As Clinical Lead (Production Animal Health Centre, Adelaide Vet School), clinical work, small group practicals and seminar teaching was the basis of the student experience on the production animal rotation. Encouraging development of communication skills, professional behaviors and application of clinical reasoning skills was a critical part of the rotation learning experience. Experience in government roles supported development of elective teaching programs for vet students at Aberystwyth University in Wales around one health/public health, bovine TB and preventive population medicine.

My core teaching philosophy is that vets must have an appreciation of clients’ goals and motivations, and the knowledge and ability to work with them to become a trusted advisor. Vets should become key part of clients’ farming business whilst acting as an advocate for the health and welfare of their stock.

The role of the rural vet is complex and multifaceted, vets need the ability to gain trust and respect and work alongside farmers to affect meaningful change on farms. Research interests have always been related to creating pragmatic solutions for common problems on dairy farms in UK, New Zealand and Australia. My masters project designed and piloted a simple monitoring strategy for post-partum health disorders of dairy cows on Australian dairy farms.

The aim was to demonstrate the value of basic and easily obtainable farm data in the creation of bespoke health plans. In a modern context the role of the rural vet extends to being a key part of the battle to adapt to and address the climate and biodiversity emergencies of our time. The Wales Sustainable Farming Scheme embraced this concept though development of a model for vets to use to optimise health, welfare and productivity.