Information

Kookaburra Veterinary Employment - Veterinary Recruitment made easy. 100% Australian Owned

Kookaburra Veterinary Employment is Australia's most innovative Veterinary Employment Agency. Owned by Wendy Nathan BVMS & Steve Nathan, we have been providing quality service at a sensible cost since 1998.

Our job sections are updated every weekday, so you can be sure the positions advertised are actually available.

Our website statistics speak for themselves; During 2024 the Kookaburra website received over 195,000 unique visitors, with over 57,000 sessions per month. ( stats. Google Analytics )

Vet Clinics, Industry, Universities & Government

We can help with all your staffing requirements, from Animal Attendants to Zoo Vets and everything in between. We can even advertise your practice for sale. We believe we can give your vacancy greater exposure than any other Australian agency or journal.

But it doesn't end there, we search our database & promote your position to vets on our register who are actively seeking work & appear to suit your requirements, and, if the job is suitable, to final year students/new graduates in Australia and New Zealand.

Don't be fooled by our low fees - Nobody can match our job exposure, promotion and service! Just scroll to the bottom of this page to see what Clinic Owners and Practice Managers say about our service.

Locum Veterinarians

We keep a constantly updated register of vets available for locum work throughout Australia. It includes vets from Australia as well as overseas vets travelling in Australia from New Zealand, the UK, South Africa, Canada and America.
We will search our database for suitable veterinarians, and put them in contact with you. It is always your decision whether or not to employ a Vet referred from us.
We also place your advert for a locum on this website and our app, so that you can reach vets who may not be registered with us directly. Cost $150 inc. GST per 2 weeks.

Permanent Veterinarians

Register your vacancy with us and we will promote it to the many vets listed on our register who are seeking permanent work and appear to suit your requirements. We have experienced vets, recent and new graduates, and suitably qualified overseas vets listed with us. They will then contact you directly for more details or to arrange interviews.

We also place your advert on this website, our Smartphone Compatible job search website, and our iPhone app, Kookaburra Jobs, complete with your contact details, to reach vets who prefer not to register with employment agencies. We can place your clinic logo and hyperlink your advert directly to your own website, or we can create your own page on our website with photographs of the surgery at no extra cost.

What's more is that this service costs only a fraction of what some other veterinary agencies charge. Don't pay up to 15% of gross annual salary as a placement fee to get your perfect vet!

Permanent veterinary position fees

Minimum Fee $495.00 incl GST - first 4 weeks

Additional continuous weeks $75.00 incl GST per week

Cancellation fee of $225.00 incl GST if cancelled within the first 24 hours

No placement fee when job is filled

You have the potential to save $000's in agency fees!

Nursing & other Support Staff

See our Vet Nurse pages for up to date adverts from available nurses and other support staff. To advertise your vacancy, just email us your advert.

Our discounted fee for clinics is only $170.00 inc GST for up to two months advertising.

Standard fee for advertisers who are not Veterinary Clinics (i.e. Industry) is $300.00 inc GST for 4 weeks advertising.

Practices For Sale, Lease, & Partnerships

Practices for sale or lease, and Partnerships (or expressions of interest for partnership) can be advertised on our website (with photographs of the surgery, and detailed practice descriptions if desired). Real Estate Agents already know the secret of good internet advertising - you too can take advantage of this great service!

Our discounted fee for clinics with practices for sale or lease is $300.00 inc GST for up to two months advertising.

Standard fee for advertisers who are not Veterinary Clinics (eg. Business Agents, Real Estate Agents) is $300.00 inc GST for 4 weeks advertising.

Partnership ads are charged as per permanent jobs ads (minimum fee $495) and the ad will also be listed on the relevant Jobs page.

Vets

There is No Charge for the service we provide for vets seeking work.

Remember to download Kookaburra Jobs, our map based app for job seekers

Locum Positions.

Locuming is a great way to travel Australia - Wendy did it for twelve months and recommends it to anyone who wants a bit of adventure, or simply to see more of this great country! It is also a good way to gain additional experience in working with different people, in different conditions, and improve your veterinary skills. Veterinarians should have a minimum of 2 years experience prior to locuming.

We ask you to send us your resume, and make sure you are/will be registered in the states in which you would like to work. We also require you to agree to our standard Declaration.

You can then request full details of any locum jobs advertised on our website, and we will contact you by email or text with new job details that appear to suit your requirements as soon as they are listed with us.

Permanent Positions.

We want to help you find your perfect job. We have a huge range of permanent positions in General Practice, Industry, Universities, Government, Charity/Welfare & Wildlife/Exotic.

