Some of the most common questions that we get asked at Kookaburra Veterinary Employment relate to Salary levels. We’d appreciate if you would help us collect some up to date information by completing this short anonymous survey, if you are a veterinarian currently working in Australia. The more vets reply, the more useful this information is. In 2016 we received replies from 255 vets – help us beat this number!
The results will be available on request from Kookaburra Vets, however, if you wish to provide us with your email address we will also email you a copy. Thank you for your help.
Comments Off on Exciting news – a brand new specialist and emergency hospital is coming to Perth!
Animal Centre for Emergency and Specialists (ACES) is a new, purpose built specialist and emergency centre in Perth’s Northern Suburbs. Opening 2026!
At ACES, we exist to practice veterinary medicine with excellence, compassion, and purpose. We believe great care comes from people who are fully invested in their work—who see animals as individuals, clients as partners, and veterinary medicine as a craft worth doing well. We’re here because we love this work, and that love shows in the care we give every day. Our purpose is to provide exceptional, collaborative, evidence-based specialist and emergency care, delivered with compassion and integrity.
What we offer:
Gold-Standard Facilities & Equipment
24/7 Emergency & Critical Care
Advanced in-house diagnostics and specialist imaging (64 slice CT/1.5T MRI, ultrasound (GE), digital radiography (siemens)
Mechanical ventilation and transfusion medicine
All aspects of internal medicine
Advanced soft tissue and orthopaedic surgery
Echocardiography and interventional cardiology
Specialist anaesthesia, analgesia, and monitoring
A supportive, collaborative team culture
Strong emphasis on teaching, mentorship, and professional growth
Realistic expectations and shared responsibility to reduce burnout
Leadership that values wellbeing, communication, and professional judgement
At ACES, we exist to practise veterinary medicine with excellence, compassion, and purpose. We are proudly independent. We live in the community we serve, and every decision we make is grounded in what is best for our patients, their families, and our team.
Our purpose is simple and unwavering:
To provide exceptional, collaborative, evidence-based emergency and specialist care, delivered with compassion, integrity, and expertise.
Some of the most common questions that we get asked at Kookaburra Vets relate to Salary levels. Thanks to all the vets who participated in our survey – the more vets who reply, the more useful this information is. We hope that in future years more of you will take the small amount of time required to complete our survey. We asked for full time annual salary range not including Super.
Hourly rates for locums and casual vets. There was no statistical difference between vets working in mixed, equine and small animal practice. Rates below $30 an hour were excluded as likely to be permanent part time rates.
Total Number of Responses 79
Average rate (mean) $53.40 Minimum $33
Maximum $75
Median $55
Comments Off on Preparing for Salary Conversations – VNs & Support Staff
Pay discussions are a common source of anxiety, both for employees when talking to a current employer or during a search for a new job, and for employers. Preparing yourself with some general knowledge ahead of time can help reduce uncertainty and make these conversations feel less daunting.
Veterinary support roles are often advertised without pay rates, making “competitive remuneration” difficult to assess.
Most veterinary practices in Australia fall under the Animal Care and Veterinary Services Award 2020, which sets minimum employment conditions and is usually updated each July.
In addition, all employees are covered by the National Employment Standards (NES), which outline minimum entitlements regardless of award or contract.
The Animal Care and Veterinary Services Award 2020 covers Veterinary Surgeons, Practice Managers, Veterinary Nurses, Receptionists, Animal attendants and Assistants, & 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
Periods of notice, redundancy
Clothing for work
Travel and use of own vehicle
Meal breaks
Sick leave
Parental leave
Public holidays
Dispute resolution
Award Rates for Practice managers, Veterinary nurses, Receptionists, Animal attendants and Assistants (01Jul25)
Classification
Minimum ordinary hourly rate $
Introductory level
24.28
Level 1
24.95
Level 2
26.96
Level 3
28.12
Level 4
30.68
Level 5 – Practice Manager
32.23
Penalty rates apply for Saturday afternoons, Sundays, and public holidays.
Casual (locum) veterinary nurses should receive a 25% casual loading.
Introductory-level roles progress to Level 1 within a maximum of three months.
For up-to-date and detailed information, you may find these official resources helpful. If you’re unsure how the Award applies to your situation, the Fair Work Ombudsman website also offers tools and guidance to help you check classifications and minimum pay rates.
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.
Some of the most common questions that we get asked at Kookaburra Vets relate to Salary levels. Thanks to all the vets who participated in our survey – the more vets who reply, the more useful this information is. We hope that in future years more of you will take the small amount of time required to complete our survey. We asked for full time annual salary range not including Super.
Model R-182 DL