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Salary Packages
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NB: This article was updated in July 2023 – please consult the Animal Care and Veterinary Services Award 2020 for up to date information and wage entitlements.
Most Veterinary Practices in Australia are subject to the Animal Care and Veterinary Services Award 2020. An Award sets minimum terms and conditions of employment. The Award is usually updated every July.
The Animal Care and Veterinary Services Award 2020 now covers Veterinary Surgeons, Practice Managers, Veterinary Nurses, Receptionists, Animal attendants and Assistants, and Animal care industry inspectors.
The Award covers arrangements such as, but not limited to those below:
- minimum wage rates
- allowances
- payment for extra hours worked
- on-call and provision for a communication system
- rosters & RDOs
- annual leave
- CPD – continuing professional development
- Professional indemnity insurance
- Periods of notice, redundancy
- Clothing for work
- Travel and use of own vehicle
- Meal breaks
- Sick leave
- Maternity leave
- Public holidays
- Dispute resolution
The terms and conditions of the Award must be complied with by the parties covered by the Award. However, employment arrangements can operate over and above the Award eg. An employment agreement can provide for a salary ‘package’ which exceeds the minimum salaries required, thus encompassing all other entitlements such as allowances, on-call work, extra hours etc.
Veterinary Surgeons (01 Jul 2023)
| Classification | Minimum annual salary $ |
Minimum hourly rate $ |
| Level 1A (graduates) | 60,090 | 30.41 |
| Level 1B (after 6 months) | 63,390 | 32.08 |
| Level 2 (after 2 years) | 68,488 | 34.66 |
| Level 3 (experienced) | 75,246 | 38.08 |
| Level 4 (senior vet) | 84,987 | 43.01 |
+ on call allowance $50.35 for each period of on call duty
+ at least the relevant hourly rate for any active on call
+ 95 cents/km reimbursement for practice use of private vehicle
+ Superannuation 11%
Locums
Locums may be engaged and paid as a casual employee. A casual employee must be paid at the hourly rate prescribed for the class of work performed, plus 25%.
Market Salary Rates
Because the Animal Care and Veterinary Services Award 2020 sets minimum salaries and terms of employment, market salary rates can vary across the country and between practices. Keeping an eye on job adverts can be a way of getting an idea of market salary rates, but many ads don’t mention salary levels. There is now a requirement for ads to include a salary range where they need to comply with advertising requirements for visa sponsorship. The most recent Kookaburra Veterinary Employment salary survey was carried out in 2022, after covid, and the results can be accessed at https://www.vetsuppliersdirectory.com.au/salary-survey-2022/
We suggest that you could ask for a written letter of offer when you are offered a permanent position, and that you could also request a Contract, or an equivalent document, when you commence work. You can consider renegotiating your salary package after 6 months, together with getting an update on how well your employer feels you are progressing in your job.
Vet Nurses / Vet Technicians and Support Staff
Rates for Vet Nurses, Receptionists, Practice Managers, Animal Attendants range from $22.61/hour for introductory level up to $30.02/hour for level 5 (Practice Manager), and there are also Saturday afternoon, Sunday, and public holiday rates specified in the Award. Casual (locum) VNs should have a 25% casual loading.
For more information
You can view the Award on the Fair Work Commission website at www.fwc.gov.au
If you are a member of the AVA, they provide help and advice through the AVA HR hotline – 1300 788977 or avahrhotline@whr.com.au This is possibly the best reason to be a member of the AVA – the HR service is very useful.
Author:
Wendy Nathan
Kookaburra Veterinary Employment
This information includes the views and opinions of Kookaburra Veterinary Employment and is of a general nature only. Factual information is believed to be correct at the time of writing, however, should not be relied upon and any person should confirm details with the relevant authorities and through their own research prior to acting on any of the suggestions in this article.