Register with us and we will send you details of new positions that appear to suit your requirements as soon as they are listed with us. Or if you prefer simply view our permanent jobs pages for all current positions. Remember to check regularly as new positions are uploaded the day we receive them (and quickly removed when they are filled!)

You are welcome to apply directly to any of the clinics advertising, please let them know you saw their vacancy on Kookaburra!

Overseas Veterinarians

You will need a visa to work in Australia unless you are a citizen or permanent resident of Australia or a citizen of New Zealand. For information on visas, contact your nearest Australian Consulate, or see www.homeaffairs.gov.au

For Veterinarians and Vet Nurses heading to Australia from overseas, the 482 Visa is very popular. Information below has been sourced from the Department of Home Affairs website www.homeaffairs.gov.au in September 2023.

Temporary Skill Shortage visa (subclass 482)

The Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa (subclass 482) replaced the old 457 visa in March 2018. TSS visa holders can work in Australia in their nominated occupation for their approved sponsor under one of three streams:

Short-term stream

Length of stay – up to 2 years
Vet Nurses are currently on the Short term Skilled Occupation list (STSOL)
Requirements for eligibility include English language requirements, skills assessments (by VETASSESS for VNs), nomination by an employer, health and character requirements.
Must have worked in the nominated occupation, or a related field, for at least two years
There is no age requirement
The current link for skills assessment for migration for vet nurses is https://www.vetassess.com.au/skills-assessment-for-migration/professional-occupations/application-process

Medium-term stream

Length of stay – up to 4 years
Vets are currently on the Medium term Skilled Occupation list (MLTSSL)
Requirements for eligibility include English language requirements, skills assessments (by AVBC for Vets), nomination by an employer, health and character requirements.
Must have worked in the nominated occupation, or a related field, for at least two years
There is no age requirement
The current link for skills assessment for migration for vets is https://avbc.asn.au/for-veterinarians/skills-assessment-for-migration/ You can only apply for a skills assessment once you hold full registration with an Australian Veterinary Registration Board.

Labour Agreement stream

This stream is available if your employer wishes to sponsor you (as an overseas worker) and has entered into a labour agreement with the Department

Both the Annual Market Salary Rate (AMSR) for the nominated occupation and the guaranteed annual earnings that will be paid to the nominated overseas worker, excluding any non-monetary benefits (for example, accommodation or car provided to them as part of their salary package), must not be less than the TSMIT (Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold).
TSMIT is currently AUD 76,515 for Nomination applications lodged on and between 1 July 2025 and 30 June 2026 as specified in the relevant legislative instrument.

Registration to Practice

Full registration to practice as a veterinarian in Australia is available to:

Graduates in veterinary science from Melbourne, Sydney, Queensland, Murdoch, Adelaide, Charles Sturt, James Cook, and Massey Universities, plus City University of Hong Kong (from 2023).
Graduates of London, Cambridge, Bristol, Liverpool, Glasgow, Nottingham, Surrey and Edinburgh Universities.
Graduates of Dublin from 2004 - for Dublin graduates prior to this please contact the relevant Veterinary Surgeons Board.
Members of the RCVS by examination.
Persons who successfully complete the Australasian Veterinary Examination (AVE) - formerly the National Veterinary Examination (NVE).
Graduates with BVSc from Pretoria.
Graduates from accredited AVMA schools who have passed the North American Veterinary Licensing Exam, including Canadian & USA, plus Utrecht, Lyon, Mexico, Seoul, West Indies (St Georges, Ross).

Click here for a full list of qualifications generally recognised for veterinary registration in Australia & New Zealand.

You are required to be registered as a veterinarian with one of the Australian Veterinary Boards. You will need to pay the appropriate fee, provide a copy of your degree certificate, and a letter of good standing from the most recent board you have been registered with eg. the RCVS for vets from the UK. For more information and Vet Board contact details, see the links page, or email or call Kookaburra.

There is now National Recognition of Registration in every State of Australia - Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia, ACT, and now Western Australia and NT - Veterinary surgeons who currently hold primary registration and reside permanently in another Australian state or territory are entitled to practise as a veterinary surgeon in these States on a part-time, casual or locum basis without having to register with the local Veterinary Board (in WA there is a 3 month limit). In the Northern Territory, locum vets need to email the registrar to advise they are coming to the NT.
More information about NRVR can be found on the AVBC website.

