City, Cityscape, Urban, Water, Waterfront, Outdoors, Scenery, Boat, Sydney Opera House, Metropolis
 

 

We don't just help you get here, we help you settle.

Support doesn't stop at the paperwork. Your "Day 1" checklist covers everything below, before your feet even hit the ground. 

TALK TO US

SEE THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS

 

Want to see where you could be working? Explore our Specialty & Emergency hospitals and the teams already living this life.

SEE OUR HOSPITALS

HOW IT WORKS

Every move is different. Yours is planned around you.

1

 

Before you arrive

We guide you through what to sort before you land: your sim card, shipping, short-term accommodation, and schools if you need them.

2

 

Family & education

Schools and community mapped out ahead of time, for whoever's moving with you.
 

3

 

Bringing your pets

If they're coming too, their journey runs on its own timeline, and it starts on day one of yours.

4

Settling in, clinically

An on-site induction covers what's different: medications, controlled drugs, software, and cases you won't have seen before.

5

Everyday life, sorted

Once you've landed, we guide you through opening a bank account, your Tax File Number, super and transport, so nothing catches you off guard.

Ongoing support

The relationship doesn't end on day 30. Your Talent Partner and the wider network stay in your corner for as long as you need them.

BEFORE YOU ARRIVE

Your Day 1 checklist

Five practical things we guide you through before you arrive, so your first weeks are about the job, not the admin.

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SIM card sorted on arrival

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Shipping & logistics support

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Accommodation & area orientation

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School search support for families

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Buddy programme & 30-day check-in

SETTLING IN, FOR THE FAMILY

Education for the family

Public, Catholic and independent schools all operate across the country, with public enrolment generally free for citizens, permanent residents and most visa holders' dependants. The school year runs late January to December across four terms, with a five-to-six week summer break.

QUEENSLAND, BRISBANE

 

Prep → Year 12

Prep (Foundation) is compulsory from around age 5. Year 7 sits in secondary school, not primary, a change made in 2015. Senior students work toward the QCE (Queensland Certificate of Education), the final school qualification.
 

VICTORIA, MALVERN & MORNINGTON PENINSULA

 

Foundation → Year 12

Foundation (Prep) starts around age 5. Public school placement generally follows your residential address (school zoning). Senior students work toward the VCE (Victorian Certificate of Education), the final school qualification.

BRINGING YOUR PETS TO AUSTRALIA

Your pets can come too, plan early

Australia is rabies-free and runs some of the strictest biosecurity rules in the world. Moving a cat or dog here is a genuine process, so it needs to start on day one of your own planning.

TOTAL PROCESS

6-7 months

 

RABIES ANTIBODY WAIT

180 days

 

QUARANTINE ON ARRIVAL

10 days minimum



WHERE

Mickleham, VIC

 

Which risk group is your country?

 

Group 1

Rabies-free

The simplest process. New Zealand is a Group 1 example.

Group 2

Very low risk

Rabies-free or very low risk, with fewer requirements than Group 3.

Group 3

Controlled risk

Rabies exists but is controlled. USA, UK and UAE typically sit here.

Non-approved

Indirect route

Pets can't travel directly; must first live in an approved country.

Six steps, six to seven months

Note: this is a guide, based on an example candidate moving to Melbourne. Depending on your individual circumstances and where you're moving to, we'll tailor this timeline specifically for you.

MONTH 7
Check eligibility & start rabies prep
MONTHS 5–6
Apply for the DAFF import permit
MONTHS 3–4
Book quarantine (Mickleham, VIC)
MONTH 1
Final health checks
DEPARTURE
Final inspection & export certificate
ARRIVAL
10-day quarantine in Melbourne
⚠️ Step 1 is the critical one: eligibility & rabies preparation

Most delays and restarts happen here, so it's worth getting the order of operations right from day one. The 180-day clock starts at the lab, not the vaccine. It begins when the RNATT sample arrives at the lab. If the rabies vaccine or RNATT lapses before travel, the process may need to restart.

🔌 Microchip first, always
An ISO-compatible chip goes in before rabies vaccination, blood testing, or any documentation.
💉 Rabies vaccination
Mandatory for Group 3 pets, at least 84 days old, given by an approved vet.
🧪 The RNATT blood test
Result must be at least 0.5 IU/mL, drawn by an approved vet, microchip scanned during collection.

