“I definitely think that going regional is not a compromise on your career. If anything, I actually think it helps your career growth.”

New Graduate Vet Career Growth on the South Coast

Dora’s first veterinary role has taken her from university into real practice, from Sydney to the South Coast NSW, and from theory into the daily rhythm of a mixed veterinary clinic.

She started at Berry Vet Clinic in early March, only a few months after graduating from the University of Sydney. Like many new graduate vets, she expected a steep learning curve. That is exactly what she found, but she also found the support to handle it.

“It has definitely been a steep learning curve, transitioning out from uni into practice,” Dora says. “It is a lot of learning, a lot of trying, a lot of learning communication and how to put knowledge and theory into real life application.”

Learning Spectrum of Care in Practice

At university, Dora says the focus was often on theory and gold standard treatment. In practice, the work becomes more nuanced. Vets need to consider the owner, the animal, the situation and what is realistic.

“Out in practice, you have more of that spectrum of care,” she says. “It is learning from that transition between what is always the best thing and then what is the best thing for this situation.”

From Hong Kong to Veterinary Study in Australia

Dora is originally from Hong Kong and came to Australia to study veterinary medicine. During her degree, she moved between Sydney and Camden, the University of Sydney’s rural campus. In her final year, placements took her along the east coast, from Byron Bay down to Tasmania.

Those placements helped her work out what kind of clinic she wanted. She saw big clinics, small clinics, corporate clinics and family-owned clinics, and learnt how different each workplace culture could feel.

“I found that I enjoy this family-owned clinic kind of style where everyone really cares about each other,” she says.

Finding Berry Vet Clinic

That feeling led her back to Berry Vet Clinic. Dora had completed a placement there in September and knew quickly that she wanted to return.

“I really love them,” she says. “Moving here is like, I really wanted to move here in order to join the team.”

The South Coast lifestyle was the extra benefit. Dora now lives in Kiama and says the coast feels calmer and more connected than the cities she had known.

“I like it when it feels a bit more quiet and the community feels a bit cosier,” she says. “I definitely feel that on the coast.”

Coming from Hong Kong made that contrast even clearer.

“Hong Kong is very fast paced,” she says. “Everyone is very busy, very efficient, very fast paced.”

On the South Coast, she notices people checking in with each other and taking more time in the present.

“People here are a lot more chill,” she says. “We enjoy the present moment a lot more.”

Choosing the Clinic First

That lifestyle matters, but Dora is clear that the career opportunity mattered even more. She chose the clinic first.

“Coming to the coast is partly because of the coast, but I think it is mostly because of the clinic,” she says.

From the beginning, Dora felt included. During her student placement, Bryden, the practice owner, involved her straight away.

“I remember walking in and he was like, do you want to go preg testing for cows?” she says. “And I was just like, yeah, sure.”

Whole Team Support for a New Graduate Vet

That approach has continued into her role as a new graduate. Dora says every part of the team has acted as a mentor in a different way. Vets help with clinical reasoning, diagnosis and treatment. Nurses help with animal handling, workflow and navigating the clinic. Receptionists help with systems that matter more than she expected, such as where to source medications.

“Everyone here is kind of a mentor to me,” she says.

That whole team support has helped with wellbeing in an industry known for pressure. Chaotic days still happen, but Dora says the team culture changes how those days feel.

“Everyone is always looking out for each other,” she says. “Everyone is trying to help each other out and fill in gaps.”

Belonging at Berry Vet Clinic

For Dora, belonging was also important. During placements, students are often present for only a short time. Some clinics are hard to settle into. Berry Vet Clinic felt different.

“I genuinely feel like I belong here and I want to come here every day,” she says.

That sense of belonging has strengthened her learning. Dora is building experience across small animals, large animals, on-call work and dentistry. Within her first week, Bryden sent her and Sasha, the other new graduate vet, to a dental course in Sydney.

“There is definitely lots of room to grow in this clinic,” she says.

Mixed Practice Experience and Regional Growth

Regional mixed practice has also given Dora learning opportunities she believes would be harder to find in a city setting. In Sydney, many cases might be referred to specialist hospitals. In a regional clinic, there are more middle-ground treatment options and more varied cases staying within general practice.

“Because Berry is a mixed practice clinic, you are definitely seeing a lot more different cases and different species of animals versus if I stayed in the city,” she says.

Large animal work is still a growing area for Dora, but she enjoys the exposure. She usually goes out with another vet, which gives her confidence and learning support.

“It means I am not alone, but I still get that learning opportunity,” she says.

A Regional Veterinary Career Without Compromise

For students and graduates thinking about regional veterinary careers, Dora’s advice is practical. Do not rule out regional clinics from a distance. Visit them. Meet the team. Feel the community.

“Definitely do not ignore those opportunities,” she says. “Go and see the clinic, see those opportunities in real life, have a feel of the area.”

Dora found a first job that gives her support, independence, variety and growth. She also found a place where life outside work feels calmer.

“I am living in Kiama with great people, great work,” she says. “Cannot really complain here.”

For Dora, the South Coast is not a career step down. It is the place where her veterinary career has started with purpose.

Useful Links for Veterinary Careers

For readers interested in veterinary careers and mixed practice pathways, Berry Vet Clinic is a family-owned mixed general practice in Berry, NSW. The clinic provides services across cats and dogs, farm animals, equine, wildlife, birds, reptiles, rabbits and other animals. The University of Sydney Bachelor of Veterinary Biology and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine provides a pathway to becoming a registered veterinarian, while the Veterinary Practitioners Board of NSW provides information about veterinary registration in NSW.