Veterinary Criticalist - VRH Dandenong

Greencross Pet Wellness Company; Greater Dandenong; On-site; AUD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive remuneration

$5,000 CPD allowance

4 weeks annual leave + 13 public days

Relocation and visa support

Wellbeing and education programs

Job summary

Greencross Pet Wellness Company – Dandenong VIC is seeking a Veterinary Criticalist to join its Emergency & Critical Care service within VRH Dandenong, a true tertiary referral centre. The role focuses on advanced critical care medicine, multidisciplinary collaboration, and leadership development for the ECC team.

Join a well-supported, multidisciplinary group with flexible rosters, scope for career progression, and access to modern ICU facilities and teaching opportunities to shape future

Qualifications

• Board-certified ECC or eligible to sit qualifying examinations.
• Available to join VRH Dandenong in 2026.
• Collaborative by nature and contribute to team growth and education.
• Leadership interest welcomed, but not essential.

Responsibilities

• Clinical Veterinary Criticalist role within a true tertiary ECC service with flexibility to tailor to experience and interests.
• Manage a high-acuity, high-complexity caseload including critical emergencies, complex medical and post-operative ICU cases, and high referrals.
• Contribute to leadership, clinical governance, and service direction.
• Participate in team development and education across specialties.

Skills

Collaborative by nature

Teamwork

Education

ACVECC/ECVECC/FANZCVS ECC board-certified or eligible

Job description

Greencross Pet Wellness Company – Dandenong VIC

Lead, teach, and practice at the highest level of veterinary critical care

VRH Dandenong is seeking a Veterinary Criticalist to join its established Emergency & Critical Care service within one of Australia’s leading animal referral hospitals. This role is ideal for a specialist who is motivated by complex medicine, multidisciplinary collaboration, and the opportunity to shape the future of a high-functioning ECC team.

With a flexible roster, strong clinical support, and leadership pathways available, this position offers both professional depth and sustainability.

Why VRH Dandenong?

Located in Melbourne’s southeast, VRH Dandenong offers access to world-class food, culture, and education, while still being within reach of beaches, wine regions, and outdoor lifestyle destinations. Melbourne consistently ranks among the world’s most liveable cities and is a popular destination for international specialists.

This role offers the opportunity to practice advanced critical care medicine at scale, within a hospital that values clinical autonomy, collaboration, and long-term sustainability.

VRH Dandenong is a true tertiary referral centre with a large, engaged referring network and a reputation for managing the most complex and intellectually challenging cases. The hospital culture is built on mutual respect, clinical excellence, and collaboration across specialties.

ECC is a central, well-resourced service within the hospital. Criticalists are supported to practice at the top of their scope, contribute to decision-making, and influence service direction rather than simply “covering the floor”.

The Role

A predominantly clinical Veterinary Criticalist position within a true tertiary referral ECC service, with flexibility to tailor the role to your experience and interests.

Roster & Structure

• 6 shifts per fortnight
• 12:40 shifts (with shorter shifts negotiable)

There is scope for experienced candidates to progress into a Head of Department / Clinical Leadership role, with involvement in team development, clinical governance, and service direction.

Caseload: You will manage a high-acuity, high-complexity caseload, including critical emergencies, complex medical and post-operative ICU cases, and a high volume of tertiary referrals. Expect rare, unusual, and intellectually challenging cases driven by a large referring network.

Facilities & Resources: The ECC service is fully equipped with advanced ICU and diagnostic capability, including Draeger ventilator, Mindray Anaesthetic machine + anaesthetic monitoring units, ABL90 Radiometer, ultrasound, in-house IDEXX lab equipment (Lasercyte, Catalyst, Coag machines, Sedivue), radiology, CT, MRI with dedicated ECC spaces include separate dog and cat ICUs, an ECC-specific theatre, and fully stocked triage and procedural areas.

Team & Support You will join a specialist-led ECC team comprising 2 Criticalists, 9 permanent ECC vets, regular casual clinicians, interns, and an experienced ECC nursing team, with close collaboration across Anaesthesia, Surgery, Diagnostic Imaging, Neurology, Internal Medicine and Oncology.

What We’re Looking For

• ACVECC, ECVECC or FANZCVS (ECC) board-certified or eligible to sit qualifying examinations
• Available to join VRH in 2026
• Collaborative by nature and interested in contributing to team growth and education
• Leadership interest welcomed, but not essential

What We Offer

• Competitive Remuneration on Offer plus $5,000 CPD allowance plus study leave, annual vet board or AVA membership fees covered
• Work/Life Balance: Living in Australia, you need time to get away and enjoy our great country. So, we offer 4 weeks paid annual leave, not including the additional 13 days of public holidays you get each year.
• Professional Development: Generous continuing professional development allowance, in-house opportunities and one-week annual study leave would also be part of the package.
• Inclusive and friendly work environment with an emphasis on well-being and work-life balance. Fresh fruit, snacks and an espresso machine with fresh local beans are provided in our large staff room.
• Relocation and visa support will be available. Living in one of Australia’s most vibrant and liveable cities, with excellent educational and lifestyle opportunities.
• Range of Additional Benefits: Access to extensive GX professional development and wellbeing initiatives including national discounts on retail, health, travel, paid study and parental leave, 24/7 confidential counselling for you and your family via TelusHealth