Veterinarian: Dr Claire Madden
Dr Claire Madden is Head Veterinarian at Village Roadshow Theme Parks (Sea World + Paradise Country), where she works with a wide variety of animals every day including penguins, turtles, sea lions and sharks! She specialises in Australian Wildlife Medicine and has extensive experience in rehabilitation, preventative health programs and threatened species programs.
She has also worked at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary and Australia Zoo, where she was as a presenter and Zookeeper in the Big Cat department. Along with her veterinary studies, Dr Claire has completed a Bachelor of Science, animal studies, majoring in wildlife biology.
Franc was lucky enough to visit Dr Claire at Seaworld and follow her around to experience what a typical day in the life of a Seaworld vet is like...
“Dr Claire has an amazing job! A lot of her work is based around undertaking health checks on the animals which she does through training, conditioning and bonding. I got to work with Max the Sea Lion and see how the animals get to choose to participate in things like teeth checks and ultrasounds. She also does a lot of work with conservation, going out in a boat to help rescue animals like turtles, dugong and even whales!”
What are your favourite animals to work with?
I love this question and get asked it often. I am so lucky to work with such an array of animals that my favourite animal changes every day. Mammals are incredible, fascinating and simply adorable creatures however reptiles are constantly blowing my mind in that they are so stoic and have the capacity to survive in the most unfavourable conditions in the wild. Then we have fish and sharks where we know so little and constantly learning so much about them. All animals are simply amazing I just couldn’t possibly isolate it down to one species alone.
You have specialised in Australian Wildlife Medicine and threatened species programs, what other career paths are there for vets?
Being a Veterinarian comes with great opportunity to do so many career choices. Everyone tends to think of vets as being in a clinical setting working in a domestic clinic, however vets have the capacity to work in scientific laboratories, out in the field doing conservation medicine and disease surveillance, biosecurity, government jobs, policy and legislation writing and even patency for medical equipment. Veterinary medicine is a career that can take you around the world.
Have you always wanted to be a vet?
Like most people as a kid I never thought I was smart enough to become a Vet. What I did know from a young age was that I was always going to work with wildlife. I wanted to be a conservationist and do whatever I could do to preserve our animals and the eco-systems they live in.
What are some of your favourite parts to the job?
My favourite part of my job is working alongside the incredible team that we have here at Sea world. I have found likeminded people who have also devoted their lives to working with marine wildlife. We are dedicated, passionate and motivated to make change. I have found my tribe and it is such a fulfilling aspect of my work.
And are there less enjoyable aspects?
It is never easy to see animals in the wild suffering. The wild is a cruel place and too often we get called to an animal that requires our assistance and for one reason or another we either cannot locate the animal or cannot get our hands on the animal both of which means we are unable to provide the interventions it requires. This is incredible hard scenario to witness. If people say captivity is cruel…. they need to see some of the awful sights we have seen responding to wildlife suffering for protracted periods of time either due to illness or human activities such as fishing line entanglements. Absolutely breaks my heart.
What advice would you give to tween and teen girls wanting to follow in your footsteps?
Don’t EVER give UP!!!!
I was never the smartest girls at school, but I was ok.
I was never the most popular girl at school, but I had friends.
I was never the best at sport, but I knew how to play.
So I was your average kid growing up….your typical girl next door kinda girl. But what I did have that others did not have was a passion and that passion was to work with wildlife and wildlife conservation. The other thing I had was stubbornness and a determination to succeed. It was these characteristics that got me to where I am today. Hard work, never giving up and following my passion. Any can do anything they put their minds to – ANYTHING.
What are some soft and hard skills needed to be a great vet?
Resilience – there are good days, there are bad days, there are long days, there are fun days. No two days are the same. The animals need you no matter what type of day you are having. Resilience is key to being able to push through and perform at your best so you can give this job your everything for the animals that need you.
Self-care – if you don’t look after you, you wont be able to look after the animals. A lesson I learnt very quickly in this high demanding career.
What’s been your biggest career highlight to date?
Sounds cliché but every day at work is a highlight for me!!!! I come to work with a smile, I leave work with an even bigger smile.
What do you generally keep in your work bag at all times?
My mobile phone – I hate the thought of being uncontactable in the instance that an animal requires veterinary assistance. My phone is ALWAYS in my bag and with me at all times.
Franc’s Fast Five
Favourite animal? All animals
Go-to snack? Cheese and Quince paste
Do you have a pet? My little man ‘Baxter’
Super cool animal fact? Dolphins have ears
First thing you do each day? Coffee