This month we’re turning that round and talking to a UK-qualified vet who came to Australia for 6 months. A couple of decades later, she’s still here.
Let’s find out more about Paula Williams of Westvets.
How Did You Become A Vet?
I was a farmer’s daughter in Sussex, in the south of England. I remember when I was young we had 6 or 7 vet students visiting for the lambing season, and I thought it was pretty cool. Then of course there were the James Herriott books, and Black Beauty. I was horse mad as a girl. So with all that in my background, I studied veterinary science at Liverpool University, and by my 3rd year I knew I wanted to be an equine vet. I’ve been caring for horses ever since, plus a few small ruminants including sheep and alpacas.
When I qualified, I worked in the University for a while, then as an intern at Rossdale’s in Newmarket, the largest equine veterinary practice in the UK. I moved to a practice in the Cotswolds, but then in 2001 the UK was hit by a foot and mouth outbreak. Restrictions on animal movements made things tough and I decided to spend a season in Australia. Somehow that season still hasn’t finished!
I started off in Western Australia, but soon ended up in Queensland, working for the Oakey Vet Hospital, then at Samford Vet Hospital, and since 2017 I’ve been at WestVETS.
How Long Have You Known The Radincon Team?
I think I first met Jon while I was working at Samford, although they didn’t use his equipment. Then since I moved to WestVETS I’ve been using Radincon X-ray equipment. We have five of them here, I think. I’m an ANZCVS member in Large Animal Radiology, so I love good X-ray equipment.
Right now, though, my best mate when it comes to vet toys is our new GE Versana ultrasound. I’d wanted one for some time and it finally arrived a few months back – now I have to fight the other vets to get use of it. The image quality is just so much better than we had before, although I’ve been a vet so long I remember ultrasounds that looked like snowstorms.
I remember old-school X-ray plates too, when we had to take them back to the dark room to develop. Things are so much better with modern equipment, even if I do still end up standing a calf on blocks so I can fit the X-ray plates underneath it.
Calf standing on blocks so vet Paula Williams has space to put the X-ray plate underneath it
Do You Have Animals Of Your Own?
I used to have my own horses, but not any longer. These days I have a Jack Russell terrier called Scuba. He’s definitely a little bit crazy, and very attention-seeking. He’ll grab one of my shoes, or my glasses, and run off with them. There’s no damage – he carries them very carefully – but he wants my attention. Or he just wants me to hop on one foot a lot!
Featured Vet Paula Williams with her dog.
Scuba gets his name from one of my passions – scuba diving. I live about an hour from the ocean and try to get there once a month or so, but what I really enjoy are the overseas I dived in a really remote part of the Solomon Islands recently, and on my next trip back to the UK to visit my family, I’m planning a side excursion to Italy for more diving.
Paula Williams Scuba diving
What Else Do You Do To Relax?
I love live music. I used to play, but now I just go and listen.
Apart from that, I’m involved with Equine Veterinarians Australia in an executive role. You could say that’s work-related, but equine vets are my tribe. As I said, I’ve always been horse-mad!
What About Plans For The Future?
More of what I’m doing!
I love the imaging work and want to continue that further. I work on all kinds of musculoskeletal issues, with equines which range from performance horses to ponies. I love that variety and I love expanding my knowledge.
Finally, Do You Have Any Advice For Young Vets Entering The Profession?
That’s tough.
For me, being a vet is a vocation, not a job. It can be difficult to get the work-life balance right. That makes it really important to keep the networking going and make sure you maintain friendships in the industry.
You need to make sure you always have a ‘phone-a-friend’ number in your back pocket. And make sure you use it, whether it’s to discuss a case; to have someone act as a sounding board, or simply to have a chat with someone who knows what your life’s like.
Having those people around you makes all the difference.
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