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Want to gain a unique career experience? Ready to travel internationally with both independence and support? Consider joining one of our incredible veterinary internships abroad!
Our veterinary internships abroad offer students an amazing opportunity to pursue their love of travel while also earning valuable career experience. Compared to our study abroad programs, our internships give students more flexibility when traveling. They’re perfect for students who want to gain hands-on experience but with the freedom to travel and spend time on their own. They’re also great for those who don’t want to navigate the logistics of finding and vetting their own internship opportunity or housing abroad.
Similar to traditional internships, our veterinary internships abroad provide placement with one of our partner projects. Through this placement, you’ll have a set place to intern each day where you’ll shadow, observe, or assist as needed. These internships provide experience that can be used on a resume and some colleges and universities may even accept internship credit for them.
Please note that Loop Abroad internships are quite different from Loop Abroad programs. You will not have a Loop Abroad staff member with you each day, you do not have a Loop Abroad teaching vet, and you do not have activities and transportation scheduled and provided for you. Internships offer you the flexibility of traveling and exploring on your own with the safety and support of an in-country support coordinator, as well as a traditional shadowing internship placement at one of our partner projects. At all internships, you should expect to be on-site approximately 35-40 hours per week, Monday to Friday.
This placement can take a maximum of two students at a time to ensure that interns get maximum opportunities to learn from the veterinarians and shadow. Must be 18+ to apply.
Veterinary students will be given placement preference over undergraduates. Undergraduates are welcome to apply but encouraged to include in their resume any relevant experience or coursework for consideration.
If you and a friend are applying together and would like to intern together and be housed together, please contact us at [email protected] to assist you.
This exciting internship offers the opportunity to work with veterinary professionals at this state-of-the-art hospital that sees over 12,000 patients each year and has 34 years of experience. One of the busiest wildlife hospitals in the world, Currumbin’s mission is to rescue, rehabilitate and release animals back into the wild. Participate in daily clinical hours including observing rounds, surgeries and treatments, with the potential to assist at the sanctuary at times.
For current veterinary students: This internship puts you in the hospital full-time with approximately 8 vet shadowing hours each work day!
For undergrad students: Students will be shadowing veterinary staff throughout their day, observing the care and treatment of sick and injured Australian wildlife. You will be alongside veterinary nurses caring for the many hospitalized patients both inside the wildlife hospital and in the outdoor rehabilitation facilities, while also having an opportunity to observe the veterinary treatment of both new emergency cases and the existing hospitalized patients. Students are also likely to have the opportunity to visit Currumbin Wildlife Hospitals offsite koala facility for the rehabilitation of recovering koalas.
This internship is perfect for students looking for shadowing experience in a wildlife hospital setting. You will have the chance to work with species such as echidnas, koalas, black flying foxes, Eastern water dragons, lorikeets and kookaburras all while having free time to explore all of the outdoor adventures that Australia’s iconic Gold Coast has to offer. This amazing landscape combines beaches, brushland, rainforest and incredible waterfalls!
Activities may include (depends on what is at the sanctuary at the time of internship):
Dates and Tuition
The duration of the internship will be at least 2 weeks and maximum of 4 weeks. Cost by week listed below. In order to plan your budget accordingly, please note that Australia has a high cost of living and that food is typically more expensive than in the United States.
Non-Peak Season (March-June, October-December)
2 weeks: $3,900
3 weeks: $5,850
4 weeks: $7,800
Peak Season (January-February, July- September)
2 weeks: $4,400
3 weeks: $6,350
4 weeks: $8,300
Included: housing, daily supervision by CWS staff, 24/7 emergency support by phone, orientation, and pre-trip assistance
Not included: flight (Gold Coast Airport), other travel expenses, meals, medical insurance, and entertainment expenses.
The Gilman Scholarship could fund $5000 of your tuition plus there is an additional STEM Supplemental Award of $1000 you an apply for. The next round of applications opens mid-January and the deadline is Thursday, March 6, 2025 at 11:59pm Pacific Time.
If you are a US citizen receiving a Pell Grant and currently enrolled in college or university, we encourage you to apply for this scholarship! See the official website for the latest details and read about Loop Abroad students who have received this scholarship.
Housing is a ten-minute trip to the sanctuary on public transportation. Provided housing is a private room in a youth hostel, which includes common areas and facilities to cook meals. Private rooms included linens and towels, fan, table and chairs, wifi, and lockers. There are restaurants within walking distance and supermarkets accessible by public transport. Swimming pool and tour desk are available on site.
Public transportation (bus) is accessible from the housing and CWS.
Lunch is available for purchase at the cafeteria at CWS (approx $10-$20), or you can bring your own lunch.
The Currumbin Wildlife Hospital is a well-known, top tier wildlife sanctuary in Queensland that sees over 12,000 patients a year. They have a state-of-the-art wildlife hospital on site that employs 4 vets and 7 nurses daily. They have been instrumental in the bushfire recovery efforts, and have treated and rehabilitated many animals affected by the fires in the past six months.
As an intern at Currumbin Wildlife Hospital, you will be exposed to a dynamic and challenging environment, working alongside experienced wildlife vets, stock vets, and nurses. The hospital’s workload remains consistently high throughout the year, with a diverse range of cases, including venomous animals and potential zoonotic diseases.
Daily Activities:
Your working hours will be 8am to 5pm Monday to Friday. Each day you will have the opportunity to shadow a team of three to four wildlife vets. There will also be one stock vet responsible for managing the veterinary care of the Sanctuary’s captive animals. Alongside them, you will work with a group of nurses.
Observing Clinical Work:
During your internship, you will have numerous opportunities to observe a wide range of diagnostic and surgical procedures. It’s essential to note that Australia is home to many venomous animals and potentially zoonotic diseases. Therefore, interns must refrain from touching any animal unless invited to do so by the staff.