Careers: creatures great and small

The traditional model of Transition Year (TY) work experience involves secondary schools allotting two-week blocks at certain times of the year for students to go out and gain practical experience in a professional work environment.

Kieran O’Mahony, owner of Glen Veterinary practice in Tipperary, was only able to take one student at a time for work experience. With up to 10 people from each school looking to work in the practice, it left a lot of students disappointed.

As a result, with the help of XL Vets, Kieran decided to organise a specific TY week-long work experience programme with 30 places, to foster young people’s interest in veterinary medicine.

With over 60 applicants, the successful students got exposure to a working clinic, while giving them a more hands-on approach, with guest speakers and industry workers giving talks each day.

Issues in rural practices

Recruitment and retention, due to long working hours are the biggest challenges facing practices in rural areas.

“Studies show the number one bugbear of vets is work-life balance,” says Kieran O’Mahony. “Because we’re in a rural practice, we need vets who are prepared to do nights, weekends and sometimes a seven-day week.

“The average working time of a vet in large animal practice is 96 hours a week and that was what I expected when I was coming out of college.”

Young vets have the alternative option of working with companion animals in urban areas.

“They’re being offered jobs where there’s no night work, no weekends and often, a four-day week,” he says.

“Getting vets recruited [in rural areas] in the first place is a problem and then retaining them is challenging. Seven years is the average lifespan of a vet in practice, which is shocking.

The benefits of work experience

The two new vet schools which will be in ATU and SETU will help with the shortages of large animal vets, according to Kieran, but there is still a problem of whether they are the right type of vets needed to help rural practices.

It’s important to find the right people who are interested in working with large animals, which is why he developed this programme, to show young, enthusiastic students what veterinary is like.

The course ran for a week, starting on 31 September, with a specific timetable and theme each day.

It’s important to find the right people who are interested in working with large animals, which is why he [Kieran O'Mahony] developed this programme

This aspect of the programme is being run by a company called Savvyteens, led by Susan Hayes Culleton. They facilitate structured experiences for young people to engage with companies and develop life skills tailored to that industry.

Susan believes it is essential to give students three things in work experience.

“Number one is to let them genuinely feel the consequences of making decisions and getting things wrong, giving them feedback and holding them accountable,” she says.

“The second is helping them understand that it’s OK not to be so self-aware, but also to be curious to learn more.

“The third is to connect what’s going on in the workplace with what’s going on in their world.”

Shannon Beston, Scariff Community College, Clare

From a beef farm in Scariff, Co Clare, Shannon Beston stayed with her auntie in Tipperary to do the programme.

“I always had an interest in veterinary and not many veterinary places do this kind of a programme for TY students. I was lucky enough to get accepted. I didn’t know anyone else on the course, but I have made friends during the week.

“I was inspired by our local vet; when we need her to come down to the yard to look at an animal, she is always very helpful. I am interested in large animal practice and want to do veterinary in college, but a big barrier is the points and limited spaces. I find that very frustrating.

“If I had to move abroad to do it, I don’t think I would be able. With the new vet schools announced, I don’t think there are enough places, but I think it’s a step in the right direction.”

Niki Hayes, Scoil Pól Kilfinane, Limerick

From Ballylanders in Co Limerick, Niki Hayes applied to do the programme for the experience, as she comes from a farming background and always had an interest in animals.

“I wanted to see what would be involved, we have beef cattle and I have always been helping out since I was young. The experience has been amazing. I learned a lot of stuff that I didn’t know – like how fast and busy vets can be. They are constantly on call and it showed me how brilliant they are at the job; they just take it in their stride.

“I made my mind up to become a veterinary nurse. The points are tough you have to put your head down and try your best, that’s all you can do.

“If I have to go abroad, I have to go abroad, but I’d like to stay in Ireland. I am sure people would like to stay in their course and study in their own country.”

Emma O’Connell Scoil Pól, Kilfinnane, Co Limerick

Through helping out on her grandad’s farm at the weekends, Emma O’Connell from Ardpatrick, Co Limerick, wanted to understand how vets care for animals and what goes on behind closed doors.

“I was waiting for the response to hear if I got into the course for a week, so I was delighted when I was accepted.

“I got to see the physical part of the veterinary practice in person, instead of just talking and learning about it. It’s great to get out of the classroom and experience what vets do every day.

“It makes me want to look into doing it at the third level. The number of places for veterinary in Ireland is small and the points are high, so it will be tough. It does put me off a small bit, but if you want to do it, you have to do it.

“If I needed to go abroad I would.”

Tom Slattery, Ardscoil Rís, Limerick

It’s important to find the right people who are interested in working with large animals, which is why he developed this programme

From Quin in Co Clare, Tom Slattery wanted to experience something new and see what it was like to be a vet, as he is from a suckler farm.

“I help out a lot and I would be busy. When the vets are calling out, I am always interested to see what they are doing, and I wanted to learn more about it.

“I enjoyed listening to the vets giving us talks about what they have experienced; I learned a lot of new things about the small animal practices and procedures.

“I think it’s a good experience, because I know you could go into veterinary and not know much about it.

“It was an eye-opener watching a surgery, as it was very different from what I thought it would be like.

“Veterinary wouldn’t be my first choice at the moment, but I am thinking of doing something around agriculture.”

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