Full requirements: agriculture.gov.au/biosecurity-trade/cats-dogs. We suggest seeking guidance from a licensed pet relocation service, which we can help you find.

PRACTICING IN AUSTRALIA

What's different, clinically

Some things will feel familiar; a few will take adjusting to. Your on-site induction covers all of it.

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Medications & vaccine schedules

May differ from your country of origin, and/or be marketed under different names.

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Controlled drugs


Strict regulation applies, covered in full during your on-site induction.

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Role of vet nurses


Nursing and support roles may look different, with their own state registration requirements.

 

Clinical software

 

Most clinics run EzyVet, RxWorks, OpenVPMS or Vision, with support available while you adapt.

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Cases unique to Australia

Tick paralysis, snake envenomation and other presentations your clinical team will bring you up to speed on.

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Licences to know about

VIC and QLD require your own microchip implanter number; imaging needs a state radiation licence.

SETTLING IN

Everyday life, sorted

Once you've landed, we guide and support you through the practical side of building a life here.

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Accommodation

Short-term via Airbnb, Stayz or Booking.com; longer-term on Domain or Real Estate Aus.

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Bank account

Open online before you arrive, then present in person to formalise and enable withdrawals.

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Tax File Number

Apply once you land, and allow up to 28 days for issue.

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Superannuation

 

Employers contribute 12% of your ordinary earnings to your nominated fund.

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Health insurance

Medicare covers citizens & eligible visa holders; private cover means shorter waits and choice of specialist.

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Transport

Driving is the most practical way to get around, so check if your licence is recognised.

OUR RELOCATION PARTNER

Comprehensive relocation support

VetPartners works with a specialist relocation provider. They'll nominate a dedicated consultant to support your move end to end, from pre-departure planning through to settling in.

EXPERIENCE

28 years supporting international relocations

 

NETWORK

80+ trusted relocation & settlement partners

 

YOUR TEAM

1 dedicated team managing every stage



SUPPORT

End-to-end, planning through to settling in

 

Pre-departure support

  • Relocation planning with your team
  • International removals
  • Pet relocation
  • Flights
  • Travel insurance
  • Partner employment support
  • Financial planning
  • Banking
  • Foreign exchange
  • Tax advice
  • Mortgages & insurance

Travel & arrival


  • Travel coordination
  • Arrival accommodation
  • Rental guidance
  • Property support
  • Orientation

Settling into Australia


  • Permanent accommodation
  • Motor vehicles
  • Phone numbers & SIMs
  • Legal services
  • Public Trust
  • Everyday settlement support
  • Ongoing relocation advice

Some of these services are provided directly by VetPartners; others are funded through your individual relocation allowance. Which is which depends on your circumstances and the level of support you need. Your Talent Partner will talk you through exactly what's included for your move and work with you to agree the best possible pathway.
 

BEFORE YOU DECIDE

What you're probably wondering

It depends which hospital, and we’ll tell you straight. Some are established specialist teams with surgery, emergency and anaesthesia already in place. Others are building internal medicine from the ground up, with the specialist shaping it. Both are real, they just suit different people.

Veterinary work is on Australia’s skilled occupation list. Our dedicated registered migration agent supports the process end to end, including for eligible members of your family unit.

Recognised specialist qualifications are assessed by the Australasian Veterinary Boards Council (AVBC) as a first step toward registering with an Australian veterinary board. We’ll walk you through it before you commit to anything.

It depends on the pathway, so this is one of the first things your dedicated registered migration agent assesses, right up front, to make sure we know exactly how we can support eligible family members from day one.

Beaches, national parks and genuinely good coffee, but also school runs, mortgages and Monday mornings. It’s a life, not a holiday. That’s rather the point, you’re just on the other side of the world.

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Meet Dr Alex Fox


Dr. Alex is a qualified vet, who graduated in 2018. Alex has experience working clinically at specialty hospitals before moving into recruitment, and  understands what you're weighing up. She's always happy to have a relaxed, confidential conversation about your career goals and what you're looking for next.

 

READY WHEN YOU ARE

Let's talk it through.

Wherever you are in your thinking, just curious or ready to move, a no-obligation conversation with your Talent Partner is the best place to start.

 

EMAIL CAREERS@VET.PARTNERS

BACK TO THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS

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