Professional Veterinary Practice Part 1 (VETS40022)

This subject is only available to incoming study abroad and exchange students in veterinary science. This subject continues across two consecutive study periods, with students first enrolling in Part 1 and then Part 2.

This subject is undertaken as a series of 25 weeks of scheduled clinical rotations, internally within the University Veterinary Hospital and in external placements plus 20 weeks on extramural elective placements. The subject comprises 45 weeks of study.

This subject addresses and assesses the five core learning domains of Veterinary Professional Practice:

• Personal and Professional Development
• The Scientific Basis of Clinical Practice
• Clinical Skills
• Ethics and Animal Welfare
• Biosecurity and Population Health

The internal rotations include training in clinical disciplines such as general practice, small animal medicine, small animal surgery, equine medicine and surgery, production animal medicine, diagnostic imaging, anaesthesiology, small animal emergency medicine, specialty clinical disciplines and pathology.

The external rotations include training in clinical disciplines such as veterinary public health, dairy cattle medicine and surgery, and shelter medicine and surgery.

Extramural rotations may be taken in sequences lasting from one to five weeks’ duration. They may be undertaken in approved veterinary practices in Australia or internationally, in government veterinary laboratories or other organisations, or in a veterinary research environment. A research project may be undertaken during extramural elective rotations.

A Capstone series of lectures and workshops is delivered in November with reviews of topics that prepare students for transition to the workplace. Students are expected to attend Capstone unless they have a waiver from the coordinator. Waivers may be considered for students undertaking selective placements.