Funding the new facility.

Building a new clinic can be financially risky and securing funding is often one of the biggest barriers vets can encounter when trying to start or grow their business.  

As a financial specialist who works exclusively with medical, dental and veterinary professionals, Cameron Chater understands the ins and outs of securing finance in these industries.

‘One of the challenges a business owner faces when trying to secure medical and dental finance is working with a relationship manager who doesn’t understand the intricacies of these industries. The beauty of BOQ Specialist is that our relationship managers and credit team have specific industry knowledge and a strong understanding of the challenges that clients often face,’ Cameron explains.

Complex ownership and billing structures can often cause issues for vets seeking finance, so having a dedicated specialist with industry knowledge made My Local Vet’s $1.2 million fit-out process run much more smoothly.

‘It would have been really stressful if I didn't have Cameron by my side,’ Dr Jones says. ‘I really felt like he was on my team.’

Cameron and Dr Jones stayed in close contact throughout the fit-out, troubleshooting issues as they arose, including a tricky period when building costs unexpectedly ballooned due to underquoting.

‘Sam and I would chat up to five times a week during the property purchase and fit-out process. It was important to keep an open line of communication,’ says Cameron.

World-leading workplace wellbeing.

The new facility isn’t only keeping clients happy, staff are also reaping the benefits of working at the innovative clinic. Head nurse, Allira Bloem, explains that the team collaborated on the clinic design, offering ideas about everything from equipment to design features.

‘New technology, such as our digital X-ray machine, allows the team to streamline our work and have cases diagnosed and treated quickly so they can return to their owners in good health. I also love having anaesthetic machines in each room of the treatment area so that we can easily move our patients into different areas of the hospital with minimal disruption,’ says Allira.

One popular addition that has boosted workplace enjoyment and satisfaction for the team is the new sound system.

‘The in-built Sonos stereo system is amazing for team morale and helps us all have fun throughout the day by playing different music in different areas of the clinic,’ says Allira.

Dr Jones believes music is seriously undervalued by many vet practices. ‘Music is important for team members when they're doing focused work such as dentistry or surgery. It helps a lot of people to stay focused and enjoy their day,’ he says.

Lighting is another element Dr Jones thinks many vets overlook. With natural light proven to be beneficial for both humans and animals, he says the installation of skylights was a ‘no-brainer’.

‘It is important for team members to have as much natural light as possible because we didn't have a lot of natural light in the previous clinic. It is important for their sense of wellbeing because we know that mental health is a real issue in the veterinary industry,’ he says.

Finding a balance.

Having completed plenty of leadership training, Dr Jones knows that building a successful vet practice is about much more than just the bricks and mortar of a clinic. Creating a safe, supportive culture is key when operating in a sector where staff are known to experience high rates of burnout. Collaborative problem-solving and open communication are fostered via weekly team meetings. There’s even a hammock in the staff room for the team to kick back in during their breaks.

‘At My Local Vet, we have a strong focus on trust, understanding, mental health awareness and creating a safe environment to speak up,’ Allira says. 

Dr Jones also runs fun, quarterly team-building activities (such as scuba-diving trips and wine-tasting weekends), which he says have become ‘the blueprint of My Local Vet’ over time.

‘It is so valuable for our team to get to know each other outside of the practice and build and develop our relationships with each other outside of work. It’s important to feel like you’re a part of a cohesive team. At My Local Vet, we feel like we’re a part of something that's bigger than ourselves.’