The requirements for registration and the list of circumstances where an exemption to the requirement for sitting the AVE (Australasian Veterinary Exam) applies are subject to change and can be complicated - we suggest contacting the relevant State Veterinary Board for current information.

You can also contact the Australasian Veterinary Boards Council at admin@avbc.asn.au

What our clients say about our service.........

These are just a few of the many compliments we have constantly arriving........

2025:

"We’ve had a lot of applicants – probably around 20 – how times have changed! You can cancel the ad for now" Mixed Vet Practice

"We have had many applications come from Kookaburra, it continues to be a great platform." Australian & New Zealand Group

"Many thanks for your help in matching me with jobs in Australia. I found a lovely employer in Sydney within 2 weeks of signing up to your register, who offered to guide me in developing new skills in a very supportive and fun environment! I have scouted a few different recruiters but they write the ads on behalf of the employers, which ended up making all their ads come out the same. I'm grateful for Kookaburra Vets running a classifieds-style layout that shows the personality of the person from the advertising clinic who put up the ad. Really helped me find a clinic that fits!" Small Animal UK Qualified Vet

"We have found a successful applicant for the role noted below. Please cancel our ad. Thanks for your help in finding a great team member." SA Small Animal Group Practice

"We’ve successfully hired two fabulous nurses and have also received some great resumes to keep on hand for future opportunities. I must say, this has been the most successful recruitment process I’ve been part of!" WA Small Animal Practice

"We have indeed filled the position thanks, have a lovely locum lined up. Thankyou for being such an easy service to deal with in our time strapped profession!" WA Mixed Practice

"Thank you kindly for advising me of the price increases. That is absolutely fine from our end. We completely understand the need for these increases, and honestly nothing would seem enough to match the service that we receive from the team at Kookaburra" NSW Small Animal/Referral Clinic

"We have officially signed up our new vet, thank you very much, and we have another potential new grad lined up for next year, so please take down our ad! Thank you very much!" NSW Equine Practice

"Many thanks for this - can we please remove the ad? I have filled the position - thanks for facilitating this!" WA Specialist Practice

"I also just wanted to personally thank you! I’ve loved my Monday updates and facts on the world and I’ve also learnt so much from your guidance. I am incredibly grateful and wish nothing but the best for you and the Kookaburra team !" HR Small Animal Group Practice

"We interviewed 3 applicants and trialled one today, who has accepted the role with us. Thank you for the assistance and successful outcome yet again." Melbourne Small Animal Practice

2024:

"We had them (successful applicant) come through Kookaburra, which is great. We did try Seek and FaceBook but I believe the best results we’ve had recently have come through your company – this clearly shows that only committed veterinary people are choosing your site." Victorian Small Animal/Welfare Practice

"Thanks to your website, we actually had such a good response that we do not need the ad to be any more. You can remove it now." SA Specialist Practice

"We did have quite a few great applicants apply through your Site. Also great feed back for the admin team at Kookaburra who are also so accommodating & helpful! Thanks Team!" SA Small Animal Clinic

"We will take this one down thanks. I've never had so many applicants for a position!". Melbourne Small Animal/Referral Practice

"We have found a Vet!! Thanks to you guys!! Well a couple actually." QLD/NSW Small Animal Group Practice

"I can confirm that we have filled both Veterinarian and Nurse positions. Please stop your awesome adverts.
Thank you again for always helping us out – your work is very much appreciated." QLD Mixed clinic

"Yes, all of our vet positions have now been filled, and yes, they have all over the last few months come from the casual and permanent vet position adverts we had with you." WA Clinic

"Thank you for your magnificent service over the last couple of decades. You have been hugely appreciated by me. I recommended you to (new owner) with great enthusiasm!" Small Animal WA Clinic

"We have around 5 good candidates for the job so figure we will let that run its course and hopefully one of them takes it." NZ Clinic

"Hello I just wanted to let Kookaburra know that yesterday I found out I was successful in gaining employment at XXX for a part time graduate vet position. Thank you for sending all the job availabilities and help in contacting places." New Graduate Vet

"Oh you are the absolute best thank you!! What have I done to deserve such an amazing team looking after me!!" Australian Vet Group HR

"Thanks for always being there for us when we need you!" Northern Rivers NSW Clinic

"Just thought I would let you know how impressed we have been with the service you provide. So far it seems to have produced the best responses so will certainly use you for any further positions we may have available." New Zealand Clinic.

