Wildlife Technician
Position Purpose: The purpose of this position is to provide in-patient hospital nursing care and day-to-day support to veterinarians in the running of the Wildbase Hospital and Wildbase Recovery aviaries.
Department: Wildbase Hospital, School of Veterinary Sciences
Location: Palmerston North
Reports to: Senior Practicing Veterinarian, Wildbase
Responsible for: Nil
Delegations: Nil
Key relationships:
Wildbase Clinic Staff
PNCC
CET
Wildbase Recovery Staff
VTH Staff
Wildbase Veterinary Clients
Students – undergraduate and postgraduate
Department of Conservation
Wildlife Rehabilitators Network of New Zealand
Wider School Colleagues
Wider New Zealand Veterinary professionals
About this area:
The School of Veterinary Science advances knowledge in animal health and welfare, biosecurity, conservation, and sustainable productivity. We are a world-leader in our field, working with governments, other universities, international and national organisations and companies to improve animal health and production, and human health. We have over 1000 students, 250 staff, and 170 research programmes.
Wildbase Hospital operates as a non-profit organisation alongside the Veterinary Teaching Hospital (VTH) providing medical and surgical care of native wildlife and veterinary care to privately owned birds and reptiles. The VTH is an integral part of the School of Veterinary Sciences (SoVS), being a state-of-the-art facility offering New Zealand's most comprehensive veterinary expertise. Final-year veterinary undergraduate students work alongside our clinical and technical staff to provide the best possible animal care to our patients and to ensure our students have the skills required to enter the veterinary profession at the end of their degree.
Central Energy Trust Wildbase Recovery is a collaboration between the Palmerston North City Council (PNCC) and Massey University. Within the Recovery centre, the Wildbase group cares for native wildlife during the rehabilitation phase of their veterinary treatment and contributes to the community education activities of the PNCC.
Accountabilities:
General duties in Wildlife Technician:
Contribute to all aspects of patient care and assist the wider Wildbase Team, within the Wildbase Hospital and Wildbase Recovery facilities.
Perform high-quality nursing care for all clinical cases, including critically ill and acutely sick in-patients in a professional and efficient manner.
Perform general nursing activities adeptly to standards expected of a trained veterinary nurse, including patient handling, routine procedures, administration of medications, collection and submission of diagnostic samples, avian and reptile anaesthesia, and peri-anaesthetic patient care.
Perform animal husbandry activities required for care of wildlife patients in the rehabilitation phase of their treatment.
Assess patients, in conjunction with the wider Wildbase Team, against rehabilitation benchmarks, then subsequently prepare for and manage appropriate release to the wild.
Ensure that the patient's basic needs are met (food, water, exercise, and enrichment), their comfort and hygiene meet standards expected within an industry-leading veterinary hospital and rehabilitation facility.
Coordinate the acquisition of food supplies and feeding of patients.
Ensure compliance with all appropriate financial transactions.
Relay veterinary advice and instructions accurately and comprehensively to clients/other stakeholders at all times.
Ensure hygiene standards are maintained in areas of responsibility within the Wildbase Hospital and Wildbase Recovery facilities.
Liaise with and assist VTH staff to promote a collegial and inclusive workplace for all Massey staff.
Assist with clinical research projects as and when required under the supervision of the designated academic lead.
Co-ordinate and assist with the transport of patients between the Wildbase Hospital, Wildbase Recovery, Palmerston North Airport, and various release locations.
Qualifications and Experience:
Qualifications:
Bachelor of Veterinary Technology, or Veterinary Nursing
Current full New Zealand driver licence
Experience:
Practical experience in care of wildlife, birds, and reptiles
Must be confident at handling wildlife and be able to prove previous experience around wildlife, birds, and reptiles.
Pre-employment checks:
Requirement to pass a Criminal and Traffic Convictions (Security) Check performed by the Ministry of Justice
Requirement to pass a Qualifications Validation Check.
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