Episodes

Send us a text Dr Francesca Brown is a veterinarian who graduated from Massey University’s class of 1998. Since graduating and gaining experience in clinical practice she moved to education and then leadership in Allied Veterinary Professional education, at both Otago Polytechnic, as the Head of th…

Send us a text EVP – Employee Value Proposition – the tacit understanding about how an employer treats its employees What an employer promises its employees goes beyond the legal requirements of being paid for the work done (by the employee) and the health and safety obligations employers have. It’…

Send us a text When you – or your team – show up for work at your vet clinic, what is it you want them to feel and think about working at your clinic? Do you – or they - feel excited or exhausted? Delighted or filled with dread? Full of optimism or cynicism? Culture exists whether you like it or no…

Send us a text Here are six make-sense steps to help increase staff retention at your clinic by 82% and increase staff engagement by 70% Onboarding is the bridge between the final stage of recruitment and the first step in employee engagement. Onboarding is more than asking your new hire to fill ou…

Send us a text What is "constructive dismissal" - 101 employment law overview with Julie South. Dr Cath Watson - Chair of Healthy Pets NZ talks about ways supports can get involved in fundraising. Cath talks about "Dogs Day Out" and Kerikeri artist Tessa Smith. Julie South announces last week's lea…

Send us a text Part 2 of 3 chats Julie South had with Companion Animal Veterinarian and Chair of Healthy Pets New Zealand, Dr Cath Watson. This week Julie and Cath chat about some of the research that Healthy Pets NZ has undertaken. #LoveYourVetNurse annual competition in honour of Vet Nurse Awaren…

Send us a text Dr Cath Watson, BVSc - Companion Animal Veterinarian - has worked in a range of practices, both in here in Godzone Aotearoa New Zealand and in the United Kingdom. She’s been a locum, an employee, and a business owner. Right now, Cath’s based in Central Otago but travels the country a…

Send us a text Before you start looking for your next vet or vet nurse job – there are some things you need to do first – to avoid heartbreak and stress further down the track. In summary Get clear on why you’re considering a new job. If you like where you are, give your current clinic the opportun…

Send us a text 7 attributes of great team players 1. Understand their role 2. Embrace collaboration 3. Hold themselves accountable 4. Committed to their team 5. Flexible 6. Optimistic and future-focussed 7. Can be relied upon and trusted Johari Window + 56 adjectives 5 things to compare yourself to…

Send us a text What makes a great leader? Are people born natural leaders or can leadership be developed and taught? What’s the difference between a LEADER and a MANAGER? Did you realise that when you, or someone on your team is a great leader (or not) it affects your clinic’s ability to attract an…

Send us a text One small word - four different situations when you probably don't even realise you're using it + examples of how to swap to a statement more empowering and powerful (without being bossy or aggressive). A world first (as far as we can tell) initiative from VetStaff - we're looking fo…

Send us a text Pressure is not Stress - Nick Petrie - Presenter at the NZVA 2022 Conference - VBB session Nicholas Petrie What "human rumination" is. Julie shares one of the ways she gets out of downward rumination spirals when she recognises them playing out in her life. Nick Petrie's White Paper …

Send us a text VETERINARY CLINIC SALARY DATA Dr Mark Hosking, CEO of Franklin Vets, is a member of the NZVAs Veterinary Business Branch – the VBB. At the recent NZVA Conference he introduced BBVet, an Australian company which runs a series of surveys tailored to the New Zealand veterinary professio…

Send us a text Dr Jane Ough is a Senior Companion Animal Veterinarian at South Wairarapa Veterinary Services. Dr Jane’s time and pathway to the veterinarian she is today is quite different from the usual career path of veterinarians. She’s from the BVSc Massey class of 1982. Today, Dr Jane enjoys o…

Send us a text The third and final episode with Iain McLachlan – CEO of the New Zealand Veterinary Council. We talk about: the veterinary shortage, the nursing shortage, why the NZ VC doesn’t include two of the world’s top 10 veterinary science universities in its List of Recognised Institutions, w…

Send us a text The second of three episodes with Iain McLachlan – CEO of the New Zealand Veterinary Council. We talk about: the veterinary shortage, the nursing shortage, why the NZ VC doesn’t include two of the world’s top 10 veterinary science universities in its List of Recognised Institutions, …

Send us a text Today we start the first of three episodes where Iain McLachlan – CEO of the New Zealand Veterinary Council – and I, talk about the veterinary shortage, the nursing shortage, why the NZ VC doesn’t include two of the world’s top 10 veterinary science universities in its List of Recogn…

Send us a text Part 2 of the "Qs to A recruitment agencies before working with them" series. This episode specifically for the vet clinic - the HR manager, the Practice Manager, Lead Veterinarian or Veterinary Nurse who's charged with "recruitment" inside a vet clinic. In this episode Julie South o…

Send us a text Not all recruitment agencies are created equal. Some recruitment agencies use the "spray and pray" method. They'll get a job-seeker's CV, then spray it all over town (to their database) and leave it to the employer - the vet clinic - to do contact the CV owner, set up the interview, …

Send us a text This is part 2 of a 2 part series with Dr Ashley O'Driscoll, DVM, BSc. Dr O’Driscoll has worked in several New Zealand veterinary clinics – on both Islands - as a pet and farm animal veterinarian since moving here in 2010. As you’ll pick up, Dr O’Driscoll has a strong interest in ani…

Send us a text Dr O’Driscoll has worked in several New Zealand veterinary clinics – on both Islands - as a pet and farm animal veterinarian since moving here in 2010. As you’ll pick up, Dr O’Driscoll has a strong interest in animal welfare – she started the Waikato’s first home euthanasia referral …

Send us a text This VetStaff survey was run over four weeks - promoted via FB, Insta, LI and this podcast. Respondents were guaranteed anonymity. However, if they wanted their clinic to go in the draw to win lunch they needed to complete contact info so we could organise the delivery if their name …

Send us a text VetStaff does more than flick job seekers' CV onto vet clinics like their competitors - who then leave the job seeker to negotiate everything for themselves. VetStaff helps clinics with reputation misinformation - for example the false rumour of CCTVs in restrooms! Case Study #1 6-mo…

Send us a text If you’re a recent or new vet science graduate of Massey University then regardless of where you’re working in New Zealand, you’ve probably heard of, or met, Krispin as he’s been quite involved with Massey’s MMI for vet students over the years. MMI is part of the Massey BVSc pre-sele…