Continuing preparations for the move of The University of Queensland’s (UQ) School of Veterinary Science to the Gatton Campus will see the majority of large animal practical classes and demonstrations held at the Gatton Campus this year.
The large animal practical classes will include opportunities for the veterinary students to gain experience with sheep, pigs, cattle and horses, using some of the best facilities in the country.
Topics to be covered during classes at Gatton include reproduction and pregnancy diagnosis, large animal handling, clinical procedures, obstetrics and herd health.
According to Rod Verrall, who manages the scheduling and organisation of the practical classes at the Gatton Campus, the only large animal classes the campus is not equipped to deal with at this stage are invasive procedures such as anaesthetics and caesareans.
"The facilities at St Lucia will continue to be used until the total relocation of the School of Veterinary Science," Mr Verrall said.
"Students will also continue to undertake rotations at the University’s veterinary facilities, including Goondiwindi Pastoral Veterinary Centre and the Dayboro Veterinary Surgery.
"A proportion of these practical classes have been previously taught at the Gatton Campus, but 2006 will mark the first year that the students will experience the true integration of their course across the two campuses."
Students from all levels of the Veterinary Science course will undertake more than 170 hands-on classes at Gatton during the first semester this year (March to June), gaining valuable experience in large animal production, medicine and handling.
Head of the UQ Veterinary School Professor Lloyd Reeve-Johnson said large animal production and medicine were very important components of the veterinary profession, especially as production animals featured so prominently in the agricultural economy.
"We hope that by increasing the exposure of students to this sector of the industry throughout their program, a higher proportion will ultimately be attracted to work with production animals where the industry is currently experiencing a shortage," he said.
"This is particularly important to attract students to these areas with the ever-increasing importance of biosecurity and maintaining Australia’s ‘clean and green’ image."
Veterinary students will be taking advantage of the inter-campus bus which travels between the St Lucia, Ipswich and Gatton campuses four times daily.
Plans are currently underway to introduce "block teaching" where classes are grouped to allow students to gain the maximum value from their time on campus. Block teaching classes will be located in excellent accommodation facilities.
Media inquiries: Susanne Schick - UQ Gatton Campus (5460 1229, 0409 265 587).
Further information/comment: Contact Rod Verrall (0401 717 339).
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