how...

Are you curious about the power of gratitude? Perhaps you're sceptical of its benefits, thinking it's just a trendy buzzword.  What if I told you that there's scientific evidence that practicing gratitude can enhance your mental and physical health?  Join me:  today we dive deep into the world of gratitude, exploring its benefits and giving you practical tips on how to cultivate tha...

Are you struggling to juggle your professional and personal life? Do you feel like you're missing out on the things that matter most? Whether you're an introvert or an extrovert , finding the right balance can be a challenge. Here are 7 practical strategies tailored to your intro or extro “vert” personality-type that can help you create the balance you've been dreaming of. A lot of...

Are you a veterinary clinic owner, HR, or Practice Manager struggling to recruit and retain top performers?  Or maybe you're a veterinary professional on the hunt for your next career move?  Either way, this episode is for you!   We're diving into Vet Clinic Employer Branding , the power of employee testimonials to showcase the best clinics in town and how they can help you find the good...

Have you ever felt like you're stuck at the bottom of an insurmountable mountain or in a valley with no way out? How do you maintain that initial sense of wonder you first had when you started your veterinary career?    What is "grit"?  How and when do you use it? In this inspiring and openly honest episode, we continue our conversation with Dr. Crystal Loh, one of New Zealand'...

What would you tell your younger self if you could go back in time? Where's the most interesting place you've ever found a tooth? And what does Hobbiton have to do with becoming a boarded dental specialist? Today, Dr Crystal Loh , one of New Zealand's three companion animal dental specialists, shares her journey towards becoming a Specialist and offers valuable advice for anyone on...

Whether you’re looking to improve your leadership skills or interested in the impact of effective leadership at your vet clinic, today’s 101 Guide to the Situational Leadership Model is for you. Discover how to tailor your leadership style to fit just about any situation to achieve greater team success. Four Situational Leadership Styles: Directing Coaching Supporting Delegating Pros of Situationa...

Today, we're diving into another three powerful leadership styles – servant , coaching and authentic – that can transform the way you lead and inspire others.  We also look at what type of team member thrives best under each of these different leadership styles. Servant vs Coaching vs Authentic Leadership Styles Similarities : All three leadership styles prioritise building positive relations...

Have you ever been drawn to follow a charismatic or transformational Lead Vet or Head Nurse to their next job? If so, you likely understand first-hand how a leader's style can influence their team members' interactions and overall performance.  In this Leadership 101 series, we continue to delve into the different types of leadership styles.  Today we look at the nuances of managerial, c...

Crack the Code: Your 101 Guide to Recognising Different Leadership Styles Have you – or someone you know - ever left a workplace not because of the job but because the clinic owner, head nurse or lead vet, let toxic behaviour persist?   If so, you’ll “get” first hand how different leadership styles impact how individuals interact with their team members, how conflicts are resolved (or not), and ul...

I like to think that the state of my(Julie South) mental health is generally pretty good.   I know how to recognise when I get too close to the edge.  When I get to close to that endless downward negativity spiral where the vortex just sucks me in and it’s hard to move away into a more positive space. This week just gone, I noticed I was starting to edge towards “that” edge.    In times of uncerta...

Gaslighting, microaggressions, and passive aggressive behaviour create toxic relationships – at work and at home.  If you – or someone you know – wonders whether you’re going a bit crazy or feel like you have to walk on eggshells around certain people, then this is for you.  Today we look at some gaslighting, microaggression and passive aggressive warning signs and what to do about them, so you ca...

Equality vs Equity for Cost-Effective Veterinary Recruitment Here are 10 distinct ways "equity" is different to "equality" in the veterinary clinic workplace. We look at how you can address those differences to make you a more attractive PEOPLE .FIRST employer.   Being a PEOPLE. FIRST employer will make retention and recruitment of high calibre veterinary professionals much (mu...

There’s been a bit of a jargon bandied around the recruitment and HR worlds over the last few years of DEI – diversity, equity and inclusion .  Let's look at some DEI language - and how that plays out in your clinic - to either encourage inclusion or create cultural divides . Here are seven different things you can look at inside your clinic to encourage diversity and growth – personal, profe...

10 ways to help make your price rises more palatable for your clients so you can give your team a pay rise in these inflationary times Are staff motivation and clinic price increases connected – in this “life according to Julie episode”, I’m going to show you how they are.     But first – some of the backstory so you can see how the dots are all connected 😊 We – VetStaff – have had a bit of a run...

The last two episodes have covered unconscious bias when interviewing with the goal of not only shedding the light on unconscious bias at your clinic, but also to help you get a more diverse team… because, as we all know, the more diverse the opinions and experience you have in a team, the stronger that team is. If you’re a vet or nurse looking to make your next move, YOUR unconscious bias still e...