Wendy Till: The Future of Veterinary Social Work in Australia
- Kat Griffith
- Nov 10
- 6 min read
Wendy Till is an Australian social worker who came to the United States in 2018 to earn her certificate in Veterinary Social Work from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville. She shared that when she was younger, she dreamed of becoming a veterinarian and even spent two years studying in that field. Over time, she realized that certain aspects of veterinary medicine didn’t align with her personal passions and approach to care. She later switched her major to biology, but that still didn’t feel like the right fit.
After taking some time away from school to start a family, she eventually found her way back, this time to social work. What drew her in was a paper written by Dr. Elizabeth Strand titled Veterinary Social Work: Practice Within Veterinary Settings. Reading it helped her realize that her two passions, animals and people, could finally come together in a career she could pour her heart into.
Q. Can you tell me about some of your work with different organizations?
Wendy shared that her newest venture is cofounding a charity called Veterinary and Community Care, based in Perth, Australia. The organization directs funds into programs that support people experiencing disadvantages who share deep emotional bonds with their pets. Their mission focuses on caring for both the human and the animal, which ensures everyone’s wellbeing is supported.
Recently, Veterinary and Community Care received government funding for an exciting new pilot program that will offer internships to five qualified (BSW / MSW) and experienced social workers, preparing them to enter the field of veterinary social work. Partnering with local veterinary practices, the goal is for interns to be ready for employment in veterinary settings after six months. Wendy is actively writing the curriculum for this program.
In addition to her work with the charity, Wendy runs her own private practice, Meraki Social Work Services. The name “Meraki” was inspired by a Greek friend who told her it means to do something with great love. That is a fitting reflection of the heart and dedication Wendy brings to her social work practice. She continues to contract with Veterinary and Community Care through this practice. The Meraki logo loosely resembles a tree; the hands form a strong trunk which produce healthy leaves and fruit. This
symbolizes the connection with the natural world and Wendy's ability to create. She has a strong interest in Eco-social work and the deeply interconnected and interdependent relationships between the ecological, political, social and spiritual aspects of our world.
Open hands symbolize confident action, engagement, self expression and the place where change and creation occurs. I thought this was idea was beautiful.
Q: Veterinary social work is still fairly new in America. From your perspective, what does the field look like in Australia, and how is it developing there?
Wendy explained that veterinary social work as a formal concept doesn’t yet exist in Australia. Part of the challenge, she noted, is that the term “veterinary” is legally protected and can only be used by individuals who hold a DVM license or equivalent. As a result, social workers have begun identifying as “One Welfare social workers.”
One Welfare is an international movement that recognizes how deeply connected animal welfare, human wellbeing, and the environment truly are. It expands on the idea of One Health by taking it a step further, acknowledging that the health of people, animals, and ecosystems cannot be separated. The framework encourages collaboration across disciplines, focusing not just on preventing disease but on improving overall quality of life for all living beings and ecosystems. This holistic approach reflects Wendy’s own work, as she continues to create programs that support both humans and animals while nurturing the environments they share.
Through her work with Veterinary and Community Care, Wendy is helping to innovate this movement in Australia. By bridging human and animal welfare through community-based programs and training opportunities, she’s laying the groundwork for what could become the foundation of veterinary social work in the country. As she explained, “Now that we’ve started using One Welfare, I actually think as a social worker, it’s a much nicer concept because it’s not just working in the veterinary setting it’s working in any setting where there are people and animals, and it’s also bringing in the environmental aspect as well.”
Q. I came across the term anthropocentrism on Merakai’s website, and it really caught my attention. How does that concept show up in your work, and why do you think it’s important to challenge it?
“I don’t feel that we are the dominant species on the planet, and sometimes I think that mindset is not very helpful to other species that we share the planet with.” Wendy shared.
Anthropocentrism is the idea that humans are valued above all else, and that resources exist primarily for human benefit. Wendy explained that social work, by nature, tends to be very human-centered, but she encourages professionals to challenge that perspective. She emphasizes the importance of ensuring the human-animal bond is truly reciprocal, that therapy animals are not being harmed or overworked, and that they also gain something from the experiences they share with clients.
This is where the One Welfare framework becomes so vital. It takes an interconnected approach, looking at how humans, animals, and the environment interact, and how each can benefit and coexist in a mutually supportive way.
Q: With your work at Perth Street Vets, what are some of the biggest challenges or most rewarding moments you’ve experienced?
“So Perth Street Vets, it’s been going in Perth for nearly five years now. It started about a year before COVID hit. It came from over east, where a whole group of vets had started Pets in the Park, which I think happened in the UK as well. And it was just a whole group of veterinarians who saw there was a need for people who couldn’t afford any kind of vet care,people experiencing homelessness or significant disadvantage. They just started getting together in a park and providing primary vet care for animals,” Wendy explained.
She shared that Perth is currently facing a severe housing shortage, and for the few rentals that are available, prices have become unaffordable, leaving many people unhoused and struggling. Perth Street Vets provides vital support to those most in need, caring for both people and their beloved pets. Wendy highlights the importance of Assertive Community Treatment, and expressed her hope that one day they can secure enough funding to create a mobile veterinary service to reach more communities in need. I left our conversation feeling genuinely moved and inspired by her dedication.
Q: In your experience, what are some misconceptions people have about unhoused pet owners or about the human–animal bond in vulnerable communities?
“People think homelessness means neglect, but I’ve seen the opposite. These animals are loved fiercely, sometimes before the person even takes care of themselves.” Wendy shared this, and I mentioned how many people in America hold the same misconception. She explained that many unhoused individuals rely on their animal companions because they are often one of the only deep, consistent relationships they have. Pets also provide protection, comfort, and a sense of purpose.
Many people experiencing homelessness value their pets’ wellbeing over their own, which is why One Welfare social work services and One Health clinics are so important. Wendy shared that she hopes to see more of these models emerge in the future of veterinary social work.
When discussing Assertive Community Treatment, she emphasized the importance of building rapport with this population. When people feel safe and comfortable receiving help, they come more regularly, which benefits both humans and animals alike.
Q. Do you have any books or podcasts you recommend for our readers?
Wendy shared several book recommendations that have influenced her work. She said that The Comprehensive Guide to Interdisciplinary Social Work by Pam Linden is the book she refers to most often in her practice. Another title she highlighted was Companion Animals and Domestic Violence: Rescuing Me, Rescuing You by Nik Taylor and Heather Fraser. This book especially resonates with her work at Perth Street Vets, as many survivors of domestic violence struggle with the heartbreaking decision of whether to leave their pets behind with an abusive partner or take them and face housing barriers, since many shelters do not allow animals. In some cases, survivors are forced to surrender their pets entirely, losing one of their deepest sources of comfort during an already devastating and traumatic time. Wendy shared a few other meaningful reads as well, which I’ve listed below the article.
Lasting Impressions
Wendy and I talked for quite a while, and one thing became very clear: she approaches her work through a truly multidimensional lens. She looks at every situation from all angles, asking thoughtful questions and exploring every possibility before finding solutions that uplift everyone involved whether they are people, animals, and/or the community as a whole. In a country where veterinary social work is still only an emerging idea, Wendy is bringing it to life, turning a vision into something tangible and deeply impactful.