The inaugural summer conference for veterinary nurses, held at The University of Queensland Veterinary Teaching Hospital, has drawn a big national response.
Veterinary practitioners from Darwin to Adelaide and from around Queensland and NSW will be among more than 100 delegates attending the conference at the University’s St Lucia campus on March 6 and 7.
Conference organiser Trish Farry said the keen interest reflected a shortage of continuing education opportunities for veterinary nurses in Australia.
Lectures over the weekend will cover a range of animal health care issues with a focus on critical care of sick animals. Delegates will have an opportunity to see the state-of-the-art veterinary care facilities at St Lucia.
Ms Farry is the Director of Nursing at the UQ Small Animal Clinic and Veterinary Hospital.
She has worked and trained in the United States where she secured the services of keynote speaker for the conference, Harold Davis, from the University of California.
Mr Davis, who is supervisor of emergency nursing and a veterinary hospital practices instructor, will be involved in several conference sessions.
Ms Farry said vet technicians in the United States had higher levels of responsibility than they did in Australia, including the administration of drugs.
“There is more training and the pay levels are higher,” she said.
Mr Davis will be joined by a number of highly-qualified speakers from the University staff and private practice.
Ms Farry said the number of delegates registering from small country vet practices was encouraging.
“We felt there was a need for a conference of this nature and we hope it will become an annual event,” she said.
Media: For further information about the conference contact Trish Farry (telephone 3365 2393).
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