VNCA Scholarship 

The New Zealand Veterinary Nursing Association (NZVNA) is excited to announce a fantastic opportunity for our members! Enter our competition for a chance to win flights, airfare and registration to the Veterinary Nurses Council of Australia (VNCA) Annual Conference. 

2025 Winner: Catherine Rice

2026 Prize Includes: 

• Round-trip airfare and transport to the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre. 
• Accommodation for the duration of the conference. 
• Full conference registration, including access to all sessions and events. 

Not included: Parking/transport to/from NZ Airport, food costs outside of the conference, travel insurance.  

How to Enter: 

1. Eligibility: Open to all full NZVNA members currently working in the NZ veterinary sector, with a valid passport, and travel rights to Australia. 
2. Submission: Write a short essay (500 words max) on the topic: “Shaping NZ Vet Nursing for the future” 
3. Deadline: Complete the online form by 4 Jan 2026 
4. Selection: Essays will be judged based on originality, insight, and relevance to the topic. 

Terms and Conditions: 

1. Eligibility: This competition is open to all current members of the New Zealand Veterinary Nursing Association. Membership must be valid at the time of entry and at the time of the conference. 
2. Entry Requirements: Participants must submit an original essay of no more than 500 words on the specified topic. Only one entry per member is allowed. 
3. Submission Deadline: All entries must be received by 9pm 4th January. Late submissions will not be considered. 
4. Judging: Entries will be judged by a panel of NZVNA board members. The decision of the judges is final, and no correspondence will be entered into. 
5. Prize Details: The prize includes round-trip airfare, accommodation, and full conference registration. The prize is non-transferable and cannot be exchanged for cash or other alternatives. 
6. Winner Notification: The winner will be notified by 11th January 2026 via email and announced on the NZVNA website and social media channels. 
7. Acceptance of Prize: The winner must confirm acceptance of the prize within a week of notification.  Failure to do so may result in the prize being awarded to an alternate winner. Every reasonable effort will be made by NZVNA to contact the winner prior to it being passed onto another winner.  
8. Use of Entries: By entering the competition, participants agree to allow NZVNA to publish their essays in association publications and on the website. 
9. Privacy: Personal information provided by participants will be used solely for the purposes of this competition and will not be shared with third parties without consent. 
10. General Conditions: NZVNA reserves the right to cancel or modify the competition if circumstances arise outside of its control. 

Kathy Waugh joined the New Zealand Veterinary Nursing Association (NZVNA) Executive Committee (then Council) in 2000, retiring in 2021. Over this time, Kathy held a number of portfolios – from President, Treasurer, to Membership Secretary, and everything in between, with most of our members having talked with her directly over her 21 year (voluntary) role on the Executive Committee. Kathy was a talented veterinary nurse and practice manager, and has a passion for continuing education and giving back to her profession. The NZVNA recognises how Kathy’s contribution and leadership skills have helped advance our community to where we are today and, to acknowledge and remember this outstanding contribution into the future of veterinary nursing and our association in Aotearoa, has established a scholarship in her name.

The Kathy Waugh Leadership Scholarship will assist veterinary nurses towards achieving their career goals, and will support future leaders of our profession. This scholarship will provide the successful recipient with $2000 towards the advancement of their career and leadership goals.

Applications are currently closed. 

2025 recipient: Erika Smith

2024 recipient: Cathy Priscott and Jess Williams

Testimonial from previous recipient, Jess Williams: 

I am honoured to be able to thank the executive committee for the Kathy Waugh Leadership Scholarship and give feedback on how the completion of the New Zealand Diploma in Veterinary Nursing has impacted my professional and personal growth. Over the duration of the program, I have thoroughly enjoyed having the opportunity to improve, both in terms of my professional competency as a veterinary nurse and in my personal development as an individual.

One of the most notable impacts of the course has been the revision of my clinical skills. With nearly 10 years after initially qualifying and working as a nurse, off and on between kids and limited time for CPD, my clinical skills and knowledge has benefitted hugely from updating my current practices. Through theory training and hands-on experience, I have developed up to date skills in various clinical procedures, animal handling techniques, and diagnostic protocols. This has enabled me to deliver better care to the animals under my supervision, ensuring their well-being and facilitating faster recovery times, ensuring we are utilising all monitoring equipment available and using it to our and the patient’s advantage, improving patient well being in hospital and overall a better experience in clinic. It gives me confidence in the support I provide for the nursing team as well as new nursing students that come through our clinic.

