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Form of work
Salary- Located at Dubbo’s Iconic, Taronga Western Plains Zoo
- Ongoing, full-time position
- TCSA Salaried Employees Award, annual package starting from $89,058.76
Taronga Western Plains Zoo is looking for an experienced, driven, and motivated Senior Veterinary Nurse who is interested in joining a leading organisation in conservation, education, animal management and transformational guest experiences.
About the Role
As the Senior Veterinary Nurse you will be working with an experienced wildlife health team at our remarkable, new purpose-built wildlife hospital located at Taronga Western Plains Zoo.
Some key features of this role:
- The wildlife health team provide a free veterinary service for sick, injured and orphaned native wildlife, caring for over 600 native animals each year. This role involves wildlife triage, treatment and rehabilitation.
- Our new hospital showcases veterinary work to zoo visitors, with animal treatment rooms, surgical facilities and laboratories on display. Delivering guest experience and education is embedded in wildlife hospital operations and is an integral part of the daily requirements of this role.
- A significant proportion of the caseload involves ungulate field procedures and herd health management. Experience with husbandry and anaesthesia of hoof stock will be highly regarded.
- This role provides veterinary support for several ex-situ conservation breeding programs based at Taronga Western Plains Zoo. Opportunities for fieldwork may be available periodically.
- The wildlife health team are supported remotely by Taronga’s in house wildlife pathologist and nutritionist (based at Taronga Zoo, Sydney), and a network of veterinary specialists for assistance with complex cases.
- Veterinary nurses also support the education and training of students in various fields.
About You…
We are looking for candidates that have:
- Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing or equivalent recognised qualification.
- Extensive experience working as a clinical Veterinary Nurse in a zoo or similar environment, including unsupervised anaesthetic and surgical nursing experience with a variety of large and small animal species.
- Sound knowledge and competency in all aspects of veterinary nursing including but not limited to, triage and first aid, sampling techniques, in-house laboratory testing, drug calculations and administration techniques.
- Experience and practical knowledge using a variety of veterinary equipment including radiology, ultrasound, dental machine, capnography, and pulse oximetry etc.
- Extensive husbandry experience in a hospital environment for a wide variety of wildlife species, including enclosure set up, animal enrichment programs, and diet transitions.
- Skills and experience in animal capture and restraint with a wide variety of species
- Exemplary hygiene and compliance with quarantine policies and relevant legislation, safely work around zoonotic and notifiable diseases.
- Demonstrated ability to follow Work Health & Safety procedures.
- A proactive, positive outlook with strong problem-solving skills.
- Ability to balance competing priorities and maintain high standards in a complex, busy and extremely varied workplace.
- NSW C Class Drivers Licence (or the ability to transfer current unrestricted licence)
- Pre employment TB screening, Q Fever, Rabies and Tetanus vaccinations are a requirement of this role
- NSW Working with Children Check; or willing to obtain.
Please submit your resume and a cover letter of one page. You are also required to complete the two target questions as part of your application.
1. Outline the top five factors that you consider most important to delivering an effective animal health service in a zoo.
2. How do you approach working in a team that is consistently busy and routinely faced with complex challenges. What strategies do you employ to ensure a harmonious team environment and culture? Provide examples.
Applications will be reviewed in the open period between December 2023 to January 2024.
Aspiring candidates are encouraged to submit applications through the Christmas and New Years Period.
Key Application Responses
1. Outline the top five factors that you consider most important to delivering an effective animal health service in a zoo.
2. How do you approach working in a team that is consistently busy and routinely faced with complex challenges. What strategies do you employ to ensure a harmonious team environment and culture? Provide examples.
