The Challenge

Supporting new vets through the transition from university to practice

Graduating from a veterinary degree is a significant achievement, but the transition into practice can be daunting. New veterinarians often face the challenge of moving away from their university cohort and into regional or rural placements, far from the support networks they relied on during their studies.

The Australian Veterinary Association recognised this as a critical moment in a vet’s career. Without proper support, isolation and uncertainty in the first year of work can have a lasting impact on a graduate’s confidence, career direction and wellbeing.

The AVA had previously run an informal mentoring program in each state, but it lacked structure and consistency. Following an extensive review, a nationally resourced mentoring program with local delivery in each state was recommended for roll-out in late 2015.

The Solution

A structured, nationally delivered mentoring program

Art of Mentoring consultants conducted stakeholder research and worked with a steering group to design the program from the ground up. A national Program Manager was brought on board to manage all program administration using Art of Mentoring’s online mentoring platform.

Local volunteers were trained by Art of Mentoring to deliver training in each state for both mentors and mentees. The program rolls out nationally each year in July and October, aiming to support up to 500 newly graduated veterinarians in their first year of work.

Art of Mentoring provided all the mentoring resources used by program participants, including training, templates, guides and automated communications that could be tailored to the AVA’s specific needs. The program continues to be managed by the AVA on Art of Mentoring’s program management platform, with ongoing evaluation and continuous improvement.

From informal to structured — a national transformation

Previously, the AVA had run informal, inconsistent mentoring across individual states. Art of Mentoring helped transform this into a cohesive national program with consistent structure, resources and support — giving graduates a reliable and meaningful mentoring experience regardless of where they were located in Australia.

Platform and Resources

What Art of Mentoring’s platform delivered for the AVA

Since applying the Art of Mentoring program platform, the AVA has seen a significant improvement in the quality and volume of participant feedback, driven by surveys built directly into the program. This ongoing data helps the AVA work more closely with its members and continuously improve the program.

Relevant Survey Tools
Built-in surveys ask targeted, relevant questions that help the AVA gather meaningful feedback and work more closely with members going forward.

Resource Library
An extensive library of training resources and materials provides participants, staff and volunteers with the guidance they need at every stage of the program.

Customisable Templates
Ready-made templates that can be tailored to the AVA’s specific needs, set up well in advance and automated — reducing the manual workload significantly.

Automation

Automated communications and workflows removed the need for manual follow-up at every touchpoint, giving the program manager confidence that nothing fell through the cracks.

Program Objectives

What the program sets out to achieve for every graduate vet

• A smooth transition from university into professional practice
• Support for graduates navigating isolation when placed far from their university cohort
• Guidance from experienced mentors to help new vets navigate their first role
• A structured framework for processing career goals and professional aspirations
• Consistent, high-quality mentoring support regardless of location across Australia