Outline

Overview

The Preparatory Clinical Placement exposes you to the veterinary profession. It is a building block that contributes to your experience within the animal industries and of the roles of the para-veterinary personnel within veterinary practices. This placement provides you a learning-by-doing environment where you can utilise and consolidate previous learning that encompasses aspects of all units of studies from Year 1 and 2, and in particular allows application of clinical skills and professionalism and professional conduct. You will work with nurses and technical support staff at the practice, learning and building on basic skills in a professional environment. The placement will help you to utilise and extend your knowledge, skill levels and professional behaviour in speciality areas of veterinary practices. During this placement you will gain practical experience in many aspects of veterinary work including basic practice and business management, case reporting, professional communication and proficiency in routine techniques and animal handling. This two-week preparatory clinical placement is an experience undertaken at School-approved Partners in Veterinary Education sites in Australia.

Unit details and rules

Unit code	VETS6221
Academic unit	School of Veterinary Science Academic Operations
Credit points	0
Prohibitions ?	None
Prerequisites ?	VETS6101 and VETS6102 and VETS6103 and VETS6104 and VETS6105 and VETS6106 and VETS6107 and VETS6108 and VETS6121 and VETS6122 and VETS6123 and VETS6124 and VETS6125 and VETS6126 and VETS6201 and VETS6202 and VETS6203 and VETS6204 and VETS6205 and VETS6206 and VETS6207 and VETS6208 and VETS6127 and VETS6128
Corequisites ?	VETS6301 and VETS6302 and VETS6303 and VETS6304 and VETS6305 and VETS6306
Assumed knowledge ?	Content of all DVM Year 1 and Year 2 units of study
Available to study abroad and exchange students	No

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Christina Baxter, christina.baxter@sydney.edu.au

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Placement	Introductory Letter See placement guide on SSVS Student portal.	0%	Week 01	Varies
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Learning Agreement Form See placement guide on SSVS Student portal.	0%	Week 01	Varies
Outcomes assessed:
Skills-based evaluation	Supervisor Report Form Professional experience on placement	0%	Week 02	Varies
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Rotation Feedback Form See placement guide on SSVS Student portal.	0%	Week 02	Varies
Outcomes assessed:
= hurdle task ?

Assessment summary

All tasks must meet the minimum required standard in order to pass the unit.

Letter of introduction
Learning agreement
Supervisor Report Form - completed by supervisor - must meet satisfactory standard for all criteria and overall for the rotation.
Feedback forms - provide feedback on the placement using the School -required form.

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

Key to Overall Evaluation:

Satisfied Requirements:

No more than one Unsatisfactory grade for criteria 1 – 5, and
A Satisfactory or Proficient for criterion 6 (Professionalism), and
Satisfactory completion of a Communication Task, and
Meets attendance requirments (min. of 10 days)

The student is generally meeting and occasionally exceeding expectations for achieving the expected level of progress for achieving all criterion by graduation

Failed Requirements:

Two or more Unsatisfactory grades for criteria 1 – 5, and/or
An Unsatisfactory grade for criterion 6 (Professionalism), and/or
Has not completed the communication task satisfactorily, and/or
Does not meet attendance requirements (min. of 10 days)

The student has made insufficient progress towards meeting the criterion requirements in-line with expectations of a new graduate and will constitute a fail grade. Remediation will be required before repeating the rotation.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

Failure to submit on time and satisfactory barrier tasks will delay finalisation of the assessment of the Unit of Study until such time that satisfactory forms are submitted through Canvas.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

You may only use artificial intelligence and writing assistance tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator, and if you do use them, you must also acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section.

Studiosity is permitted for postgraduate units unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission.

Learning support

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity	Learning outcomes
Ongoing	There are no scheduled classes. Students are required to attend the placement for a minimum of 10 days within a 14-day rotation period.	Placement (70 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

For each placement 100% attendance is required. You will experience areas of veterinary practice as an honorary employee, and you are encouraged to make the most of each placement opportunity.

All perparatory units of study require you to attend each placement for a minimum of 10 days within the 14-day placement period. This 10-day requirement must not be completed consecutively; you must be provided with one day in seven free from all clinical responsibilities. Each working day is considered 8 hours (minimum).

Please refer to the relevant Unit of Study Outlines for further
information.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester.

