You may not see the work of the veterinary department when you visit Perth Zoo but it plays a very important role behind the scenes.
Perth Zoo has its own on-site veterinary hospital which sees everything from lions and lizards to birds and bears. Some of the diverse responsibilities of the veterinary department at Perth Zoo include:
- Clinical Work
- Preventative Care and Nutrition
- Quarantine
- Research
- Education and Training
- Conservation Medicine (including wild cockatoo rehabilitation)
Veterinary Staff
The veterinary department is part of the Animal Health and Research directorate which also includes the Native Species Breeding Program, the Reproductive Biology Unit and Research.
Staff in the veterinary department include clinical veterinarians and veterinary nurses, teaching veterinarians, a special veterinary projects manager and a regional veterinary officer.
Becoming a Zoo Veterinarian or Veterinary Nurse
In general, when Perth Zoo is looking for veterinary staff, we require the following.
Veterinarian
- Completion of veterinary training at university as well as further study including Post-graduate Certificate or Masters in Conservation Medicine, Masters of Science (Wild Animal Health), Veterinary Residency or membership in the Australian College of Veterinary Scientists
- 2–4 years experience working in clinical practice
- 1–2 years veterinary wildlife experience particularly with exotic animals
- Experience working at a zoo, wildlife park, refuge etc is very useful.
- The ability to write scientific papers.
Where can you find out about veterinarian training?
- School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, Murdoch University www.vetbiomed.murdoch.edu.au
Veterinary Nurse
- Formal Qualifications in veterinary nursing
- Several years experience in a veterinary hospital setting
- Experience in the captive husbandry and management of wild animals
- A current “C” class drivers licence.
Where can you find out about veterinary nurse training?
- Full or part time study at The Centre for Animal Studies, Swan College of TAFE swan.tafe.wa.edu.au
- Full/part time/or external study Applied Vocational Training www.appvoc.com
- Veterinary nurse traineeships (conditions apply), contact WA Primary Industries Training Council, telephone 9359 4000
Employment opportunities at Perth Zoo are advertised on our website, jobs.wa.gov.au, Seek and in The West Australian newspaper.
You can find out more about what goes on in the veterinary department on a Close Encounter or read about a Day in the Life of a Veterinarian and a Veterinary Nurse.
