A significant shortage of veterinarians exists worldwide, with rural and regional regions being most affected. To address this issue in New South Wales (NSW), the State Parliament initiated a Parliamentary Inquiry in 2023. The Inquiry gathered 205 publicly accessible written submissions, offering perspectives on the difficulties faced by veterinarians in rural settings and how the growing feminisation of the workforce influences these challenges. Analysis of a selected group of submissions written by veterinarians describing first-hand experiences in rural practice (n = 63) revealed eight overarching themes. These were: rural veterinary work is financially unsustainable; rural veterinarians carry heavier and more complex workloads than urban peers; rural practice negatively affects personal health and wellbeing; attracting and keeping veterinarians in rural areas is difficult; veterinary education inadequately prepares students for rural careers; clients often hold unrealistic expectations of rural veterinarians; rural practice is difficult to balance with family responsibilities; and opinions are divided on whether the increasing proportion of women in the profession contributes to the workforce shortage. The insights from this analysis may help inform strategies aimed at improving recruitment and retention in rural veterinary practice.
