Dear Richard Branson,

I am freaking out here!! I am a visiting Practitioner in Residence at Melbourne Uni Vet School and have arranged my first lunchtime speaker for today. He chose to fly with Virgin Blue because Jetstar apparently is often late. Now his flight is an hour late - landing at 12h25. That gives us only 25 mintes to get to Werribee  in time - impossible to do legally (and in my old rented car!). The lecture will start late, time will be insufficient, the speaker and I will be stressed and that is no way to start the program.

The very least you can do is sponsor the rest of the lectures - lunches and speakers expenses!

Practitioner in Residence

Wow, I have been the Practitioner in Residence at Melbourne Uni for 6 days (spread over two weeks) now.
Everybody has been most kind and helpful. The students are great and enthusiastic, the staff supportive.
I have lined up speakers for almost all the talks, but need to concentrate on sponsors next week! It would have been a lot easier if I had more local contacts! Some companies have already agreed to sponsor lunches, but I need about 6 more. Once I have the admin sorted, I want to spend much more time in clinics, learning what I can from the excellent lecturers.

I based my first tutorial on a Facebook group feedback (Veterinary Employment and Locum Network). Thanks colleagues for your great feedback! The second group had some of the same, but more on how to act and what to say at interviews.

I am trying to put together a slide show on my history as a vet, but most of my photos are in albums at home or on my old computer! However, I will get there. It is fun talking to the students! The Vic AVA has also invited me to talk to first year students on the 19th of March.

For now, the biggest challenge is finding places - especially when I have to drive to Melbourne in the old, sad looking car I have rented at a very reasonable price! It seems to be going just fine, though! If you are coming to Melbourne for a few weeks, contact Duncan Benn at 0407352679 for a cheap car. He is a mechanic and maintains them himself!

Practitioner in Residence asking for advice

I am very excited to have been chosen as the Practitioner in Residence at Melbourne Vet School for 4 months in 2013. My brief is to help prepare final year vet students for life outside vet school. I would really appreciate input from young colleagues on what they wish they were better prepared for when they left vet school (not technical skills, but life skills).