Faculty of Veterinary Science

Lecture program

Sun 27
4-5pm

Prof. Ken Hinchcliff BVSc, PhD, DACVIM
Dean, Faculty of Veterinary Science
AVSC 08 Committee

Official welcome

Sun 27
5-6pm

Dr. James Gilkerson BVSc, BSc (Vet) (Hons), PhD (Sydney)

EVA President

Equine influenza

Mon 28
8-9am

Hill’s Representative

Pet Nutrition

Mon 28
9-10am

Dr. Eric Allan
“Communication Skills:
It’s not about being nice: It’s about being a better Vet!”

Good communication skills are not about how to be nice to your clients (that is, however, a bonus.) It is about being an effective veterinarian. Without effective communication you may not get the chance to utilize your hard won Veterinary education or to prove your abilities.  80% of people who fail at work do so for one reason:  they do not relate well to other people. It is not their technical skills that have failed them, it is their people skills.  Communication is an essential key to accessing success - not only with clients, but with your colleagues, staff and also in all your non-professional relationships.
Eric Allan has been Practitioner in Residence at Melbourne and Murdoch
Universities and has developed a special interest in helping undergraduates to make that difficult transition from academic study to practice. This presentation will include an overview of veterinary communication skills plus many of the strategies developed during these appointments to smooth your own transition.

 

Mon 28
10-11am

John Kohnke BVSc RDA

“Understanding Equine Digestion as a Basis for Feeding Horses”
John Kohnke holds a Diploma in Agriculture, as well as a Bachelor of Veterinary Science from Sydney University.  He has been associated with the care and nutrition of horses for over 30 years as a veterinarian in practice, a researcher and industry technical director.  John now has his own company which manufactures and markets a wide range of supplements and horse care products.

 

Mon 28
11-1pm

To be advised

Panel discussion on “Mulesing”

Mon 28
2-6pm

Workshops

Workshops

Tues 29
9-10am

Bruce Dumbrell

“National Livestock Identification Scheme - What is it and why do we need it?”

Bruce will cover the use of the NLIS within Australia and its role in
managing disease outbreaks in livestock. He will also touch on whole of life traceability and how the Australian identification system compares to that of other countries.  This lecture will also include information about the types of ID tags manufactured by Leader Products and how they benefit the NLIS. 

 

Tues 29
10-11am

Dr. Glenn Edwards BVSc (Melb) MACVSs

“Pacemaker surgery”

See what makes a heart tick with the help of one of our favourite lecturers.

Tues 29
11-12pm

Microbiology faculty staff and research students

DEBATE

“Size matters' is a myth; viruses are the only true pathogens" 

Tues 29
1-2pm

Jennifer A. Charles BVSc (Hons) (Sydney) MVS (Melb) Dip ACVP

"Diagnostic Detectives - Alternative Careers in

Veterinary Science"

Pursuing a career in pathology can be just as stimulating and challenging as all those television crime serials suggest.  Find out why and how vets set out on "the road less travelled" and what the destinations can be.              

 

Tues 29
2-3pm

Scott Parry BVSc
ACV Representative

“The joys of rural practice – why I do what I do”

Scott is a cattle vet practicing in Coonamble, NSW and he will be covering graduate experiences in rural practice.  His enthusiasm is infectious so don’t expect to catch any Z’s in this one!

Wed 30
9-10am

To be advised

Veterinary medicine at Werribee Zoo (on location).

Wed 30
2-6pm

WORKSHOPS

WORKSHOPS

Thurs 31
9-10am

Merinda March
Grief counselling

Get some perspective on how to manage one of the not so pleasant aspects of being a vet.  Merinda will explore the difficulty of coping with the loss of a patient and advise ways to manage your client’s loss of a much loved pet. 

Thurs 31
10-11am

Helen M.S Davies

Research in Equine biomechanics.

Thurs 31
2-3pm

Emma Fields
Finley – Deniliquin Vet Clinic 
“Female veterinary graduate’s perspective on rural practice”

A female perspective on being a rural practitioner; sorry boys but you are outnumbered for this one.

Thurs 31
3-4pm

Andrew Chalmers

"Biosecurity in a Veterinary Practice Clinic – is your hospital a time bomb?"
It's a term that's thrown around a lot these days, but what is BIOSECURITY and what are the ramifications of not taking it seriously?  We discuss both theoretical and practical steps to assess and manage the risks involved in a Veterinary practice.

 

Thurs 31
4-5pm

Dr. Raquel Newman BVSc MACVsc

Small Animal Emergency Medicine

 

Raquel has worked in both general vet practice and emergency settings in London, Hong Kong and further abroad.  She has gained additional small animal emergency and critical care qualifications in both the British and Australian veterinary industries, which reflects her high level of competence and experience in the small animal emergency field.  In 2004 Raquel successfully completed her membership of the Australian College of Veterinary Scientists (MACVSc) in small animal emergency and critical care medicine.

 
 

Fri 1
9-10am

To be confirmed

 

Fri 1
10-11am

Dr. Elizabeth Tudor

“Dog Dreaming in Arhnem Land”

Be inspired, emotionally moved and entertained all at the same time.  Dr. Tudor will discuss a voluntary veterinary project that is improving the health of people by improving the health and welfare of dogs in remote indigenous communities.

 

Fri 1
11-12pm

Dr. Christopher Werner

“Mixed practice from a senior partner’s perspective”

Dr. Werner is a retired senior partner of a mixed rural practice in northern Victoria.  His specialty is in equine medicine and being able to communicate effectively with his clients!  He has instructed/employed many vet graduates over the years and will be a wealth of tips and tales on many aspects of graduate entry into the workplace.

Fri 1
12-1pm

Susan Maastricht BVSc MACVSc CWAT

“Veterinary Practice – creating a professional team”

It is imperative that veterinary practices achieve the standard of excellence that is expected by the profession and by the community. This involves the delivery of high quality and current veterinary care. It involves the successful and practical management of all aspects of the practice from bookings to surgery, radiology to dentistry, cleaning to facility maintenance, sterilising to consultation. It involves excellent interpersonal skills that engage with the clients and demonstrate empathy and consideration in circumstances that are often fraught with anxiety.   It involves business skills in terms of financial and people management, marketing, and continuing education. It involves healthy, respectful relationships between all members of the team demonstrating humility, recognition of skills, promotion of talent and encouragement to extend and develop knowledge and ability.
This lecture will focus on the last of these requirements discussing the state of the profession, perceptions of the industry about itself, perceptions of the community about the profession and the significance of how the relationship and mutual support extended between each member of the profession affects these perceptions and affects the veterinary workplace. It will include videoed role playing and inter-active analysis with a view to developing some clear recommendations for you as you move into the industry and carve a successful professional future for yourselves.

 

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