“There was no shadow of a doubt that I was not going to be left to sink or swim.”

For new graduate vet Sasha, the first role after university could have been overwhelming. Years of study had turned into real patients, real clients and real decisions. But joining Berry Vet Clinic on the South Coast has made that transition smoother, more supported and more varied than she expected.

Sasha started with the clinic in mid-January after finishing her degree in early December. She studied at the University of Sydney, completing a Bachelor of Veterinary Biology and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine over six years.

“I was really keen to keep the ball rolling and get straight into it,” she says.

For Sasha, the South Coast offered the balance she was looking for. It was close enough to Sydney to stay connected to family, but regional enough to offer mixed practice, community and variety. That balance became one of the biggest reasons Berry Vet Clinic stood out.

A South Coast Start After Sydney Uni

Sasha grew up in North Sydney and later lived in South Sydney while studying. In her final year of university, she completed placements across the Central Coast and South Coast, reaching as far as Moruya. Those placements helped shape what she wanted from her first role.

She was looking for a place that offered both professional variety and personal balance. A purely city-based small animal role did not offer the same mix.

“It was just such a great balance of being close to lots of towns and also close to Sydney, whilst also being able to work with large animals and have a variety in my professional life,” she says.

That variety was important from the start. Sasha wanted to build confidence across different clinical settings, not step straight into a narrow pathway.

“Being able to do farm work and small animal work has really been something that I looked for when moving down,” she says.

Why Mixed Practice Mattered

For a new graduate vet, mixed practice can be a powerful way to learn. It gives early-career vets exposure to different animals, different clients, different environments and different clinical decisions.

Sasha now works across both Berry and Shell Cove, which gives her even more variety. She sees the value in moving between settings and learning from different types of work.

“It is really refreshing,” she says.

The South Coast lifestyle has also suited her. Sasha now lives in Shell Cove and values the way the region offers beach, countryside and community in the same day.

“Being able to go to the beach and have a parking spot and then drive to work and you are in the countryside,” she says. “You can be in so many different places within a day.”

Compared with Sydney, the pace feels slower and more connected.

“The community is more tight-knit,” Sasha says. “People know each other. People say hello on the street a lot more.”

Finding Berry Vet Clinic

When it came to choosing her first clinic, Sasha applied to a few practices but found Bryden and Sarah quickly. The decision became clear because the clinic’s values were obvious from the beginning.

“It stood out to me very quickly what Sarah and Bryden’s ethos was and what their why and their values were,” she says.

She had seen Berry Vet Clinic’s Think Regional profile, then found the same message carried through in the interview process. To Sasha, that consistency mattered.

“They were very intentional about who they were trying to be, the services they were trying to provide and the community that they were trying to work within and also help,” she says.

In an industry where culture can shape the whole new graduate experience, Sasha noticed that Berry Vet Clinic backed its values with examples.

“It was clear that they cared so much about their workplace and about the team,” she says. “They were practising what they were preaching.”

New Graduate Vet Support from Day One

Support has been the strongest part of Sasha’s transition into practice. From the beginning, she felt that she was joining a team that wanted her to learn, ask questions and build confidence properly.

“I just felt so well supported from the get go,” she says.

Her trial week helped her understand the team and day-to-day flow before she started. Once she joined, Bryden made sure clinicians were either with her in person or available by phone. The wider team also played a major role.

“All of the vets and all of the nurses have always been so willing to help when I have needed help or asked for help,” she says.

That matters for any new graduate vet. A first role should build confidence, not create fear. Sasha’s experience shows how much difference leadership, team culture and clear support can make.

Perhaps the strongest part of Sasha’s story is her confidence that she will not be left unsupported.

“There was no shadow of a doubt that I was not going to be left to sink or swim,” she says. “I felt very well supported and I did not question that for even a second.”

Building Confidence Through Training

For Sasha, regional has not meant being held back. She started routine surgeries on her first day and has been building confidence through practice, training and guidance.

Within her first few months, Bryden and Sarah supported Sasha and fellow new graduate Dora to attend a surgical dentistry workshop.

“It was such a great knowledge boost and also confidence boost,” Sasha says.

The timing mattered. Veterinary degrees cover a huge amount of content, and new graduates often enter practice with areas where they want more confidence. Dentistry was one of those areas for Sasha. The clinic identified that gap early and invested in training.

“They were so supportive and encouraging of us to learn from experts, to be able to then bring that quality of care to the clinic,” she says.

Day to day, Sasha learns from experienced vets across different areas. She points to Kyah for surgery and orthopaedics, Stuart for large animals and horses, and Emma for internal medicine.

“I feel like I am surrounded by such knowledgeable people,” she says. “I am learning every day constantly.”

Starting alongside another new graduate has helped too. Sasha and Dora did not know each other closely before joining, but learning beside someone at a similar stage has made the transition easier.

“Watching each other grow in our confidence and learning how each other has settled into the workplace has been really nice,” she says.

A Regional Vet Career Without Compromise

For Sasha, choosing a regional veterinary career has not been a compromise. It has given her mixed practice experience, a close team, a beautiful lifestyle and strong early-career support.

Her future at Berry Vet Clinic feels positive.

“I am enjoying it so much,” she says. “I am keen to continue learning and keep building my confidence.”

When asked about Bryden’s leadership, Sasha returns to clarity, support and approachability.

“He is extremely supportive and encouraging,” she says. “He never makes me question whether I am in a position to ask him questions or ask him for help.”

She also sees his care for patients, clients and staff.

“Ultimately what he wants is the best for his patients and his clients and his employees,” she says. “That is always extremely clear in both his words and his actions.”

For veterinary graduates weighing up city and regional opportunities, Sasha’s story offers a clear message. A first role needs support, not pressure. It needs learning, not sink-or-swim survival. On the South Coast, she found both career growth and a place where she feels part of the community.

For more regional career context, explore the South Coast careers page, the Shoalhaven careers page and the Berry careers page. For external information, visit the Berry Vet Clinic official website, the Shell Cove Vet Clinic official website and the University of Sydney Bachelor of Veterinary Biology and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine page.