Veterinary Nurse - Emergency Critical Care

Usyd; Sydney; On-site; AUD 74,000 - 91,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

17% superannuation

Professional development support

Employee assistance program

Staff Parking discount

Fitness and wellness benefits

Job summary

The University of Sydney invites applications for a qualified Veterinary Nurse in Emergency Critical Care to provide nursing and technical support to emergency cases in the small animal hospital. You will work with clinicians, residents and interns to deliver high-quality patient care and student teaching.

Located at UVTHS on the Camperdown Campus, the role offers a base salary with 17% superannuation and shift loadings, and a rotating roster across weekdays, evenings, overnights and weekends.

Qualifications

• Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing (or equivalent)
• Proficiency in IV catheter placement, phlebotomy, radiographs of diagnostic quality, and anaesthesia for emergency patients
• Knowledge of a wide range of veterinary emergency and critical care cases
• Ability to cope with emergencies and stressful situations
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Strong communication with veterinary professionals and teaching staff
• Customer service experience with high levels of patient and client care
• Willingness to work a rotating roster (weekdays/evenings/overnights/weekends/holidays)
• Ability to lift animals up to 16 kg (with assistance)
• Q Fever vaccination or willingness to be vaccinated
• Experience with advanced anaesthesia is highly regarded

Responsibilities

• Provide excellent care to critical patients in the Critical Care Unit
• Assist clinicians and student interns with treatments and emergency procedures
• Participate in RECOVER-based CPR
• Triage incoming emergency patients and manage workflow of vets and students
• Support clinical teaching and professional nursing assistance with cases
• Handle telephone and face-to-face enquiries and after-hours reception duties
• Maintain stock, including ordering consumables and procurement of supplies
• Clean and maintain clinical spaces
• Care for and maintain instruments and equipment

Skills

IV catheter placement

Phlebotomy

Emergency nursing

Radiography

Anaesthesia (emergency)

Teamwork

Communication

Education

Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing

Job description

• Full-time continuing position, contingent on the continuation of external funding

• Located on the Camperdown Campus at the University Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Sydney (UVTHS)

• Exciting opportunity to provide best practice veterinary care and student teaching as part of the emergency and critical care team, within a multi-disciplinary specialty hospital

• Base Salary HEO3, Step 1 (38 hpw), $82,388 p.a. + 17% superannuation + appropriate shift loadings

About the opportunity

The University of Sydney is welcoming applications for a qualified Veterinary Nurse in Emergency Critical Care to provide nursing and technical assistance with clinical and emergency cases presented to the small animal hospital.

Your key responsibilities will beto:

• provide excellent care to critical patients within the Critical Care Unit, including monitoring/nursing care of oxygen dependant and ventilated patients

• assist clinicians and veterinary student interns with treatments and emergency medical procedures, focusing on student learning and engagement

• participate in RECOVER-based CPR

• triage of incoming emergency patients, assist with stabilisation and managing workflow of vets/students

• provide support for clinical teaching and professional nursing assistance with clinical cases

• handle telephone and face-to-face enquiries, as well as after-hours reception duties

• maintain stock, including ordering of consumables, procurement of supplies, and control of stock quantities

• clean and maintain clinical spaces

• care for and maintain instruments and equipment.

The small animal service at the University Veterinary Teaching Hospital Sydney (UVTHS) offers:

• a dedicated 24-hour emergency and critical care service

• a small animal specialist veterinary practice for the management of a wide range of medical, surgical and emergent problems

• a first opinion general practice

• second opinion services

• access to advanced equipment and imaging.

In addition to providing excellent patient care, UVTHS provides an invaluable teaching experience for our final-year veterinary students. You will work closely with Specialists, residents, and interns in a range of disciplines.

To learn more about the Sydney School of Veterinary Science, click here

About you

The University values courage and creativity, openness and engagement, inclusion and diversity, and respect and integrity. As such, we see the importance of recruiting talent aligned with these values and are looking for an ECC Veterinary Nurse who has:

• a Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing (or equivalent) and/or advanced veterinary nursing experience in a small animal veterinary hospital emergency environment

• proficiency in general nursing skills, including placement of IV catheters, phlebotomy, performing radiographs of diagnostic quality, and anaesthesia for emergency patients (e.g. blocked cats/stitch-ups)

• knowledge of a large range of veterinary emergency and critical care cases

• demonstrated ability to cope with emergencies and stressful situations

• demonstrated ability to work independently and as a team

• the ability to communicate with veterinary professionals and academic staff, as well as confidence in a teaching role

• experience working in a customer service environment with demonstrated high levels of care for patients and clients

• a willingness and ability to work a rotating roster across weekdays, evenings, overnights, alternating weekends and public holidays

• demonstrated ability to lift animals up to 16kg and heavier animals with assistance (mechanical and/or team lifting), adhering to the University’s Heavy Lifting Policy

• vaccination for Q Fever or willingness to be vaccinated

• experience with advanced anaesthesia will be highly regarded.

The key benefits:

• opportunity to learn and enhance your skills and experience in the unique teaching and research environment of a Veterinary Teaching hospital

• a University contribution of 17% of your base salary to your superannuation fund

• yearly personal and professional development planning, including support for continuing education

• access to the employee assistance program

• access to fitness passport, as well as discounted rates on university sports and fitness centres

• industry-leading leave provisions, including generous paid parental leave entitlements (pending eligibility up to 36 weeks)

• located on the Camperdowncampus, 4 km from the city centre, in a convenient central location with ample public transport options. Discounted Staff Parking is also available on site.

Base Salary

• Yearly salary reviews held up to HEO3 Step 5

Work rights for Australia

You must have unrestricted work rights in Australia for the duration of this employment to apply. Visa sponsorship is not available for this appointment.

Pre-employment checks

Your employment is conditional upon the completion of all role required pre-employment or background checks in terms satisfactory to the University. Similarly, your ongoing employment is conditional upon the satisfactory maintenance of all relevant clearances and background check requirements. If you do not meet these conditions, the University may take any necessary steps, including the termination of your employment.

EEO Statement

At the University of Sydney, our shared values are trust, accountability and excellence, and we strive to be a place where everyone can thrive. We are committed to creating a University community that thrives through diversity and reflects the wider community that we serve. We deliver on this through our commitment to diversity and inclusion, evidenced by our people and culture programs, as well as key strategies to increase participation and support the careers of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People, women, people living with a disability, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, and those who identify as LGBTIQ+. We welcome applications from candidates from all backgrounds.

We are proud to be recognised as an Australian Workplace Equality Index (AWEI) Gold employer. Find out more about our work on diversity and inclusion.

The University reserves the right not to proceed with any appointment.

Click to view the Position Description for this role.

Applications Close

Sunday 04 October 2026 11:59 PM