• 46 scholarships to assist Charles Sturt veterinary students with the financial pressures of their compulsory practical placements
• Charles Sturt is one of Australia's leading providers of veterinary education, with 507 students enrolled across different years of study

Charles Sturt University veterinary students are benefitting from NSW Government scholarships, helping ease their financial pressures while strengthening the future veterinary workforce of regional Australia.

NSW Minister for Agriculture and Regional New South Wales, The Hon. Tara Moriarty, announced the scholarships at Charles Sturt University’s Wagga Wagga campus today.

Delivered through the NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, the scholarships are providing support to Charles Sturt veterinary students to help them meet the costs associated with travel and accommodation when undertaking compulsory practical placements.

There are 26 scholarships of $3,000 for large animal placements, 14 scholarships of $1,500 for small animal placements and six scholarships of $3,000 for placements to assist with Local Land Services branches.

Minister Moriarty said the program will support efforts to build a sustainable veterinary workforce across regional NSW.

“Regional NSW has a higher rate of veterinary shortages than the cities and we need to focus on solving that issue with these scholarships. That is critical for maintaining both our livestock industry and our regional lifestyle,” she said.

“Regional NSW has much to offer young professionals and by supporting these students spend time undertaking their work placements in regional and rural areas we will make a difference down the line.

“Attracting a sustainable veterinary workforce to regional NSW is a priority and so is developing a thriving veterinary profession across the board, and our Government will continue delivering reforms and initiatives to make that happen.”

NSW is experiencing significant veterinary workforce pressures, including workforce shortages, increasing demand for services, high levels of stress and burnout, and barriers to accessing care in regional communities.

According to the Australian Veterinary Association, 44 per cent of regional veterinary positions take more than a year to fill, leaving many communities without timely access to essential veterinary services.  

Charles Sturt is one of Australia's leading providers of veterinary education, with 507 students enrolled across different years of study. Last year the University graduated 55 students from veterinary courses, with more than 80 per cent of graduates going on to live and work in regional Australia.

Charles Sturt Vice-Chancellor, Professor Renée Leon, said the scholarships would make a meaningful difference for students while also building the future veterinary workforce to support animal health, agricultural productivity and biosecurity in regional Australia.

“We are deeply grateful to Minister Moriarty, the NSW Government and the NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development for these scholarships,” Professor Leon said.

“Supporting our veterinary students today strengthens regional Australia tomorrow because our graduates take their skills to practices and farms in the communities where they are needed most.”

“We hope there is further financial assistance for our veterinary students in the future because, as regional students, they face uniquely high placement costs and deserve equitable support.”

Charles Sturt University has led the push to have veterinary science students included in an expansion to the Commonwealth Prac Payment to support them while completing the mandatory practical components of their courses.