Catching up with Dr Kate Toyer
01 Mar 2024(Image: Dr Tara Cashman, Dr Kate Toyer. Photo: Dr Naomi Lessels @vet_behind_lens)
Can you share a bit about yourself and your veterinary career journey?
Big question! Keeping it brief, I was born in 1972, grew up in Sydney with my mum who was a nurse and a single mother, I always wanted to be a veterinarian. I went straight from high school to veterinary school at the University of Sydney. I met Tara at vet school and we got married after we graduated. My first job I quit after 6 months, the boss was toxic, I then did some locum work and Tara and I bought a share of a practice in Batemans Bay in 2000 where we still are now.
In 2003 I got bowel cancer and had my entire large intestine removed. In 2007 I gained membership of the ANZCVS in Surgery and I also received the college prize that year for developing what I believe was the first or at least one of the first TimeOnline programs for the then PGF (now CVE) with its director Michelle Cotton.
Tara and I have 3 children together, a cat, a dog, a pony and a chicken, all of whom are ridiculously spoilt!
You have been an active, committed AVA member for many years – what have been some of your roles and what have been the highlights for you?
Honestly I don’t think I’ve ever had an official role for the AVA. I am however a big advocate for the AVA, even when they do things that I don’t agree with or don’t do things I would like them to do!
In terms of highlight, definitely AVA conferences, both national and also regional conferences. They are such a great chance to connect with colleagues. Playing with the Australian Veterinary Orchestra was amazing.
The biggest highlight though I think is seeing our younger colleagues coming through our profession, they are so amazing and I love seeing them grow and excel beyond what I’ve achieved as they drive our profession forward.
(Image: ARVA at Mardi Gras. Photo: Josh Jung)
With Dr Tara Cashman, you founded ARVA in 2017. How has ARVA evolved over this time, what are you most proud of?
We first started ARVA as basically an online support and connection group. Over 7 years it has grown as we have participated in pride fair days and parades, student talks, advocacy and advice and then last year we put on our first veterinary conference The Veterinary Kaleidoscope Summit. Definitely, I’m most proud of TVK Summit and our support for students and vets as they have come to us for help with various things over the years.
A big focus for ARVA this year will be our evolution to include other marginalised communities including people with disabilities, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, cultural and linguistically marginalised communities and marginalised neurodiverse people. We will also be continuing our advocacy for LGBTIQA+ inclusion particularly around gender diversity which we see as an important area for inclusion moving forward.
Saturday 2 March is the Sydney Mardi Gras Parade – for those attending in person or watching at home, what has ARVA got planned, what should we look out for?
Mardi Gras is such an awesome experience and night. Such a celebration of who we are and what we do it is an amazing experience of feeling like you belong.
As for what have we got planned? We of course have our classic glitter e-collar skirts that are easy to spot and then maybe have a look out for some mythical animals glamming themselves up!
You are coordinating AVA’s International Women’s Day webinar panel on Thursday 7 March at 7.30pm (free webinar for both members and non-members).
This years IWD theme is #InspireInclusion. We have an awesome collection of female and non-binary veterinarians including Dr Bronwyn Orr (the youngest ever female AVA President) and myself (the oldest trans female veterinarian in the world!) as co-hosts, along with current Sydney University Vet School Dean Professor Jacqui Norris, indigenous vet student Bindee Davis, Sri Lankan non-binary JCU veterinarian Dhash Perera and specialist veterinary pathologist Nahiid Stephens. We will touch on the achievements of women in the profession, where are we at now, but a lot of the discussion will be on the difference between diversity and inclusion and what does a veterinary profession look like that is truly inclusive of women.
Last year, the AVA held a World Veterinary Day Panel discussing how the veterinary profession can promote diversity, equity and inclusiveness. We also saw the AVA’s 2023 Workplace Survey include for the first time questions and glossary to help us gain a better understanding of the demographics and diversity of the profession. What other things would you like to see the AVA and veterinary workplaces doing to promote DEI?
I think we are in the very early stages of the dialogue on DEI in the veterinary profession and the AVA Workforce Survey is a fantastic first step in defining where we are in terms of diversity. Looking forward though I would really like the dialogue to become one that centres around inclusion and really celebrating diversity.
(Image:Dr Tara Cashman, Dr Cam Raw, Dr Channy McGowan, Dr Kate Toyer, Photo: Dr Naomi Lessels @vet_behind_lens)
Looking ahead to The Veterinary Kaleidoscope Summit in July, this will be the second year of the Summit. How did the 2023 Summit evolve, what was the response/feedback from the inaugural event held during World Pride in 2023? What can delegates look forward to at this year’s Summit?
TVK summit evolved from the TVK podcast started by Cam Raw and myself. In the TVK podcast episodes we interview veterinarians from a variety of diverse lived experiences and as we interviewed so many amazing guests it became apparent that there was so much more to learn and that having everyone together in the same room produced an incredible cross pollination of ideas and learning. I am not going to lie, leading up to the conference was nerve wracking!
This was the first time ever in the world that something like this would be held in the veterinary profession. At the end of the first day though that anxiousness had turned to a feeling of exhilaration, not only had it worked, it had worked far beyond our expectations and the feedback from delegates was amazing.
This year we are looking to build on that success and add a few extra bonuses. We are super excited to be able to announce our first ever keynote speaker, Dr Dinesh Palipana. Refugee, quadriplegic, ER doctor, lawyer, disability advocate, OAM, Dinesh’s story has been featured on ABC TV and radio, he has even featured as a runway model at Australian Fashion Week! Look out for more announcements over the next month as we finalise our academic and social program.
(Image: Dr Kate Toyer, Photo: Dr Naomi Lessels @vet_behind_lens)
You are also speaking at AVA Conference on the topic ‘Resilience is a forest, not a tree’. What can attendees expect from your session?
I think that for too long there has been an emphasis in our profession on individual resilience including even trying to “select” vet school entrants for resilience. Whilst personal resilience is important it is really only a part of the resilience story. What I want to explore is how do we embrace each other and build our resilience as a community and the benefits that has at a community and individual level.
What’s the best way for vets and vet students to get involved with ARVA?
Anyone in the veterinary industry can be involved with ARVA whether they identify as LGBTIQA+ or as an ally. The best place to start is to join ARVA, people can apply for membership at www.arva.org.au and then it is just a matter of put your hand up, believe me we have plenty of jobs to go round!