GARS is a multidisciplinary small animal referral hospital staffed 24/7 with onsite specialists in Emergency & Critical Care, Surgery and Internal Medicine, supported by specialists in oncology and diagnostic imaging, residents, interns, reception and nursing staff.
The GARS vision is to be Victoria’s leading referral centre. We have recruited staff with a view to achieving this goal. The hospital is modern, purpose-built, proudly independent and privately owned. Located in Newtown, Geelong, the hospital occupies a tranquil part of the city, immediately surrounded by beautiful green spaces, overlooking the Barwon River, Balyang Sanctuary and Balyang Golf Course. The facility boasts its own private outdoor space with lawns overlooking the golf course and river for our staff and patients to enjoy. It is equipped with four consulting rooms, a chemotherapy room, a large central treatment area and separate MRI, ultrasound/endoscopy, minimally invasive fluoroscopy and CT suites.
The hospital equipment is state-of-the-art and includes onsite MRI, CT, fluoroscopy, a state-of-the-art Olympus flexible endoscopy unit, ultrasound, DR radiography, multiparameter patient monitoring, ventilators, blood gas, coagulation, haematology and biochemistry machines, and full thoracoscopic/laparoscopic/arthroscopic instrumentation.
Our staff are considered experts in their field and industry leaders. We are completely focused on our team, including every current and future member. We value development and reward our staff with CPD available to all. We are dedicated to ensuring an appropriate work-life balance for all staff. If you wish to join our team, that means you also are driven to achieving the highest possible standards of patient care and wish to work within a facility where staff excel at their job within a fun, inclusive and exceptional workspace.
We are looking for people who truly value teamwork and would like to join the GARS family, determined to take their career to the next level.
About the area
GARS is very fortunate to have the Barwon River, Balyang Golf Course and Balyang Sanctuary with their natural green spaces, including bike and walking paths, right on our front doorstep. The popular cafes, restaurants and bars of Pakington Street and Geelong CBD are only minutes away. The outstanding wineries and distilleries of the Bellarine Peninsula and beautiful beaches of the Surf Coast and famous Great Ocean Road are less than 25 minutes away. Transport links are excellent, with South Geelong train station less than 3 km from the hospital, and the Spirit of Tasmania ferry terminal and Avalon Airport 15 and 25 minutes from the hospital respectively. Major arterials are also close by, offering fast and easy connections to Melbourne and Victoria’s north, west and south.
About the role
- Provide leadership, supervision, training and support to staff within your department
- Always promote your department as open, approachable and positive
- Ensure your department is efficient, productive and supportive of all hospital departments
- Liaise with supervisors (*listed below) in a timely fashion to ensure effective lines of communication always remain open
- Represent your department and patients to the best of your ability while always considering the entire GARS team
- Ensure that your department is optimised to benefit its patients and the entire hospital team
- Escalate and report concerns to supervisors whenever they are raised in a timely fashion. This includes maintaining a written log of such communications
- Assist in problem-solving within your department and the entire hospital. Specifically, this requires presentation of potential solutions to problems raised by peers (or others)
- All proposed changes by the DR require consultation/discussion and supervisor approval prior to actioning and implementing
- Assist veterinarians during examinations, diagnostics and treatment
- Assist in emergency surgical procedures
- Assist in emergency procedures
- Assist in diagnostic imaging procedures, including MRI, CT, radiography, fluoroscopy and endoscopy
- Place IV catheters
- Perform anaesthetic induction and intubation under supervision
- Monitor anaesthetics, including use of ventilators (you will be taught if not already familiar)
- Provide nursing care to hospitalised patients, including administering medications
- Monitor critical care patients
- Assist in seamless and supportive client communication
About you
- Lead by example
- Self-awareness
- Drive for results
- Maximising performance
- Effective communication
- Solutions focused
- Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing (or equivalent)
- 4 or more years of nursing experience, ideally with prior leadership experience
- Dedicated to always achieving the best patient care
- Value and understand the importance of exceptional customer service
- Thrive in a team environment, whilst also being self-driven and able to work autonomously
- Excellent communication and organisational skills
- Highly motivated to expand your skillset and knowledge in all aspects of surgical, imaging and internal medicine nursing
- Knowledge of ezyVet is desirable but not essential
- Ability to rotate in weekend, overnight and on-call rosters
What we can offer you
- Competitive remuneration commensurate with experience, including shift loading
- Opportunity to join a fun, friendly and highly efficient team
- Work from a truly beautiful facility
- An employer that aims to facilitate work-life balance for all staff
- Support to develop your skills and advance your career along your chosen path
- A caring and supportive environment that focuses on staff wellness and positive workplace culture
- Industry-leading discounts for staff pets
For further information or to apply for this position, please email your cover letter and resume to dkeirs@garsvets.com.au and rbeckwith@garsvets.com.au
