Senior Veterinary Nurse

At SCAR, veterinary nursing is about more than caring for animals. It is about helping people, supporting families, strengthening our community and ensuring pets have access to the care they need.

We are looking for an experienced and compassionate Veterinary Nurse to join our busy, community-focused team.

The SCAR Community Animal Hospital is a low-cost, high-volume veterinary clinic with a clear purpose: to ensure veterinary care is accessible to every pet owner, regardless of their financial situation.

Every day, we work with people who deeply love their pets but may be facing financial hardship, unexpected veterinary costs or other challenges that put their ability to care for their animal at risk.

We believe that a person's financial situation should not determine whether their pet receives the veterinary care they need.

We champion the human-animal bond and work hard to support people to care for the pets they love, helping families stay together and reducing preventable pet surrender. Because when we care for an animal, we are often caring for their owner too.

The pet in front of us is someone's family member, companion, source of comfort and, sometimes, their most important connection in the world.

That is why we are looking for a nurse who understands that exceptional veterinary care means caring for both the pet and the person who loves them.

Someone who can provide outstanding nursing care to the animal in front of them while also showing empathy, understanding and respect to their owner.

As a Senior Veterinary Nurse at SCAR, you will play an important role in delivering high-quality veterinary care to pets while supporting the people who love them.

You will work closely with our veterinarians and nursing team, care for a wide range of patients, help guide and support other team members and play an important role in ensuring our busy clinic runs smoothly.

This is a hands-on role for someone who enjoys being part of a busy team and understands that meaningful work can sometimes mean rolling up your sleeves, adapting to the day in front of you and stepping in where you are needed.

We are looking for someone who brings confidence and experience to their work but also values collaboration and understands that the best outcomes are achieved when a team works together.

Someone who takes pride in doing things well and supports those around them.

Your role will include:

• Assisting veterinarians with consultations, procedures and surgery

• Confidently monitoring anaesthetics and providing high-quality perioperative nursing care

• Caring for and monitoring hospitalised patients

• Providing calm, compassionate and appropriate handling using Fear Free and low-stress handling techniques

• Performing clinical procedures, including venepuncture, IV catheter placement and pathology

• Supporting triage and helping prioritise patients in a busy clinical environment

• Providing compassionate, professional support and education to clients

• Supporting the smooth and efficient day-to-day running of a busy, high-volume clinic

• Maintaining excellent standards of infection control, hygiene and patient care

• Maintaining accurate nursing and clinical documentation

• Supporting and guiding other members of the nursing team

• Assisting with stock control and clinic organisation

• Contributing to a positive, respectful and supportive team culture

• Getting involved wherever needed to support the team and our patients

We are looking for a nurse who is both clinically capable and genuinely compassionate.

Someone who can work independently, use their initiative and confidently manage the responsibilities of a senior nursing role, while also recognising that the best outcomes are achieved through strong teamwork.

As a busy, high-volume clinic, we need someone who is confident in their clinical skills and able to provide consistently high standards of care, even when the day is fast-paced.

You will ideally bring:

• A formal Veterinary Nursing qualification, such as a Bachelor or Cert IV

• A minimum of 2 years' full time experience in a veterinary clinic environment

• Strong confidence and experience in anaesthetic monitoring and perioperative nursing

• Excellent patient monitoring skills, with the ability to recognise changes in a patient's condition and respond appropriately

• Experience using Fear Free and low-stress handling techniques

• Confidence performing basic clinical procedures, including venepuncture, IV catheter placement and pathology

• A strong understanding of infectious disease control and cleaning protocols

• The ability to triage, prioritise and manage multiple patients in a busy environment

• Excellent attention to detail and accurate nursing documentation

• Strong communication and client care skills

• A compassionate and non-judgmental approach to both pets and the people who love them

• The ability to remain calm, organised and focused in a fast-paced environment

• A genuine commitment to teamwork and supporting those around you

Most importantly, we are looking for someone who combines strong clinical confidence with genuine compassion.

You don't need to know everything, but you should be confident in your skills, willing to continue learning and ready to step into a role where you can make a genuine difference.

This is an opportunity to work for an organisation where your skills can genuinely change lives.

At SCAR, everything we do is about creating second chances. As a Senior Veterinary Nurse, the work you do can have an impact far beyond the walls of the clinic. You will care for pets whose families may be experiencing financial hardship, help ensure animals receive treatment they may not otherwise have access to, and support families to keep the pets they love.

Your skills can help change an outcome. For an animal. For a family. For someone who may have nowhere else to turn.

You will also have the opportunity to help shape the way our team works, support those around you and contribute to the future of our veterinary services.

If you are an experienced and compassionate Veterinary Nurse who wants to use your skills to create real change, work as part of a strong team and make a genuine difference for pets and the people who love them, we would love to hear from you.

• A meaningful role where you can create genuine change

• Competitive remuneration

• Salary packaging benefits that are not available in other clinics

• Staff discounts on products and services

• A strong focus on work/life balance

• Flexible working arrangements where possible

• A supportive, fun and team-focused work environment

• Opportunities to continue developing your clinical and leadership skills

• The chance to work for an organisation where compassion, community and animal welfare are at the heart of everything we do

Second Chance Animal Rescue Inc. (SCAR) is a community-focused animal welfare organisation based in Craigieburn, Victoria. We operate an animal shelter, low-cost veterinary clinic and a range of outreach programs supporting vulnerable animals and the people who love them.

Our work includes animal rescue and rehoming, accessible veterinary care, the Safe House for Pets Program, Pet Food Pantry and other initiatives designed to help keep pets and their families together when they need us most.

At SCAR, we believe that helping animals often means helping people too. We know that a pet can be a family member, companion and source of comfort, which is why we work to ensure that financial hardship or difficult circumstances do not unnecessarily separate people from the animals they love.

Join us and use your veterinary nursing skills to create real change – one patient, one family and one community at a time.