Vet students learning to care for our animals denied paid training

For Gemima Rahman, completing her studies as a vet meant relocating more than 1,500km from Port Hedland to Perth. Now in her postgraduate studies, the 24-year-old is specialising in large animals.Ms Rahman said the financial strain of moving away from home meant missing out on experiences she would have loved to pursue.Gemima Rahman is a postgraduate student at Murdoch University’s School of Veterinary Medicine in Western Australia. (Supplied: Murdoch University)"I would have loved to have gone to the Northern Territory, over east to Victoria where there are large animal practices, but in saying that the cost to do so was not possible," Ms Rahman said.The post-graduate student said a paid prac program would have reduced emotional and financial stress."Within our degree, they recommend working 10 hours around your study and practical hours," Ms Rahman said."Sometimes I would be at uni 8-4pm then I would work night shift until 1am, so it wouldn't leave much time for sleep and self-preservation."She said this was another reason burnout was so common in her profession.Veterinary students have been left out of the Commonwealth Prac Payment. (Supplied: Murdoch University)"I think if the government were to help students like me, we would see not only a rise in more larger-animals veterinarians, but I also think burnout, which happens in students and graduates, would be reduced because they would have more financial backing," she said.Veterinary studies not included in expansionMs Rahman's comments come after the prime minister recently announced the expansion of the Commonwealth Prac Payment scheme.The scheme now has an additional 10 university courses, but not veterinary studies.Students of clinical psychology, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech pathology, paramedicine, radiography, pharmacy, rehabilitation therapies, audiology and podiatry are now eligible for a $338.60 per week payment."Paid prac is already making a real difference — it's helping students with cost of living while they train and that's why we're expanding it," Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said.One of Australia's best-known veterinary schools has since called on the federal government to extend the scheme to include veterinary students.'Extremely disappointed'Murdoch University vet school professor and dean of engagement Cristy Secombe said the WA-based school was disappointed veterinary students had been left out of the program, despite facing some of the longest placements."We're extremely disappointed we've been left out of the scheme, especially because vets provide an essential service," she said.Murdoch University says veterinary students should have the same support as other healthcare professions. (Supplied: Murdoch University)"Students complete 52 weeks of compulsory placements while training for a profession that was recognised by government as an essential service during the COVID-19 pandemic."We've got data where students have said it can cost them up to $1,000 a week for them to go out on placement regionally."Ms Secombe said she believed the financial pressure of placements was contributing to a shortage in the veterinary workforce regionally."The veterinary profession is in its ninth year of shortage, so we are clearly a profession in need," she said.Murdoch University welcomes the expansion of the payment, but wants vet students to be included. (Supplied: Murdoch University)"We want more vets out regionally, and want them to experience prac in the rural sectors but it is really hard for them because of financial pressures, so they just don't go."Australian Veterinary Association president Diana Barker said the recent emergence of H5N1 avian influenza and the crucial frontline role veterinarians played showed how essential the profession was to Australia's biosecurity."Only five weeks ago vets were called to be at the front line of the nation's biosecurity to protect our agricultural industry, and then yet again we are not supported by the government," she said."We were in Canberra talking to ministers only a few weeks ago, and had feedback about our possible inclusion, so we fail to understand what it is veterinarians are not doing right."Education Minister Jason Clare said expanding the prac payment scheme to allied health was the next logical step."These are areas where there are big skills shortages and where we expect there will be more shortages in the future," he said.He did not say whether veterinary students would be included in the scheme in the future.