Regional vet graduates to receive financial boost

Thirty-two graduate vets will receive a financial boost from the Voluntary Bonding Scheme for Veterinarians to help ease the shortage of veterinarians working with production animals in our regions, the Ministry for Primary Industries  announced today.

“Our Voluntary Bonding Scheme for Veterinarians is designed to support and boost the number of graduate vets in our regions,” says Steve Penno, director investment programmes at MPI.

“It’s available for graduates who are working with production animals such as cows, sheep, and working dogs.”

This year’s successful recipients will receive funding of $55,000 over 5 years – a total of $1.76 million.

The scheme generally provides funding for 30 graduate vets a year, however additional funding was available this year for an extra 2. Since the programme started in February 2009 MPI has approved funding for 318 graduate vets.

“Vets play a vital role in our primary industries and rural communities,” says Steve Penno.

“The Voluntary Bonding Scheme for Veterinarians is a key way of attracting skilled workers to hard-to-staff veterinary practices in the regions, and giving graduates an early boost to their careers. 

Further information about the Voluntary Bonding Scheme for Veterinarians can be found here. 

Successful applicants in this year’s application round are from a number of areas throughout New Zealand:

Region Number of graduates Towns/cities (numbers of successful applicants in brackets)
Canterbury 3 Waimate (2), Aorangi (1)
Manawatū/Whanganui 4 Hunterville (1), Dannevirke (1), Taumarunui (1), Feilding (1)
Marlborough 1 Blenheim (1)
Northland 1 Waipū (1)
Otago 6 Ōamaru (3), Ranfurly (1), Clutha (2)
Southland 4 Edendale (1), Winton (2), Gore (1)
Taranaki 1 Eltham (1)
Waikato 12 Te Awamutu (2), Tīrau (1), Taupiri (1), Taupō (2), Paeroa (1), Morrinsville (2), Kopu (1), Tokoroa (1), Hauraki (1

Source:  Ministry for Primary Industries 

Author: Bob Edlin

Editor of AgScience Magazine and Editor of the AgScience Blog

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