Food for Thought
Fostering: An Ideal Career Change for Veterinarians
Our chosen careers often reflect who we are. With that in mind, we sat down with Jacqui Seymour, a dedicated veterinarian turned foster carer, to shed light on the invaluable skills that can transition across professions. Jacqui’s experience not only illustrates the potential for a fulfilling career in fostering, but shows how veterinary professionals have unique abilities that can greatly benefit the children in their care.
Why Veterinary Skills Are Invaluable in Fostering
Like many other veterinarians who transition into fostering, Jacqui’s path to foster care was rooted in her longstanding passion for caring for animals. After years of working as a veterinary director, she eventually came to realise that the problem-solving skills, compassion and observational abilities that had defined her career could also find new purpose in a different setting. This shift enabled her to apply her unique abilities to support and nurture children in need.
“At the time, I was 10 years into the vet career and had worked in the veterinary industry for about 15 years. Our children were at that age where they were getting increasing amounts of after school activities, playdates and parties. So it was really about working out what was going to work best for our family. In the end, it all came together in the form of part-time fostering and part-time vet work.”
Improving Your Work-Life Balance With a Career Change from Veterinarian
Jacqui’s transition from the demanding world of veterinary medicine to fostering has given her a unique perspective on work-life balance. Before becoming a foster carer, she was often caught in the whirlwind of appointments, responsibilities and meetings. Fostering, however, has enabled her to engage more deeply with her immediate family.
“You see your family progress and evolve in ways that would be harder to do when you’re out visiting clinics or attending meetings,” she says.
Jacqui also acknowledges the important role played by Compass Fostering’s Family Finding Team in selecting the best possible match for her foster children, birth family and wider family.
“We've had some really good matches. The children very quickly feel like they're a good fit and they’re part of the family. And so it feels like you're actually getting more time at home and building something beyond just seeing the child progress. It works out quite well for us. It's a busy life, but it's also really fun!”
We will always pair you with the best possible match.
The Power of Non-Verbal Cues
Jacqui highlights how her ability to interpret non-verbal cues — developed through years of interacting with animals — has been immensely valuable in understanding the emotional and physical needs of the children in her care.
“A couple of our lads have been developmentally delayed, so they didn’t have those verbal skills that one would expect at their age,” she shares. “We found that reading their behaviours and body language was actually really useful because as a vet, you spend a lot of time trying to work out which bit hurts or how they’re feeling.”
A Memorable Moment
This skill also provided the backdrop for a pivotal moment in her fostering journey. One of Jacqui’s most cherished memories as a foster carer involves a little boy with a profound love for sharks. After a challenging transition into her home, he accidentally threw his toy sharks into a river during a family outing.
“With him being autistic, [sharks] are very much a special interest for him. They are very, very important to him. Sometimes even more so than the people around him. He’d been living with us for about three weeks, so it was a fairly big change for him, and these sharks went everywhere with him. My middle lad was throwing sticks into the river and seeing them whoosh away, and you could see him make the connection in his little mind that sharks like swimming, so he tossed all four of them straight into the river.
As they disappeared downstream, you could see that realisation on his face that said ‘oh, no. I’ve just thrown them in. They’re not coming back!’ This was a terrible plan and he was only two at the time, so for him it was a massive thing that he had just lost his sharks. When he first came to us, he found eye contact quite difficult, but I’ll never forget the look of absolute horror on his face.”
Jacqui knew what she had to do. With the water above her knees, she bravely stood in the middle of the river and as the other boys pointed and shouted, she was able to recover all four sharks.
“He actually looked up and grinned at me with a look that said ‘yes. You understand my sharks. You have rescued the sharks! You must be quite reasonable.’ I remember looking at him and knowing in that moment that I had done a good thing that day.’”
A Day in Jacqui’s Life
7:00 AM: Wake-Up Call
- Jacqui’s alarm goes off, and she’s the first one up, waking the children.
- The kids, aged 11 and younger, emerge from bed in “various states of sleepiness.”
Morning Routine
- Jacqui and her husband are both present for breakfast and the morning activities.
- They listen to the two older children read and spell, and work on speech therapy with the youngest.
- Once everyone has had their breakfast, Jacqui takes the children to school and nursery.
9:00 AM – 3:00 PM: School and Free Time
- After the school run, Jacqui takes time to catch up on writing logs, attending meetings with social workers, and completing any required training.
- When her husband, Dave, is off work, they enjoy a walk with the dog or a trip to the cinema.
- On days when Dave is out working, Jacqui uses the time for her own interests.
Afternoon Pick-Up and Evening Routine
- Jacqui collects the children from school between 3:30 and 4:00 PM.
- The family have dinner together and, if needed, Jacqui takes the children to after-school activities.
- The evening consists of baths, showers and bedtime routines.
Staggered Bedtimes for Individual Attention
- The youngest goes to bed by 7:00 PM, the middle child by 8:00 PM, and the eldest by 9:00 PM.
- This staggered routine enables Jacqui to spend one-on-one time with every child.
Evening Wind-Down
- After 9:00 PM, Jacqui and her husband pack the small bags for the next day and relax.
- They usually unwind by watching an episode of “Frasier.”
Work Evenings (Twice a Week)
- On nights when Jacqui works, Dave takes over the bedtime routine.
- She works from 6:00 PM to midnight, then afterwards heads straight to bed.
1:00 AM: Lights Out
- Jacqui is typically in bed by 1:00 AM.
- When needed, she catches up on sleep by taking a morning nap after the school runs.
Community Support
Fostering has not only enriched Jacqui’s life, but allowed her to connect with a broader community of like-minded individuals.
“You meet a lot of people with similar backgrounds, experiences and setups to you. Working with the local foster carers and getting to know each other through group events, seeing all the different ways that their families are constructed and getting to meet them for coffee mornings every other month has been incredibly important. We all have that shared connection through fostering.”
Become a Foster Carer as a Vet
For those who are compassionate, observant and eager to make a difference in the lives of children, fostering offers a fulfilling pathway that aligns closely with the values of veterinary care. If you’re a veterinarian considering fostering, we hope Jacqui’s story has served to highlight the profound impact that professionals can make when they make a career change from veterinarian. After all, fostering not only allows us to transform lives, but enriches our own family dynamics in delightfully unexpected ways.
To learn more about fostering with Compass, get in touch with our friendly team today!
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