Working at VSA
Our mission at Veterinary Specialist Aotearoa (VSA) is to provide the most advanced, specialist veterinary care in the country. With that motivation, hard work and passion we have established ourselves as New Zealand’s leading specialist veterinary organisation.
VSA was started over 20 years ago with the first privately owned veterinary referral hospital in New Zealand. From that first hospital in Mt Albert, Auckland, we now have 3 world class specialist referral hospitals across the country working to support the wider veterinary community and their patients.
Since VSA first opened, we have been able to continually grow our services and the expertise of our team to be able to offer our clients the exceptional care we have become renowned for. Every patient we see is regarded as an important member of their family so we are proud to be able to provide the highest level of care when they need us the most.
Every time a patient leaves our care they take a little piece of the heart of VSA with them. We are proud of the connection and commitment we have to our patients.
Working at VSA means being a part of the VSA family and enjoying all that we have to offer. With a constantly evolving team, everyone knows that they can only do their job with the help of the person standing next to them. With our support system in place, the VSA team have been able to achieve great outcomes while working together.
A culture like no other
The culture of every organisation is different and unique and at VSA we are proud of the special bond we have been able to grow over the years.
We are a team of hardworking, driven people who care passionately about the people in our team, our patients and the work that we do.
Throughout the whole business we are proud of our collective enthusiasm, motivation and drive for excellence. We are lucky to have a team made up of equally passionate clinical and administration people who all have the same drive to be the best that they can be on a daily basis.
VSA is a busy, fun and energetic environment to work in. Given the nature of what we do, there are always going to be challenging times. With VSA’s supportive and caring team there is always someone there to lend a hand or give a reassuring a hug.
WORLD-CLASS
FACILITIES
All of VSA's hospitals are purpose built veterinary referral centres. We pride ourselves on our expert teams and exceptional care for all our patients.
We use leading technology with specialist facilities in Surgery, Diagnostic Imaging, Internal Medicine, Anaesthesia and Animal Physiotherapy.
We also offer an unparalleled Emergency service at both of our Auckland hospitals.
WORK/ LIFE BALANCE
Being a leader in the industry we know all too well that the veterinary world has challenges in maintaining a good work/ life balance. We work hard to ensure that our team members are able to have a fulfuling life outside of work as well as enjoying the the beautiful country we live in.
Most of our full-time team members have a 4 day week schedule. This means that you can get an extra day during the week to tidy up those personal tasks that usually have to wait for the weekend.
EXCEPTIONAL
FAMILY CULTURE
VSA might be larger than a typical veterinary clinic, with 3 specialist hospitals across New Zealand, but we focus on our people and a family-based culture remains firmly in place.
We care passionately about the work we do, and the people we work with, driving our collective motivation and strive for excellence.
GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT
Supporting and training our team members to be the best in their chosen field is something we are proud of. Every year we offer intern and mentorship programmes to young veterinarians and support veterinary development at all levels within our hospitals.
Our nurses are encouraged to engage with continuing professional development (CPD) programmes and we have a long history of supporting trainee veterinary nurses.
State-of-the-Art Veterinary Referral Hospitals
We have three veterinary referral hospitals in Auckland and Christchurch offering specialist level veterinary care and animal emergency services. Our specialist clinicians, emergency vets, nurses and administration teams enjoy working with the most up-to-date technology and medical equipment to help them deliver the highest level of care for our patients.
A collaborative workplace, working with leading veterinary specialists
We are incredibly proud to have a team of experts across many fields of veterinary medicine.
The supportive and inclusive culture at VSA means that teams from different departments and hospitals work to support and learn from each other.
Our specialists bring their expert knowledge which drives everyone in the work that we do and in continuing to develop and learn. By working at VSA you can be sure you are working and learning from the very best.
Work with leading veterinary technology
All of our hospitals are purpose-built. VSA people were involved in the design of all three facilities which allows us to bring unparalleled care in a patient’s journey with us.
From CT to endoscopy, spinal surgery to hydrotherapy, fracture plating to chemotherapy, our team of experts can offer expert treatment for most conditions.
Caring for our teams and the community
Wellness & Mental Health
It’s no secret that mental health and wellbeing is often in the press for the wrong reasons with the veterinary industry.
We work hard to focus on and ensure that all of our staff feel supported and cared for when they need it. We work alongside some of the best industry experts to make sure that all our staff know there is someone that can help.
VSA also encourages all members of the team to have health and safety at the forefront of their mind during work time. We encourage people, no matter their role, to speak up when they notice something that could be improved. It is because each one of us practices safe working, that we all get to go home at the end of each day to our whanau.
Rostered Downtime
VSA has made some major changes over the last few years to make sure that our team have the downtime that they deserve. The biggest change has been implementing a 4 day working week for most of our full-time staff.
We also have some awesome parents in our team who sometimes need a roster that best suits their busy lives outside of work. We are happy to work with team members individually to make sure that their roster suits them.
Our emergency veterinary and nursing team typically work a 4 on/ 4 off roster. This means that the team members of the “department that never sleeps” have time to completely recharge.
Benefits
Being part of the VSA team also comes with quite a few benefits, including-
- Competitive remuneration
- Kiwi Saver
- Opportunities for staff to gain higher qualifications.
- Paid yearly membership to both the NZVA and NZVNA.
- Regular Individual Development Reviews to make sure staff are progressing well.
- Paid conference attendance for both Veterinarians and Nurses.
- In-house CPD including both veterinary and nurse journal reviews each month.
- Social events.
- Flu vaccine
Career Development
At VSA, you can benefit from career opportunities that aren’t available anywhere else in NZ.
When you join VSA, whether in the clinical team or as support staff, there are opportunities for growth.
Since 2018, VSA have hosted a symposium for the veterinary community called Winterfest. Winterfest is a full-day educational event with inspirational speakers covering a wide variety of topics including medicine, physiotherapy, surgery, case studies, emergency care, behaviour, dermatology, and anaesthesia. This is not only a chance for our incredible team to learn from each other but to also to inform the rest of the veterinary community on the latest techniques and advances in veterinary medicine.
Community Work
At VSA we take our role in the wider community very seriously. For a number of years we have supported the Auckland City Mission, holding collections for both of their winter and Christmas appeals and also helping out in the kitchens and packing food parcels.
To support the Auckland City Mission, Click Here
Each year, we select a charity to work with and across our hospitals, we work to drive awareness and raise funds.
Recently, we have raised funds for
- Loud Shirt Day – Helping to raise funds for children and adults with profound hearing loss.
- Pink Shirt Day – Pink Shirt Day works to create schools, workplaces, communities and whānau where everyone feels safe, valued and respected.
- Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
- Movember. Making a difference in mental health and suicide prevention, prostate cancer and testicular cancer.
- Gutter Kitties. Auckland’s largest no kill cat rescue.
- Chained Dogs. Rehabilitaion and rehoming of dogs in Auckland and around the country.
- Jammies in June. Gives pyjamas to thousands of children in need across South Auckland through the Middlemore Foundation.
