With many young vets struggling to find purchase after graduation mentoring programs are on the rise.
With many young vets struggling to find purchase after graduation Research by the Australian Veterinary Association (AVA) found a lot of grads are feeling isolated and stressed. A group of universities are now implementing a plan to challenge these issues and help young vets get on their feet.
Murdoch University, University of Queensland, University of Adelaide and University of Sydney in Australia, University of the Edinburgh and University of Nottingham in the UK, and Washington State University in the US are planning out the international project: VetSet2Go’s research taking place over the coming two years.
The project intends to create a framework for employability that can bridge the gap for students between study and employment.
The projects leader Associate Professor Martin Cake, from Murdoch’s School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, intends the research to help balance the wellbeing of young vets, strengthening their resilience, development of continuing employable skill sets.
“We plan to ensure the capabilities that most influence employability are more explicit in education, to help students better prepare for the challenges they will encounter in transition to practice,” said Prof Cake.
“As well as building the fundamental ‘transferable’ skills that will bring success in any work situation, the additional focus on satisfaction in employment will bring much-needed attention to resilience and wellbeing in the transition to work.”
Due to the large post graduation drop out numbers of young vets the project will also look at the role of resilience in the continuation of veterinary work in young vets.
“This and other research will inform the development of an employability framework firmly grounded in evidence and stakeholder consensus,” added Professor Cake. “In the second phase of the project, this framework will be used to develop various online assessment tools and resources to help build these capabilities in veterinary undergraduates.”
