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Course Information

Bachelor of Veterinary Biology/Bachelor of Veterinary Science BVetBio BVSc
Bachelor of Veterinary Biology/Bachelor of Veterinary Science (Honours) BVetBio BVSc(Hons)

CSU’s Bachelor of Veterinary Biology/Bachelor of Veterinary Science double degree is a six year program that prepares graduates for a career in veterinary practice and other related fields.

For further information on the course structure and cost of study please ensure you read each section of the Online Course Brochure.

Veterinary Science Graduate Attributes

The Australian Veterinary Board Council Inc (AVBC) is the Australian body responsible for accrediting veterinary science courses. Graduates from approved veterinary courses are considered eligible for registration as veterinarians in all states of Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. In order to meet these professional expectations, graduates must be able to demonstrate their ability to perform various animal handling, manipulative, therapeutic and diagnostic techniques. The Veterinary Surgeons Board may refuse to register a person not deemed fit to practice veterinary science by reason of infirmity, injury, mental or physical illness, habitual drunkenness or addiction to a deleterious drug. In order to meet and maintain accreditation standards with the AVBC, CSU is required to train and graduate students who are eligible to be registered as veterinarians.

Skills expected of CSU Veterinary Science graduates are listed below as The CSU Veterinary Graduate Attributes, which are based on the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (United Kingdom) Essential Competences Required of the New Veterinary Graduate: Day One Skills. Please pay particular attention to Aims 6 and 7 as they pertain to performing acts of veterinary science. The veterinary science degree is a broad degree; it is a requirement that graduates have the skills to practice veterinary medicine and surgery across all species of domestic and potentially native and wild animals. All veterinary science students must demonstrate the ethical, physical and emotional capacity to participate in the full curriculum and to achieve the level of competence required by the School in order to graduate and be registrable as a veterinarian.

Aim: CSU Veterinary graduates shall be able to:
  1. Use advanced levels of literacy to communicate effectively and to use advanced levels of numeracy to investigate and solve problems.
  2. Demonstrate effective interpersonal skills by working in a professional manner collaboratively and independently in relationships with clients and colleagues.
  3. Identify individual learning needs through self-assessment and personal evaluation and demonstrate a commitment to ongoing professional development.
  4. Demonstrate a sense of service to the community and a commitment to ethical and legal obligations.
  5. In an organised, critical and imaginative way apply knowledge gained at university to the workplace.
  6. Demonstrate the ability to use various forms of inquiry to obtain information and to be able to evaluate that information to solve problems.
  7. Demonstrate the ability to perform veterinary procedures and techniques appropriate for a new graduate in a professional and competent manner.

Objectives

Aim    1:     Use advanced levels of literacy to communicate effectively and to use advanced levels of numeracy to investigate and solve problems.
1.1 Interpret language in different forms and summarise the information in a logical way.
1.2 Utilise appropriate language in context either written or orally.
1.3 Demonstrate critical and analytical skills when assessing written or oral communications.
1.4 Interpret and use data to describe situations.
1.5 Use appropriate research skills to develop suitable methodology, collect and interpret data to check hypothesis validity, in order to solve problems and develop new assumptions.
1.6 Effectively integrate literacy and numeracy.
Aim     2:    Demonstrate effective interpersonal skills by working in a professional manner collaboratively and independently in relationships with clients and colleagues.
2.1 Communicate clearly, in an appropriate form, to clients, colleagues and other staff members and listen to their concerns during the course of professional veterinary activities.
2.2 Ensure appropriate veterinary attention is provided by identifying desired incomes, consulting or referring as necessary and communicating these details to all parties
2.3 Establish effective and productive relationships in the workplace and employ methods of conflict resolution.
2.4 Recognise the need to provide training for self, staff and clients, where necessary, including Occupational Health & Safety and potential zoonoses.
Aim    3:     Identify individual learning needs through self-assessment and personal evaluation and demonstrates commitment to ongoing professional development.
3.1 Assure professional competency and standards of practice are maintained and skills developed to utilise new research, technology and techniques by continuing professional development either through self-directed learning or industry provided courses.
3.2 Identify unsatisfactory work practices and take steps to improve veterinary work practices and improve professional standards.
3.3 Identify and evaluate relevant reference material, advice and new training.
Aim     4:    Demonstrates a sense of service to the community and a commitment to ethical and legal obligations.
4.1 Make a valuable contribution to society and to the health and welfare of animals, either locally, nationally of on an international scale.
4.2
    Conduct oneself in a professional manner and uphold the good reputation of the veterinary profession.
4.3 Understand and abide by the legal and ethical responsibilities of a practising veterinary surgeon in Australia.
Aim     5:     In an organised, critical and imaginative way apply knowledge gained at university to the workplace.
5.1 Recognise personal limitations to new situations and seek assistance from more experienced colleagues and specialists when necessary.
5.2 Transfer skills, knowledge and behaviour learnt to routine and novel situations.
5.3 Identify the desired outcomes in a veterinary context and logically plan how to obtain these outcomes.
5.4 Demonstrate the ability to obtain and confirm sufficient information to draw a valid conclusion.
5.5 Be able to rank problems in order of importance and urgency.
5.6 Develop strategies for dealing with an uncommon endemic disease and initiate measures to deal with it including consulting sources of expertise,
5.7 Recognise the possibility of a notifiable or zoonotic disease, notify government authorities and take appropriate prompt action to contain it.
5.8 Apply epidemiological principles to health problems which assist in implementing health maintenance and disease control and eradication programs.
5.9 Assess and advise on normal and abnormal health and behaviour of animals and monitor and assess anticipated outcomes.
5.10 Assess and advise on animal welfare and husbandry and give recommendations to improve helath, welfare, production and performance considering the ethical and legal obligations of veterinarians with respect to animal welfare issues.
Aim     6:    Demonstrate the ability to use various forms of inquiry to obtain information and be able to evaluate and use that information to solve problems.
6.1 Obtain and record a relevant and accurate history of animals and their environment
6.2 Maintain orderly, clear and efficient records of veterinary work in a form usable by others.
6.3 Carry out a thorough and systematic physical examination of animals and record findings.
6.4 Develop a medical record which assists in the solving of veterinary problems, promotes preventative health and monitors outcomes and performance.
6.5 Detect and interpret the significance of abnormalities in the structure, function and behaviour of individual animals.
6.6 Detect and interpret the significance of problems in groups of animals in relation to health, production or performance within and beyond the group.
6.7 Develop effective management strategies to diagnose, treat, control and prevent common diseases.
6.8 Select relevant diagnostic tests and, in some instances, safely perform these tests in accordance with regulations, which may assist in establishing a tentative or definitive diagnosis.
6.9 Carry out post-mortem examinations, interpret findings and initiate and interpret further investigations to reach a reasonable conclusion.
Aim     7:    Demonstrate the ability to perform veterinary procedures and techniques in a professional and competent manner.
7.1 Handle and restrain animals in a humane and safe manner.
7.2 Provide first aid, alleviate suffering and implement emergency veterinary care consistent with ethical and legal restraints.
7.3 Apply surgical principles and carry out common surgical and physical procedures and implement aftercare.
7.4 Perform therapeutic procedures in a professional, humane and ethical manner monitoring and managing the procedures as necessary to attain the intended outcome.
7.5 Recognise when analgesia and anaesthesia are warranted and implement effective techniques with minimal risk.
7.6 Recognise when euthanasia is warranted and carry it out humanely, observing legal and ethical obligations whilst recognising the sensitivity of the issue.
7.7 Interpret the requirements for inspections of animals and animal products for human consumption, carry out and/or participate in such inspections and decide on the fitness of these products for human consumption.