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  4. Attributes, outcomes and skills

Graduate Certificate in Advanced Veterinary Practice (GC-AVETPR) // Attributes, outcomes and skills

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Intended learning outcomes

At the completion of the course students should be able to:

  • Demonstrate an understanding of the pathophysiological principles that relate to small animal veterinary practice
  • Apply knowledge of anatomy, physiology, pathology, and therapy to successfully manage systems including: cardiovascular, respiratory, abdominal gastrointestinal, renal, urinary tract, reproductive. Metabolic, endocrine, haem lymphatic, neurologic, musculo‐skeletal, ophthalmic, integumentary;
  • Accurately prioritise a patient's problems;
  • Demonstrate effective assessment and management conditions relating to internal medicine, oncology, cardiology, surgery, dermatology and ophthalmology;
  • Apply the principles of anaesthesia and analgesia;
  • Communicate surgical procedures including techniques and complications;
  • Evaluate medical conditions including the dose, indications, mechanism of action, contraindications and drug interactions;
  • Create fluid therapy and transfusion therapy plans considering uses, limitations and risks
  • Interpret various tests and monitoring and procedures commonly used in small animal veterinary practice;
  • Justify preventative medicine protocols that apply to small animal practice;
  • Produce nutrition plans for various medical conditions;
  • Communicate ethical dilemmas of animal welfare as it relates to veterinary practice.

Generic skills

  • Successful candidate will develop skills in problem solving, analysis and written and verbal communication.

Graduate attributes

The Melbourne Experience enables our graduates to become:

Academically excellent:

  • have a strong sense of intellectual integrity and the ethics of scholarship
  • have in-depth knowledge of their specialist discipline(s)
  • reach a high level of achievement in writing, generic research activities, problem-solving and communication
  • be critical and creative thinkers, with an aptitude for continued self-directed learning
  • be adept at learning in a range of ways, including through information and communication technologies

Knowledgeable across disciplines:

  • examine critically, synthesise and evaluate knowledge across a broad range of disciplines
  • expand their analytical and cognitive skills through learning experiences in diverse subjects
  • have the capacity to participate fully in collaborative learning and to confront unfamiliar problems
  • have a set of flexible and transferable skills for different types of employment

Leaders in communities:

  • initiate and implement constructive change in their communities, including professions and workplaces
  • have excellent interpersonal and decision-making skills, including an awareness of personal strengths and limitations
  • mentor future generations of learners
  • engage in meaningful public discourse, with a profound awareness of community needs

Attuned to cultural diversity:

  • value different cultures
  • be well-informed citizens able to contribute to their communities wherever they choose to live and work
  • have an understanding of the social and cultural diversity in our community
  • respect indigenous knowledge, cultures and values

Active global citizens:

  • accept social and civic responsibilities
  • be advocates for improving the sustainability of the environment
  • have a broad global understanding, with a high regard for human rights, equity and ethics

Last updated: 10 November 2023