Caring for animals, caring for the planet – embedding sustainability in vet nursing
Melbourne Polytechnic educator, Kylie Smith has dedicated nearly 40 years to caring for animals. She has hand-raised hundreds of orphaned kittens and actively championed spay and neuter programs through the RSPCA, helping reduce stray populations and protecting local wildlife.
For Kylie, caring for animals and caring for the environment go hand in hand. It’s a belief that shapes her work in Melbourne Polytechnic’s Bachelor of Veterinary Nursing and Technology.
“When the environment gets damaged, it doesn't take long for animals to feel the impact,” Kylie says. “They rely on clean water, healthy habitats and a stable climate to survive. When we take care of the environment, we’re helping animals too.”
When Kylie discovered the idea of the World Health Organisations’ One Health approach, which recognises the interconnected health of humans, animals and the planet, it inspired her to embed these principles in her teaching.
“It made me think about how much waste we create in the veterinary industry,” she explains. “We need to teach future vet nurses not only how to care for animals but also how to care for their environment. Small changes in daily work can have a big impact over time.”
Using her industry connections, Kylie has built partnerships with veterinary clinics to repurpose products that are out of date for clinical use but perfect for student training. IV fluid bags and drip lines become catheterisation models, bandages are re-rolled for practice and syringes, slides and containers are cleaned and reused multiple times.
When materials can no longer be used for teaching, they’re donated to wildlife charities and the RSPCA for education programs, extending their life cycle even further.
These initiatives divert significant amounts of plastic waste from landfill while giving students authentic, hands-on experience with real veterinary materials.
Kylie also champions everyday sustainable practices across the office and teaching spaces, introducing composting, reducing plastic lamination and encouraging colleagues to reuse paper and materials.
She has also established a wildlife friendly garden in memory of Krystal Browitt, a Melbourne Polytechnic vet nursing student who tragically lost her life in the 2019 White Island volcano eruption.
The garden serves as a space of remembrance and a sanctuary for pollinators and birds, with native plants and a bird bath. Over several years the vet nursing team has come together to plant, grow and nurture a diverse mix of species – many propagated from staff’s own garden cuttings.
Kylie’s environmentally conscious approach is also financially responsible, reducing the need to buy new materials and ensuring every resource is used to its fullest. By reimagining waste as opportunity, she has created a network of resource sharing that benefits clinics, students and wildlife organisations alike. The flow on effects continue to ripple – equipping graduates with practical sustainability skills they will carry into the veterinary profession.
“Every small sustainable choice, whether in a classroom or a clinic, helps create a better future for our animals and our industry.”
It’s a philosophy embraced by her entire team. “I’m lucky,” Kylie says. “It’s not just me. Everyone comes together to model sustainability and get our students involved, too.”