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

LO1. LO1. Develop and demonstrate animal handling and other appropriate technical skills.
LO2. LO2. Apply knowledge from pre clinical and para clinical units of study to common situations encountered in para veterinary clinical practice.
LO3. LO3. Expand their professional network.
LO4. LO4. Demonstrate professional communication skills with veterinary practice staff and clients.
LO5. LO5. Demonstrate compassion respect and empathy for people and animals.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1	Depth of disciplinary expertise Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.
GQ2	Critical thinking and problem solving Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.
GQ3	Oral and written communication Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.
GQ4	Information and digital literacy Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.
GQ5	Inventiveness Generating novel ideas and solutions.
GQ6	Cultural competence Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.
GQ7	Interdisciplinary effectiveness Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.
GQ8	Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.
GQ9	Influence Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes	Graduate qualities
Learning outcomes

Alignment with Competency standards

Outcomes	Competency standards
	Australasian Veterinary Boards Council (D1Cs) - 2. Handle, restrain and otherwise manage animal(s) safely and humanely, considering animal behaviour and welfare, and instruct others in helping the veterinarian perform these techniques. World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) Day One Competencies - 2.8. Animal welfare
	Australasian Veterinary Boards Council (D1Cs) - 33. Engage in self-directed learning, continuing professional development and career planning, acknowledging the need for self- care in the context of maintaining competency. 34. Recognise limitations of knowledge, skills and resources, consult with colleagues as needed, and identify situations in which referral is warranted. 35. Reflect on personal actions, including inviting and responding to constructive feedback on performance. 36. Practise time management, including recognising the impact of time management on stakeholders and self. 38. Promote health and safety of patients, clients, colleagues and themselves in the veterinary setting, including applying risk management principles to practice. 9. Adapt and apply knowledge and skills to varied scenarios and contexts, including where information is incomplete. World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) Day One Competencies - 2.11. Communication skills 2.9. Veterinary legislation and ethics 3.1. Organisation of Veterinary Services 3.7. International trade framework 3.8. Administration and management
	Australasian Veterinary Boards Council (D1Cs) - 25. Communicate effectively with clients, the public, professional colleagues, and responsible authorities, using language appropriate to the audience and context. 27. Demonstrate inclusivity and cultural competence and act to respect and promote diversity in all elements of practice. 28. Work effectively as a member of a professional/ inter-professional team, fully recognising the contribution of each professional while promoting equity and inclusion. 30. Act professionally and ethically, compliant with legal and regulatory requirements of the relevant veterinary statutory body. 38. Promote health and safety of patients, clients, colleagues and themselves in the veterinary setting, including applying risk management principles to practice. World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) Day One Competencies - 2.11. Communication skills 2.9. Veterinary legislation and ethics 3.1. Organisation of Veterinary Services 3.7. International trade framework 3.8. Administration and management
	Australasian Veterinary Boards Council (D1Cs) - 25. Communicate effectively with clients, the public, professional colleagues, and responsible authorities, using language appropriate to the audience and context. 27. Demonstrate inclusivity and cultural competence and act to respect and promote diversity in all elements of practice. 28. Work effectively as a member of a professional/ inter-professional team, fully recognising the contribution of each professional while promoting equity and inclusion. 30. Act professionally and ethically, compliant with legal and regulatory requirements of the relevant veterinary statutory body. 38. Promote health and safety of patients, clients, colleagues and themselves in the veterinary setting, including applying risk management principles to practice. World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) Day One Competencies - 2.11. Communication skills 2.9. Veterinary legislation and ethics 3.1. Organisation of Veterinary Services 3.7. International trade framework 3.8. Administration and management
	Australasian Veterinary Boards Council (D1Cs) - 25. Communicate effectively with clients, the public, professional colleagues, and responsible authorities, using language appropriate to the audience and context. 30. Act professionally and ethically, compliant with legal and regulatory requirements of the relevant veterinary statutory body. World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) Day One Competencies - 2.11. Communication skills 2.9. Veterinary legislation and ethics 3.1. Organisation of Veterinary Services 3.7. International trade framework

Responding to student feedback

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

There has not been any feedback that has led to an alteration to this placement. As each placement site and attendance leads to individual feedback, these are reviewed to ensure there is no consistent pattern of adverse experiences. If these are identified the Unit of Study Coordinator and Placement Coordinator will review the concerns.

Additional information

The goal of assessment in the preparatory placements are geared towards the student becoming familiar with general clinical veterinary practitice, developing professional written and oral communication skills and developing knowledge of the different staff roles within a practice and developing.

Work, health and safety

Q-fever vaccination and completion of the Canvas module “Zoonosis Awareness” is compulsory.

We are governed by the Work Health and Safety Act 2011, Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 and Codes of Practice. Penalties for non-compliance have increased. Everyone has a responsibility for health and safety at work.

The University’s Work Health and Safety policy explains the responsibilities and expectations of workers and others, and the procedures for managing WHS risks associated with University activities.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Alignment with Competency standards

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Work, health and safety

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect

Current students

VETS6221: Preparatory Clinical Placement 1

Intensive February, 2024 [Professional practice] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Alignment with Competency standards

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Work, health and safety

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect