Bonding scheme boosts rural vets
A new Waimate veterinarian is one of 32 graduates in New Zealand benefiting from a voluntary bonding scheme designed to support and boost their numbers in rural areas.
South Canterbury is in dire need of rural veterinarians and this is putting strain on those in practice, according to recent graduate Finja Schmidt.
The 24-year-old Massey University graduate says the region is finding it tough to retain and source vets and she is delighted to be part of the Ministry for Primary Industries’ (MPI) $1.76 million voluntary bonding scheme for veterinarians.
Schmidt and the other 31 graduates will each receive funding of $55,000 over the five years of their bonding.
‘‘It’s awesome. I suppose what it means personally is that it will alleviate some of the financial strain. It promotes and tries to look out for people who are in rural areas and give them one less thing to worry about.
‘‘We come out of university with a student loan around $100,000 which is pretty significant.’’
The scheme attracts new graduate vets to rural areas and contributes to keep them interested and in the rural sector, she said.
‘‘The problems contributing to vet shortages are multi-factorial. This bonding scheme is not a silver bullet that is going to solve this problem at all, but it will contribute and it all helps.’’
Schmidt said vets are really needed in South Canterbury.
‘‘It’s an area where there’s lots of production and companion animals.
‘‘We’ve got a big problem globally and nationally to retain vets as there is a really high drop out rate. The agricultural industry as a whole as well as the veterinary industry has a high prevalence of suicide and depression.’’
MPI director of investment programmes Steve Pinno said the scheme generally provides funding for 30 graduate vets every year, however, additional funding was available this year for an extra two.
‘‘It’s available for graduates who are working with production animals such as cows, sheep and working dogs.’’
Since the programme started in 2009, MPI has approved funding for 318 graduate vets.
Schmidt, who hails from a dairy farm in the Waikato, said she has always been interested in rural practice.