Community-minded veterinary students scoop scholarships

A fifth-year veterinary student making a difference for young people, and a group helping aspiring vets take care of their wellbeing, are the latest recipients of MAS Here for Good Scholarships. 

A role model for rangatahi 

Between final year assignments and a demanding schedule of work placements, Massey University Bachelor of Veterinary Science student Siobhan Waters dedicates her spare time to volunteering with Big Brothers Big Sisters Manawatu, an organisation that matches tamariki with mentors.  

The 21-year-old recently won our individual Here for Good scholarship for work in her community, and says the decision to step up and become a ‘big sister’ was an easy one.  

“I had seen a notice on a local Facebook page asking for volunteers, and it felt like the perfect fit. You get so absorbed in your studies and the whirlwind of veterinary coursework, and I wanted to do something that was a bit different, but also meaningful.”   

After a careful screening process and interviews with social workers, Siobhan was matched as a big sister with a 14-year-old. The pair have since been catching up weekly for the past year and have found they have plenty in common.  

“She’s really into design and making things, and I’m artsy too, so we do quite a lot of creative stuff,” Siobhan says. “We’ve made bracelets, made fairy houses to put on the Esplanade, sometimes we go bowling or head to the beach; we mix it up with lots of things.”  

But more than just fun days out, the aspiring equine veterinarian says it’s the small breakthroughs and special moments that make being a big sister so rewarding.  

“It took her a little while to warm up to me, but one day we were walking along the beach and she just started skipping and being crazy and confident, and really letting herself have fun. We ended up building sandcastles, and I loved that she was comfortable enough in my presence to really be herself.”   

For the Auckland-born student, who has also volunteered with Riding for the Disabled, the most surprising part of working with Big Brothers Big Sisters has been how much Siobhan has gained from the experience herself.  

“You go into it wanting to be the one who helps, but you also get so much back in return,” she says. “It’s given me such a boost to do something that’s a change from study, and it’s the sort of thing that always leaves you feeling really good. I think back to when I was 14, and how important it was to have someone to encourage me. Knowing that I can be a mentor in her life is really special.”  

Siobhan says receiving a MAS Here for Good scholarship was an incredible surprise. She plans to spend a chunk of the $1,000 fund on outings with her Little Sister, while the rest will go towards textbooks and costs for her next round of out-of-town work placements at various vet clinics around the country.  

Alongside the Massey degree, she’s also taken on the NAVLE (North American Veterinary Licensing Exam), a qualification that will allow her to work in the US and Canada.  

“It’s a lot of extra work, which is mildly regretful at times,” she laughs. “But it’s a good way to open up more opportunities in other parts of the world.  

“When people hear I’m training to be a vet, they often ask me how I cope with seeing animals suffering. Of course, seeing animals in pain is never nice, but you just have to stay focused on doing all you can do in that moment to help the situation. I think it’s like anything, you often surprise yourself with what you can do when you look at things in a positive light.”  

Supporting vet students to thrive 

Despite the rewarding nature of veterinary work, there are still disproportionately high rates of burnout and depression across the sector in New Zealand. In response, the Vet Wellbeing Initiative at Massey University offers a range of practical support to students entering the profession.  

From social gatherings and workshops, to an anonymous Facebook page for sharing tips and confessions, group president Sarah Andrews says it’s all about strengthening connections and promoting healthy habits. 

“I think it’s really important to meet with people working throughout the vet industry, to have those conversations in a casual and welcoming setting, and for students to know they’re not alone with the challenges they may be facing,” she says. 

“One of our most popular events was a workshop where we had a range of guests set up at different stations, and students spent 15 minutes at each station before rotating to the next. We covered topics like dealing with compassion fatigue, finding work-life balance, and red and green flags at clinics.” 

The Vet Wellbeing Initiative recently won the group category MAS Here for Good Scholarship, giving them a $4,000 boost in funding for future events. “We’re absolutely thrilled to have been selected,” Sarah says. “In the past, we’ve really struggled with funding, so this is going to make a real difference over the next couple of years for things like venue hire and catering, and we want to look into some more creativity-focused events too.” 

Having grown up on a Southland farm, Sarah had dreamt of becoming a vet since primary school. Now in her fourth year of study, she looks after the initiative alongside 12 fellow student committee members and is also the Vet Wellbeing Officer for Massey University Students Association.  

As a conduit between the student body and the vet school, Sarah hears first-hand about the pressures students face with heavy workloads and financial stress. To ease the cost-of-living burden, the Vet Wellbeing Initiative is setting up a ‘sharing shelf’ for students to access free food and toiletries, and there are plenty of ways for students to reach out for mental health support.  

“A big part of the Vet Wellbeing Initiative is equipping people with skills to deal with pressures of study and work, and it’s also important to be able to talk to other people in the same boat who understand what you’re going through. For others who perhaps want to stay more private, we have an anonymous Facebook forum called ‘Vet Tails’, where people can talk openly in a safe space.”    

After graduation, the 22-year-old wants to go back to her rural roots, looking after farm animals and family pets in a small-town clinic.  

“At a mixed rural practice, you get to work with production animals, as well as the more clinical, problem-solving side of things with the companion animals, which I really enjoy. Being back home on the farm in the holidays is a great way to see things in practice. I was just outside watching the technician scanning the ewes, and it’s like ‘ok, I actually understand what’s going on now!’”