"Placing the ad on your site worked a treat. We had 5 applicants within a week. We have filled the position........." T.R. Veterinarian

2023 & PREVIOUS:

"We had to find a full time veterinarian for our busy practice to start in a month. We advertised in quite a few places and the expense was huge. We had never used Kookaburra Veterinary Employment before and decided to also advertise on their website. Before the week was out from us advertising on their website we had lined up 4 interviews. Before the month was out we had 10 interviews and many more applicants for our position! Most of the applicants had seen our advertisement on the Kookaburra website! I have absolutely no hesitation in recommending Kookaburra Veterinary Employment for any of your staffing requirements, we did not have to spend a lot of money and we did not have to pay anything else when we filled the position! Thankyou very much Kookaburra Veterinary Employment, we had the stress taken out of finding the perfect team member for our practice and we thankyou for your prompt service and communication with us." J.T. Practice Manager

"Thanks for all your correspondence and, of the 3 locum agencies I've been dealing with you guys have been the most helpful, prompt and most professional. I'll recommend you to my colleagues." A.C. Veterinarian

"I think the photos did it for us. We had 9 interviews and 8 of them saw your website, so you are certainly getting hit." K.S. Practice manager

"I would just like to say your web site was very helpful and I got a lot of response through it." F.H. Vet nurse

"We were very impressed with the response so thanks for your help. This is a wonderful service." M.B. Veterinarian

"Steve - the ad has worked a treat - we've picked up a new grad care of the Kookaburra Website!!" S.S. Veterinarian

"Just wanted to say thanks for your help and what a great website this is - the only one I’ve ever found !!" C.H. Vet nurse

"I have to congratulate you on the response to your website! Nurses from all over have contacted me!" K.K. Veterinarian

"Thanks very much for the service you have provided me and I'm going to use Kookaburra in England. I will certainly recommend you to other vets looking for work and will use you again when I return to Australia." T.D. Veterinarian

"I appreciate the professionalism and friendliness of your service." G.H. Veterinarian

"Hello Wendy and Steve I just wanted to thank you for your great web site………………… Keep up the fantastic work!" G.W. Vet nurse

"The position has now been filled. Thanks to your great service." B.K. Veterinarian

"We have had a great result from your advertisement. We had advertised in the usual big publications but didn't receive any good applications apart from your excellent website!! and at a fraction of the cost. We will be using you again in the future – thanks" Peter Haworth, New Era Vet Hospital'

"We have had an amazing response to the advert and will be short listing a few nurses soon. Thank you once again for the professional job well done." Shane Brewe, Rossdales Equine Hospital'

"We recruited someone returning from New Zealand who saw our advert through your website. Many thanks for your help and for contributing to our successful recruitment." Anna Judson, Camlas Vets (UK)

"I advertised a position on the Kookaburra website, that I had previously run in the Vet Record. I had no response to the Vet Record ad but a much better response to the Kookaburra advert. Although a high proportion of applicants where unsuitable, several where very good, and I did fill the position fairly quickly after this. I was initially very sceptical of paying to advertise on the Internet, but I am pleased I did especially as the cost was much smaller than the Vet Record. It also allowed me to put a lot more detail of the job which I think is what made the difference. I would definitely use this route again in the future." Graham Parlane, Lockwood Animal Hospital (UK)

"Thank you for all your help with the advert - it's worked wonders and we have just offered the job to someone this morning! I have to say it's been very effective, far more so than a stuffy ad in a veterinary publication!! I suppose we all have to move into the modern era sometime!!" Andy Mead, Arun Vet Group

"We listed a vacancy for a permanent position on your site and we have been happy with the response. I would recommend your site to others. Thanks for your assistance." Ivor Wolstencroft MRCVS, Companion Care

"Many thanks from all of us at Archenfield Vets for the huge response we received from our advert posted on your website for a mixed animal vet. We advertised the position for six weeks with both the Vet Record and the Vet Times with very limited response. We put it with you for a week and we were inundated!! Have now employed a lovely enthusiastic young vet who fits in well with our team. Would not hesitate to recommend you and many thanks once again. " Kim Parsons - Practice Manager, Archenfield Vets, Ross-on-Wye

"We're getting a very encouraging response to our advert placed with you a week ago and I think we may well have sorted it all very soon." Becky - Lakeview Veterinary Centre, Kent

"The website is superb value and very easy to use. I had more response than any other advertising and employed two vets from Australia within 6 weeks of advertising. I'll definitely be using this service again." Gordon - Well Pets, Somerset.

"Thank you very much for advertising my job vacancy on your web site. I received very good response from all over the world. I have decided to employ a recent graduate from Glasgow. Thank you very much for your help." Kamal - Willows Vet Centre Newcastle