There's lots of practical handling of the animals. Plus you'll undertake animal facility and vet clinic work.

 

You'll learn from qualified, practising vets and vet nurses in our facilities right here on campus. And you'll get to apply your learning in vet clinics out in the community.

 

Career opportunities

Graduates usually aim to work as veterinary nursing assistants and are quickly snapped up by the vet clinics around the country. There are also plenty of other employment options in the animal industry like animal carers, sales representatives for veterinary products, and workers in retail and attractions business related to animals.

 

Graduates can also be self-employed, with a growing number of opportunities in animal care services.

 

Potential Employers

• vet clinics
• doggy daycare centres and pet sitters
• pet shops
• boarding kennels and catteries
• animal welfare agencies
• laboratories
• animal control agencies
• animal breeding facilities
• animal parks
• zoos
• organisations involved in animal research

 

Topics you'll cover

During this intensive course you'll cover topics such as anatomy and physiology, animal welfare and legislation, animal handling, reception and administration, communication skills, sales, animal health and husbandry, self-management, teamwork and how to assist with routine procedures.

 

You'll also learn how to monitor animals under anaesthetic and nurse them through recovery, assist vets to conduct radiography, administer pharmaceutical drugs, prepare animals for domestic and international travel, and communicate advice to clients.

 

Topics covered:

• husbandry and welfare of companion animals
• veterinary clinic skills
• anaesthesia and surgical veterinary nursing
• client advice
• animal welfare and management
• hospitalised care for surgical and medical animal patients
• diagnostics and imaging
• practical animal husbandry welfare
• practical clinical skills

 

With a host of animals here at our on-campus animal care facility, which includes fish, reptiles, sheep, horses, calves, birds, rabbits and rodents, plus kennels and cages for dogs and cats you'll have a regular obligation to care for a wide range of animals.

 

Work Experience

The course requires a minimum of 240 hours of work placement in animal facilities and veterinary clinics throughout the year while you study.