The knowledge and skills gained through the scholarship have directly translated into improved patient care outcomes. Whether it's patient handling, monitoring vital signs, or providing post-operative care, I can approach each task with competence and compassion, improving the well-being of the animals entrusted to my care. We have made tweaks on how we approach our pre and post operative care in patients as well as really working towards a hospital environment that is intuitive to patient recovery.

Effective communication is paramount in veterinary nursing, particularly when liaising with clients regarding the health and treatment of their beloved pets. The course has prepared me with advanced communication skills, enabling me to interact confidently and compassionately with clients, address their concerns, and educate them on current pet care practices.

The course has instilled in me a commitment to lifelong learning and professional development, encouraging me to continually seek out new knowledge and skills. By following evidence-based practices and staying up to date with industry trends, I can ensure that our clinic maintains the highest standards of care and remains at the forefront of veterinary care delivery. I have encouraged all nurses in the clinic to pursue areas of interest through CPD and register with the AVPRC. It has highlighted an area I can further support our nurses and have actively approached CPD in our nursing team with dedication.

Above all, the completion of the course has provided me with a sense of personal fulfilment and purpose. Being in a leadership position I can acknowledge all the trials we face as vet nurses and try to support my team to my best ability. Knowing that I am making a visible difference in the patients we care for as well as our team within the clinic brings me immense satisfaction. Whether it's comforting a nervous patient, assisting in a life-saving procedure, or mentoring a new nurse through into a space of confidence, each interaction reaffirms my commitment to the veterinary profession and fills me with a sense of pride and fulfilment.

I am deeply grateful to the NZVNA Executive Committee for their generosity and support in awarding me the scholarship. I am committed to continuing my pursuit of excellence in veterinary nursing and am honoured to be a part of such a rewarding profession.

Thank you once again for your belief in my potential and for investing in my future.

Julie Hutt joined the New Zealand Veterinary Nursing Association (NZVNA) Executive Committee (then council) in 2002.

While volunteering hundreds of hours of her time over 20 years on the Executive Committee, she held the President position for ten of these. On top of this, Julie was also working full-time teaching veterinary nursing students as well as working part-time in a veterinary clinic.

In 2012, Julie was quoted in the New Zealand Veterinary Nurse Journal “strive to be the best you can be and keep on learning! Strive to further your knowledge through all avenues available and become invaluable to your practice, your clients and their pets”.

The NZVNA recognises Julie’s contribution to the development of future veterinary nurses in Aotearoa New Zealand and her encouragement to those wishing to upskill from their current qualification to the next level of qualification and has established a scholarship in her name.

The New Zealand Veterinary Nursing Association (NZVNA) has always valued and promoted the benefits of Allied Veterinary Professionals (AVPs) in New Zealand holding qualifications that are relevant for their chosen profession. A qualified AVP is an integral part of the animal healthcare sector, helping to ensure that best practice is achieved for the welfare of their patients.

NZVNA is also aware that to achieve a qualification there is a considerable cost involved, regardless of which qualification being obtained. To help NZVNA members achieve their goals of either becoming a qualified AVP or advance their qualification to the next level we have created the NZVNA Student Scholarship.

This scholarship will provide one successful recipient with $1000 that can be used towards their tertiary fees (of a recognised NZQA qualification), purchasing textbooks or travel required for their chosen area of study (e.g. if you are studying online and need to travel to block courses).

Applications close at 5.00pm on Friday the 24th of January 2026

2025 recipient: Alice Glasnier

2024 recipient: Barbara Coles

Vet Services Veterinary Nursing Scholarships

Vet Services Hawkes Bay and Vet Services Dannevirke offer annual scholarships to students studying either their first or second year of the Diploma in Veterinary nursing.

Successful candidates can receive scholarships towards their Veterinary Nursing study fees and will have the opportunity to complete a minimum of 4 weeks paid practical work experience in one of our Vet Services clinics.

You will be:

• studying the Diploma in Veterinary Nursing through an approved New Zealand tertiary educational provider
• prepared to complete practical work experience in one of our Vet Services clinics
• a NZ Citizen or Permanent Resident

Applications for these scholarships open from 21st November 2025 and will close 20th Feb 2026

Find out more and apply here!