Now recruiting: expressions of interest open for our 2027 graduate program
Tropical Vets is officially opening expressions of interest for our 2027 New Graduate Program, and we want to hear from final year vet students across the country who are ready to start their career in North Queensland.
We know the good ones don't stay on the market for long, so we're getting in early this year. If you're finishing your veterinary degree in 2026 and looking for a place to start your career, we'd love to hear from you.
Why graduates choose Tropical Vets
For 50 years, Tropical Vets has been caring for animals and communities across the tropical north, growing from a single clinic in Innisfail in 1975 to a family of ten clinics stretching from Ayr to Atherton. We're one of only a small number of practices in Australia to hold AVA Employer of Choice accreditation, and our graduate program is a big part of why.
As one of our directors, Dr Graham Lauridsen, puts it: "We pride ourselves on mentoring our new grads, supporting them where we can, giving them the help and the support that they need."
Our graduate program runs over 24 months and is built to make the jump from vet student to full time professional feel supported, not overwhelming. It includes:
- Round the clock support: an afterhours triage service, a nurse on call roster prioritised for new grads, and a support chat with vets right across the Tropical Vets family
- Your first two weeks shadowing an experienced vet before you start your own caseload
- Monthly online catch ups with a senior vet, and with fellow new grads and the directors, to talk through challenging or interesting cases and get feedback
- A competency checklist and graduate handbook to guide your development
- A $4,000 education allowance every financial year, plus paid AVA membership
- Two large animal practical days a year, covering everything from pregnancy testing to bovine artificial insemination
- Small animal prac day, including surgical skills lab on cadavers and introduction to sonography
- A dedicated induction day and welcome dinner with the rest of your grad cohort
- AVA Employer of Choice accreditation
- Winner of the Cassowary Coast Leading Employer Recognition Award 2026
- Genuine mixed animal practice, with variety across small animal, large animal and wildlife work
- A four-day work week
- Additional employer superannuation contributions
- Additional maternity leave
- Part of a well-established, respected organisation celebrating over 51 years in business
- Located in beautiful North Queensland, with world-class natural attractions on your doorstep
One of our vets summed it up simply:
"There is always somebody that you can ring at midnight, at 1am, 2am. Somebody will always answer the phone and be there to help."
The variety that comes with mixed practice
Since Tropical Vets partnered with Gener8 Reproduction in 2023, our graduates get exposure to large animal reproduction and genetics work that's hard to find elsewhere, alongside the small animal caseload you'd expect from a busy mixed practice.
"At Tropical Vets, you get a huge amount of variety. It doesn't matter what you're interested in, if you want to do large animals, small animals, wildlife, there's always different things coming through the doors. And if you have something else you're interested in at another clinic, you can go there and help out with them as well." - new grad in 2022.
That variety extends to further study too. Tropical Vets encourages and supports continuing education in whatever area interests you, whether that's an equine repro course or a special interest CPD not available in house.
Life in North Queensland
Beyond the clinic, our team enjoys a four-day working week and life on the doorstep of the Great Barrier Reef, the tablelands and some of the best fishing and hiking in the country. For graduates moving from interstate, it's often the lifestyle that seals the deal as much as the career.
What our current grads say
Our newest team members are already settling in across the clinics. Emily Jones graduated from JCU in 2025 and joined the Tully team, originally from Melbourne and keen to get stuck into cattle work. Alexandra Nelson made the move from Perth to study at JCU and has landed with us with a strong interest in both small animal medicine and large animal work.
How to apply
If you're a final year vet student and want to join our 2027 intake, send your resume along with your preferred location or locations within the Tropical Vets family of clinics to careers@tropicalvets.com.au
We can't wait to hear from you.
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