Resident in Small Animal Surgery (ECVS)

VSOS; Sydney; On-site; AUD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

12% superannuation

Annual CPD allowance

Relocation visa sponsorship

Structured mentoring

Job summary

VSOS in Miranda, NSW, Australia, invites applications for a 3-year, full-time ECVS residency starting January 2027. You will train within a large multidisciplinary team with a named ECVS supervisor and regular hands-on teaching from ECVS/ACVS surgeons.

The residency offers protected time for research, a four-day work week, and a path toward the ECVS certifying examination with substantial caseload in orthopaedics, soft tissue, and neurosurgery.

Qualifications

• Veterinary degree and eligibility for registration with NSW Veterinary Practitioners Board.
• Completion of rotating internship of at least 12 months, or two years of equivalent clinical practice.
• Commitment to completing ECVS training and sitting the ECVS certifying examination.
• Clear communication and collaborative patient care.

Responsibilities

• Manage surgical cases from initial consult through surgery and recheck, progressing to primary surgeon as skills develop.
• Participate in emergency surgery service and on-call rota.
• Develop experience across orthopaedics, soft tissue and neurosurgery with increasing responsibility.
• Complete a structured research programme leading to two original publications.
• Participate in rounds, journal club, M&M meetings, and case discussions.
• Complete annual ECVS reports and competency assessments with supervisor feedback.

Skills

ECVS residency

Surgical supervision

Multidisciplinary teamwork

Clinical decision making

Education

Veterinary degree

Eligibility for NSW registration

Tools

Surgical equipment

ECVS exam prep

Job description

Veterinary Specialists of Sydney (VSOS), Miranda NSW, Australia

3-year full-time residency | Start: January 2027 | Applications close: 9 October 2026

Applications will be reviewed as received; we may interview before the closing date.

Looking for an ECVS residency with the caseload, supervision and protected time to build the credentials you need for the certifying examination?

Join our established ECVS-approved Standard Residency Programme at Veterinary Specialists of Sydney (VSOS), a 24-hour specialist referral and emergency hospital in Sydney's south. You will train within a large multidisciplinary team, with a named ECVS supervisor and regular hands-on teaching from our ECVS and ACVS surgeons.

Resident in Small Animal Surgery (ECVS)

Veterinary Specialists of Sydney (VSOS), Miranda NSW, Australia

3-year full-time residency | Start: January 2027 | Applications close: 9 October 2026

Applications will be reviewed as received; we may interview before the closing date.

Looking for an ECVS residency with the caseload, supervision and protected time to build the credentials you need for the certifying examination?

Join our established ECVS-approved Standard Residency Programme at Veterinary Specialists of Sydney (VSOS), a 24-hour specialist referral and emergency hospital in Sydney's south. You will train within a large multidisciplinary team, with a named ECVS supervisor and regular hands-on teaching from our ECVS and ACVS surgeons.

Why train with us?

• A proven programme. Join a team of three current ECVS residents. Our two previous residents both passed the ECVS certifying examination at their first attempt.
• Multi-Diplomate supervision. You will have a named ECVS supervisor, with scrubbed-in teaching and case discussion from our ECVS and ACVS surgeons.
• A caseload built for the ECVS log. More than 700 surgical procedures are performed each year across a broad caseload of orthopaedics, soft tissue surgery and neurosurgery.
• Real emergency surgery. As a 24-hour hospital, residents develop emergency surgical experience throughout the programme, with graduated responsibility and specialist support.
• Protected time. Off clinic time every year for research, study and ECVS preparation, in addition to 4 weeks of annual leave per year.
• Research that gets published. Work alongside research-active surgeons on projects to generate your two required original publications, with support for study design, data collection, analysis and manuscript preparation.
• Advanced facilities. 1.5T MRI, 64-slice CT, three fluoroscopy units, four fully equipped theatres, arthroscopy, and laparoscopic surgery including ICG/NIRF imaging.
• Balance. A four-day working week based on full-time hours, with a shared on-call rota.

Our specialist team

• Dr Rachel Basa, Dr Liz LaFond, Dr Rob Adams, Dr Benjamin McRae
• Dr Diego Alza Salvatierra
• Dr Karina Graham, Dr Amy Pepper, Dr Barbara Gallagher, Dr Elena Pavlova
• Dr Julie Kavanagh
• Dr Ben Gingold, Dr Maya Drozdzynska
• Dr James Cooper

You will be supported by our emergency and critical care team, interns, and experienced surgical, anaesthetic and ward nurses.

What you'll do

• Manage surgical cases from initial consultation through surgery and recheck, initially as an assistant and progressing to primary surgeon as your skills and experience develop.
• Participate in the emergency surgery service and shared on-call rota.
• Develop experience across orthopaedic, soft tissue and neurosurgical cases, with increasing responsibility throughout the three-year programme.
• Complete a structured research programme leading to two original publications and supported presentations at national and international meetings.
• Participate in clinical rounds, journal club, morbidity and mortality meetings, and case discussions.
• Complete ECVS annual reports and competency assessments with your supervisor, including multi-source feedback.

About you

Essential

• Veterinary degree and eligibility for registration with the Veterinary Practitioners Board of NSW.
• Completion of a rotating internship of at least 12 months, or at least two years of equivalent clinical practice.
• Commitment to completing ECVS training and sitting the ECVS certifying examination.
• Clear communication, sound clinical judgement and a collaborative approach to patient care.

Desirable

• Completion of a surgical internship or further surgical experience.
• Research experience and/or previous publication experience.
• Prior completion of the AO Principles course.

Eligibility

Graduates of Australian, New Zealand, RCVS-accredited, AVMA-accredited, University of Pretoria and SLU veterinary degrees are eligible for full registration in NSW.

If your veterinary degree is from another institution, please contact us before applying. We welcome applicants from outside these jurisdictions and can provide guidance regarding the ECVS eligibility and NSW registration processes.

What we offer

• Salary: Competitive Salary plus 12% superannuation.
• CPD: Annual CPD allowance.
• Research and exam preparation: Off-clinic time annually, with access to the ECVS reading list, journals and textbooks.
• Relocation: Visa sponsorship where required
• Support: Structured mentoring, regular performance reviews and a strong commitment to a respectful workplace free from bullying and harassment.

Where you'll live

VSOS is located in Miranda in Sydney's Sutherland Shire, close to Cronulla's beaches and the Royal National Park. Miranda has direct rail connections to Sydney's CBD, while the surrounding area offers easy access to beaches, national parks and the wider Sydney region.

VSOS is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applicants from all backgrounds.