But Port Macquarie Koala Hospital was just the right fit.

The Port Macquarie Koala Hospital clinic vet says she has always been curious about nature.

She brings a broad ranging background to the job.

Dr Beale's first qualification was in biology, which she describes as a tasting platter, followed by a vet degree delving into how organisms function on the inside and finally a PhD studying how the ambient temperature affects nutrition in leaf-eating marsupials.

Fast forward to September 2020 and Dr Beale started as the koala hospital's clinic vet.

Screening incoming animals, developing treatment plans, providing treatment to koalas in care, conducting koala post mortems and liaising with volunteers about koala management now fill Dr Beale's work days.

Research will also be part of the job.

Dr Beale will move into Cheyne Flanagan's role as clinical director over the next few months as Ms Flanagan focuses on a new position as director of koala breeding and research.

The koala hospital in late 2020 launched the world's first wild koala breeding program.

In another project, the koala hospital will be transformed thanks to a multi-million dollar development.

Dr Beale enjoys the work.

"It's great working with koalas," she said.

"The koala hospital is pretty interesting and it's a unique job with so many volunteers here.

"Cheyne is helping give me a soft landing into this job because koalas are so unique."

The Port Macquarie Koala Hospital is a popular tourist attraction, scientific research and education centre and a wildlife rehabilitation facility.

Dr Beale recognised the koala hospital's importance as an educational resource for the public.

"People can come here and expose their kids to one of Australia's iconic animals," she said.

"Just having that interest hopefully flows over to the broader community so you get more widespread action to help manage the koala population."

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