International Member Spotlight: Dr Robert Hanson MRCVS

In this month's International Spotlight, Dr Robert Hanson MRCVS tells us about his life and work as a veterinary surgeon in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.

Can you tell us what organisation you work for and where in the world you are based?

I work as a veterinary surgeon and I am the large animal clinical lead at a mixed practice in Brisbane, Queensland. I work for Apiam Animal Health. 

My area of specialism is large animal work, which is predominantly equine with a spattering of farm.

Can you give us an overview of the types of work/procedures your workplace does?

It’s really variable. On the equine side, we have a hospital and surgical facility which allows us to handle elective surgeries through the practice.

The majority of the work we do is equine ambulatory, so routine vaccinations, routine dentistry etc. We also have members of the team who have special interests in advanced dental procedures and we have a board-certified medical specialist.

Then, seasonally, we see a large amount of obstetrics both on the farm and the equine side and all of the neonatal care that goes along with baby equids. We also deal with reproduction during the breeding season for horses too.

We offer a 24/7 service, 365 days a year for both farm and equine. On the farm side we see a range of small farms with cows, sheep, goats and large numbers of camelids.

On top of that, because I work as part of a larger mixed practice, I also get to dabble in wildlife medicine. We see a huge variety of Australian wildlife – all manner of feathered, furry and scaled creatures!

It’s amazing and I get to pick and choose what I want to do. The wildlife here has always fascinated me and because the small animal department here is so huge, there’s always an influx of small animals coming through. When I come into work, I walk through the prep room and there’s always something interesting to see (treating snake bites is a regular occurrence!). It’s a busy and fascinating place.

How do you like to start your workday?

I like to start my day on time. I don’t want to be called at 6am if my day starts at 8am. That’s the difference here in Australia. They really respect that - the work ethic is very different. Everybody works hard, but once you’re away from work, you’re away from work. You won’t be called at 7am if your day doesn’t start until 8am and end up having to throw down half a coffee before running out the door!

I still work on call and am more than happy to do my fair share but having that structure in place makes a real difference to my mental wellbeing. The team is really supportive and respects work life boundaries.

As with the UK, there is a vet shortage here in Australia. We have been on and off the skills shortage list for years, but we’re back on, which is the reason I moved out here. The work ethos is very different though.

What’s your favourite thing about your role?

I love the variation. One of my favourite things is going to all the different properties. I love having a sticky-beak at the acreages, being outside in the natural world, and appreciating those little glimpses of wildlife every day.

It doesn’t matter if it’s a pheasant running across the road back home, or a wallaby running across the road here. Just being out in nature and taking in the sounds and scents is fantastic.

I love getting out of practice and into my car – it’s my downtime. My zen time. I can open the windows and take in the elements of the forest. It’s stimulating and life affirming.

Can you tell us how veterinary regulation differs in the country you work into the UK’s regulation?

It sometimes feels like there isn’t any regulation here! There is no prescribing cascade, so you’re sort of free to give whatever drugs you want but there are certain differences between states.

Here we have federal law, including things like the Animal Welfare Act, and then we have state law, so you have to take state difference into account depending on where you’re working. There are also varying health departments within the varying states.

So, whilst there are some overarching rules, there are differences between the states. Some are quite subtle; others are more major.

It’s a complicated framework coming from the UK to Australia. There isn’t any single resource regarding the regulations you operate under, so I’m learning as I go!

I would love to get some expats together to create a resource that houses all the information in one place because it’s a complete mine field, even for the basic things.

Obviously, in the UK, we know that we operate within the Royal College guidelines and we have our code of conduct, but here those guidelines aren’t in place.

How does your role uphold and protect animal welfare?

Here we’re on the front line and I think we’re in really privileged positions. As vets, we’re that friendly, independent, advocate. We’re there not only to advocate for the animals’ welfare, but also for the owners of those animals.

It’s been my lifetime’s work so upholding animal welfare is just so ingrained in me. Whether that’s for a wild animal that we’ve received in and are making a decision about possible euthanasia, or whether we’re giving advice or educating animal owners on how to care for their animals effectively – it’s ingrained in everything we do.

What do you get up to outside of work?

Since being in Australia, I have joined a local pipe band and am learning to play the highland bagpipes!

I’m in the really early stages of learning the pipes so it’s interesting to see the progression. It’s a nice thing to do to switch off and learn to not multitask and just concentrate on the one thing. It’s mindfulness.

I’ve also been getting out and about exploring. It’s such a fascinating country. I’m still finding my bearings as I’m new in the area. There are so many wide-open outdoor spaces. We’ve got coral reefs on our doorstep and we’re half an hour from the Gold Coast and an hour away from the Sunshine Coast. I can go camel riding an hour away, I can go scuba diving with little clown fish in ship wrecks just 45 minutes up the road. It’s a really lovely place to live.

Why is maintaining your MRCVS whilst living and working abroad important to you?

I am proud to be a part of a body of individuals that upholds animal welfare. It was worth striving for and is a hugely valuable qualification – you can’t describe to people the value of those letters.

I’m really proud of my MRCVS. Ever since I was a boy I knew what those post nominals meant and I feel really proud to still carry them. I feel proud to be a British graduate and still feel really proud to be a member of the Royal College.

I proudly write MRCVS after everything because it’s something I worked towards from such a young age and always knew I wanted to achieve. It wasn’t the easiest of journeys, but I am proud to be a vet. I am proud to be a part of a body of individuals that upholds animal welfare. It was worth striving for and is a hugely valuable qualification – you can’t describe to people the value of those letters.

We are all stressed and overworked people but underneath all of that are people who genuinely care. Who are genuinely empathetic and want to make a difference. I feel proud to be a part of our small but mighty community of professionals.

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