• Question: What is your most favourite part of your job and if you had to describe this as a specific animal what would it be?

    Asked by zerk532abas58 to victoriagould, rhiandavies, DrBecks, RachelFR, melissau, meganbird, katiebarnes, Camilla, Benji Turnbull on 25 Jan 2026.
    • Photo: Melissa Upjohn

      Melissa Upjohn answered on 25 Jan 2026: last edited 25 Jan 2026 16:37


      What I like most about my job is talking to owners about their animals, their relationship with them and how this forms part of their life, so that I can better understand how to set up the vet related support that they need to improve things for both their animal and the owner/their family. When you apply to vet school, you’re likely to be asked ‘why do you want to be a vet rather than a doctor’ and it’s important NOT to say ‘because I like animals better than people’ because almost every animal comes with at least one person attached, so it’s important to be a people person as well as an animal person.
      It’s difficult to describe it as a specific animal, but perhaps it could be a very curious young elephant (I love elephants!) who loves meeting people and animals and getting to know them.

    • Photo: Ben Turnbull

      Ben Turnbull answered on 27 Jan 2026:


      Great questions!

      Well just to be clear: I’ve switched from being a scientist to being a teacher. So, as a teacher…

      My favorite thing is seeing learners get excited about things. My job is to take someone from less informed, capable, enthusiastic, and confident and increase all of those.

      But seeing someone’s face light up when they understand something for the first time or just through finding a fact fascinating is pure joy.

      What animal would this be? Hmmmm. Have you seen the videos of Sea Lions making silly honking noises and slapping their bellies? That’s how I feel 🙂

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