Initial work experiences of veterinarians who graduated from Australian universities in 2005

To describe the location, type, support from and effects of their first position for the veterinary graduates of 2005, and to make comparisons with graduates of 1950-2000.

Questionnaires were sent to veterinarians who had graduated from an Australian university in 2005, and data were analysed with SAS System 8 for Windows.

One-sixth of the graduates left for overseas, and 55% (Murdoch) to 85% (Melbourne) of the remainder found their first veterinary position in the state where they were trained. More were in small animal (48%) and less in mixed practice (48%) than in previous decades, and they spent more time (79%) with dogs and cats, and less with horses (9%), cattle (8%) and other production animals (1%). The median income of males working full-time was $43,000 and $39,000 for equivalent females. Most were satisfied with the help and support received from their boss and workplace; approximately 20% felt that support was inadequate, and many felt overworked and underpaid. The graduates with inadequate support were more likely to suffer stress and were less likely to have enjoyed their first year or to agree that they would become a veterinarian again. The levels of perceived support, and of stress, were similar to those reported by graduates of 2000, though more favourable than in the previous 2 decades.

Graduates of 2005 were less likely than their predecessors to start in mixed practice or to work with cattle and horses. Most felt poorly paid, but most, though not all, felt well supported in their first position.