Emergency & Critical Care Internship – CARE Melbourne

Late January-February 2027  | Full time | 12 months

The Centre for Animal Referral & Emergency (CARE) is offering an Emergency & Critical Care Internship that stands out for one simple reason - the experience you’ll gain here is hard to replicate anywhere else.

Located in Collingwood, just on the edge of Melbourne’s CBD, CARE is one of the city’s largest and most established multidisciplinary specialist hospitals. It’s a busy, purpose-built referral centre with a strong reputation for managing complex cases and delivering consistently high standards of care. The hospital services a large and loyal referral base, resulting in a diverse and often advanced caseload that gives interns genuine exposure to the breadth of emergency and critical care.

Despite its size and pace, what defines CARE is the way the hospital functions day to day - structured, collaborative, and highly supportive. It’s a place where specialists, ECC vets, and nurses work closely together, and where learning is built into every shift.

This is a fast-paced environment where you’ll be challenged, supported, and immersed in real emergency medicine without ever feeling like you’re doing it alone.

Learn emergency medicine the right way

You’ll be immersed in a high-volume ECC service seeing over 10,000 cases annually, giving you exposure to a wide range of presentations from common emergencies to complex critical care cases.

Importantly, this is a structured and supported internship.
You will:

• Always work alongside a senior clinician - no sole charge at any stage
• Participate in daily rounds, case discussions, and weekly academic teaching, including tutorials, journal club and case presentations
• Be supported by a highly experienced ECC team, including a DACVECC and 9 MANZCVS ECC Vets
• Gradually build responsibility at a pace that reflects your confidence and development, through a mix of hospital shifts and primary consulting shifts

The roster includes a mix of day, evening and overnight shifts, giving you true exposure to the flow of emergency practice.

Work alongside exceptional clinicians

CARE has a strong reputation for the calibre of its team.

You’ll work closely with experienced membership-level ECC vets, including ECC Specialist Dr Christine Lovatt DACVECC, and alongside specialists across medicine and surgery. The hospital also offers access to advanced therapies and capabilities not widely available, including Therapeutic Plasma Exchange, making it a genuinely unique clinical environment.

The focus is on learning through exposure, discussion, and mentorship, not just observation.

The program

This is a 12‑month fixed term, full-time, internship, primarily within the Emergency Department, with rotations through other specialist services including medicine and surgery.

The structure is designed to:

• Build confidence in emergency case management
• Strengthen your clinical reasoning and decision-making
• Provide a strong foundation for future ECC or specialist pathways

There is also encouragement and support for those considering further study or membership examinations, with 8 staff members passing membership exams over the last 4 years.

Who this role suits

This role is ideal for someone who:

• Has a strong interest in emergency and critical care
• Enjoys a busy, fast-paced environment
• Is proactive, motivated, and keen to learn
• Communicates well and works effectively in a team
• Can stay calm, adaptable and focused under pressure
• Has good organisational and time management skills, and a flexible and growth mindset

Candidates with some prior GP experience are ideal, but new graduates with the right mindset and commitment are encouraged to apply.

Ready to apply

If you’re looking for an ECC internship where you’ll be challenged, supported, and genuinely developed, CARE Melbourne is an exceptional place to start.

For more information or a confidential conversation:

Sharleen Harman | Talent Acquisition Business Partner – Vet Specialists & Interns
0420 249 101 | [email protected]

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