Working Holiday Visa Changes
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There’s good news for Australian vets and vet nurses seeking to work in the UK, and vice-versa, with the Australia-United Kingdom Free Trade Agreement (A-UKFTA).
For UK passport holders who apply for Australia’s Working Holiday visa, the new arrangements will see an increase in the eligible age range and removal of specified work requirements.
- Since 1 July 2023, UK passport holders have been able to apply for a Working Holiday visa between the ages of 18 and 35 years. This is a five year increase from the current maximum age of 30 years inclusive.
- From 1 July 2024, UK passport holders will be eligible to be granted Working Holiday visas up to a total of three years without having to meet any specified work requirements. (such as work in a rural or regional area )
- However, the six-month work limitation per employer will continue to apply to UK passport holders
Similarly, for Australian passport holders who apply for the UK’s Youth Mobility Scheme (YMS), the new arrangements will also see an increase in the eligible age range and the ability to stay in the UK for up to three years.
- From 31 January 2024 Australian passport holders will now:
- be able to apply for a YMS visa between the ages of 18 and 35 years. This is a five year increase from the current maximum age of 30 years inclusive; and
- extend their YMS visa for a third year if they choose. This also applies to New Zealand passport holders.
Author:
Wendy Nathan
Kookaburra Veterinary Employment
This information includes the views and opinions of Kookaburra Veterinary Employment and is of a general nature only. Factual information is believed to be correct at the time of writing, however, should not be relied upon and any person should confirm details with the relevant authorities and through their own research prior to acting on any of the suggestions in this article.
Search our Referral Directory
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Massey University’s Master of Veterinary Medicine
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Delivered by distance, the MVM programme brings the world’s veterinary expertise to your door. The classroom comes to you through interactive technology and study guides.
Led by lecturers with international recognition from around the world, our courses have a reputation for their in-depth, comprehensive review of subjects and use of real-life studies.
Nicola Wichtel shares her experience at Massey University.
Why did you choose the MVM?
The biggest driving force for enrolling in the MVM program was not necessarily to acquire a Master’s degree, but to improve my confidence in the areas of veterinary medicine that were causing me anxiety. In my first year of clinical practice, I found on-call work very stressful and did not feel adequately prepared to deal with the emergencies that might walk through the door – especially by myself, in the middle of the night. So, my first paper was small animal emergency and critical care. The paper was fantastic and did wonders for my confidence. By the end of the paper, I found myself getting excited when emergencies came in, as I was keen to put into practice what I had learned! I decided to carry on with the MVM program and completed another three papers relevant to my work in clinical practice, and finally a research report to complete the degree.
How long after graduation did you do the MVM (And why so soon after graduation)?
I was in clinical practice for a full year before enrolling in my first MVM course. Once I had gotten over the initial shock and steep learning curve that comes with your first year in practice,
I felt like I was able to manage post-graduate study. This timeline worked well for me because I was able to build up some clinical cases that provided context for my learning. Likewise, I was still seeing a lot of things for the first time so that was motivation to further my knowledge in areas I felt a bit deficient.
What have you got out of the MVM?
The MVM program has first and foremost given me the confidence boost I needed early in my career. It expanded and built on the foundation of knowledge I had acquired at vet school. In addition to furthering my knowledge base and practical skills, it also taught me critical appraisal of literature and the fundamentals of research design and execution. Despite studying as a distance student, the program connected me with a wide range of veterinarians from across the globe. Some were new grads like myself, and others were experienced veterinarians well into their careers. The online spaces had very collegiate feel, and everyone was very friendly and encouraging.
How has the MVM affected your future career?
The MVM course has set me on a path of lifelong learning. I enjoyed the research report component of the degree more than I had anticipated. Since completing the degree, I have concluded that I would like to incorporate research and scientific enquiry into my career going forwards – however that might look. The skills I developed throughout the degree have set me up well for my future endeavours in clinical practice and beyond.
Check out Massey University’s: MVM Courses Here
Email: mvm@massey.ac.nz