Outline

Overview

Clinical Foundations A provides students with the foundational knowledge to prepare them for clinical practice. Students will explore surgical principles including aseptic technique, tissue handling, and haemostasis and their effects on wound healing as part of their preparation for surgical practical classes in third year of the DVM. Students will learn the principles of pharmacology including pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics and apply this to developing drug doses. They will explore major drug classes including anti-infective drugs (eg antimicrobials, antivirals, anti-parasitics and anti-protozoal drugs), and anti-inflammatories and apply this knowledge to development of therapeutic plans. Students will also learn the principles of radiation safety in preparation for clinical placements. Across the unit of study students will apply their knowledge to case-based activities. The foundational knowledge gained in this unit will be applied across second year DVM units of study Principles of Animal Disease VETS6204 and further built on in third year. Risk assessments are regularly conducted for units that require the completion of compulsory learning activities that may expose students to zoonotic diseases. These assessments aim to identify appropriate risk mitigation controls, such as vaccination against vaccinepreventable zoonoses. Risk assessments are regularly conducted for units that require the completion of compulsory learning activities that may expose students to zoonotic diseases. These assessments aim to identify appropriate risk mitigation controls, such as vaccination against vaccine- preventable zoonoses. Vaccination against Q fever (Coxiella burnetii) is an inherent requirement for students enrolling in this unit of study. Students must be vaccinated against Q fever before commencing the unit or no later than week two of the enrolled teaching session. Q fever vaccination is only available in Australia with the vaccination process taking three weeks to complete. Students must also submit a Q fever Vaccination Declaration upon enrolment. Students who fail to receive vaccination by the specified deadline and/or submit a Q fever Vaccination Declaration are precluded from practical learning activities and will not be able to satisfactorily complete relevant units of study and/or progress in their course more generally. Please refer to the University’s website https://www.sydney.edu.au/students/q-fever-vaccinations.html for more information on student vaccinations.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit	School of Veterinary Science Academic Operations
Credit points	3
Prerequisites ?	(VETS6101 and VETS6102 and VETS6103 and VETS6104 and VETS6105 and VETS6106 and VETS6107 and VETS6108) or (VETS6111 and VETS6113 and VETS6104 and VETS6116 and VETS6115 and VETS6108)
Corequisites ?	VETS6203 and VETS6204 and VETS6235
Prohibitions ?	DVM 1.0 Year 1 units (VETS6101 or VETS6102 or VETS6103 or VETS6104 or VETS6105 or VETS6106 or VETS6107 or VETS6108) or DVM 1.0 Year 2 S1 units (VETS6201 or VETS6202)
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	No

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Merran Govendir, merran.govendir@sydney.edu.au

Assessment

The census date for this unit availability is 31 March 2026

Details
Criteria

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length	Use of AI
Written exam	Final Exam MCQ and SAQ with some clinical scenarios. Hurdle - must pass overall combined final exam and in semester test	50%	Formal exam period	1 hour	AI prohibited
Outcomes assessed:
In-person practical, skills, or performance task or test	Module quizzes 4 x MCQ quizzes related to modules	15%	Multiple weeks	15 minutes each	AI prohibited
Outcomes assessed:
Attendance - accreditation or faculty requirement	Required Learning Activity Demonstration of relevant skills: Radiation safety quiz	0%	Week 05 Due date: 25 Mar 2026 at 09:00	15 minutes, allowed three attempts	Not applicable
Outcomes assessed:
Written test	Intra-semester test MCQ and SAQ with some clinical scenarios. Hurdle - must pass overall combined final exam and in semester test	35%	Week 08 Due date: 22 Apr 2026 at 09:00	50 minutes	AI prohibited
Outcomes assessed:
= hurdle task ?

Assessment summary

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

All required hurdle tasks and compulsory assessments must be submitted by 11:59 PM Australian Eastern Time, unless an approved special consideration application or an academic plan with an adjusted submission date has been granted.

A combined pass grade (≥ 50%) for the final exam and in-semester test MUST be achieved and an overall ≥ 50% grade is required to receive a pass grade for this unit.

Final exam: If a second replacement exam is required, this exam may be delivered via an alternative assessment method, such as a viva voce (oral exam). The alternative assessment will meet the same learning outcomes as the original exam. The format of the alternative assessment will be determined by the unit coordinator.

Attendance and class requirements

The Sydney School of Veterinary Science has established attendance guidelines to ensure compliance with accreditation requirements.

DVM students are expected to be present for all scheduled classes and activities to achieve learning outcomes. This includes arriving on time and staying for the duration of each class. Students who fail to attend a minimum of 80% of classes (not including lectures) may not be eligible for reassessment.

In addition to the requirements outlined above, and in accordance with the DVM attendance provisions, DVM students are also required to complete all Required Learning Activities (RLAs) and assessment tasks. If absent for a RLA or assessment, for any reason, students must notify the unit coordinator and apply for a special consideration at the earliest opportunity.

Details on classes and/or assessments identified as a RLA will be available on the Canvas site.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy (Schedule 1).

For more information see guide to grades.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI)

You can use generative AI tools for open assessments. Restrictions on AI use apply to secure, supervised assessments used to confirm if students have met specific learning outcomes.

Refer to the assessment table above to see if AI is allowed, for assessments in this unit and check Canvas for full instructions on assessment tasks and AI use.

If you use AI, you must always acknowledge it. Misusing AI may lead to a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy.

Visit the Current Students website for more information on AI in assessments, including details on how to acknowledge its use.

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.

Academic integrity

The University expects students to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

Our website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. This includes advice on how to avoid common breaches of academic integrity. Ensure that you have completed the Academic Honesty Education Module (AHEM) which is mandatory for all commencing coursework students

Penalties for serious breaches can significantly impact your studies and your career after graduation. It is important that you speak with your unit coordinator if you need help with completing assessments.

Visit the Current Students website for more information on AI in assessments, including details on how to acknowledge its use.

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.

Support for students

The Support for Students Policy reflects the University’s commitment to supporting students in their academic journey and making the University safe for students. It is important that you read and understand this policy so that you are familiar with the range of support services available to you and understand how to engage with them.

The University uses email as its primary source of communication with students who need support under the Support for Students Policy. Make sure you check your University email regularly and respond to any communications received from the University.

Learning resources and detailed information about weekly assessment and learning activities can be accessed via Canvas. It is essential that you visit your unit of study Canvas site to ensure you are up to date with all of your tasks.

If you are having difficulties completing your studies, or are feeling unsure about your progress, we are here to help. You can access the support services offered by the University at any time:

Support and Services (including health and wellbeing services, financial support and learning support)
Course planning and administration
Meet with an Academic Adviser

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Multiple weeks	Foundations of aseptic technique and tissue handling-suturing principles of surgery, antibiotic prophylaxis	Lecture (5 hr)
	Introductory course radiation safety - Xray machine, exposure factors, radiation physics, radiation safety, digital radiography 5 mini lectures	Lecture (2 hr)
	Fundamental therapeutics	Lecture (8 hr)
	Antibacterials, and culture and susceptibility testing	Lecture (6 hr)
Week -01	Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics concepts	Lecture (3 hr)
Week 01	Wound healing principles, wound management and bandaging	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 01	Case studies on understanding drug information	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 02	Case studies on Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 04	Radiation safety Q&A	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 08	Case studies on antimicrobial susceptibility testing	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 08	Parasiticide resistance tutorial	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 12	Drug interactions, adverse reactions, compounding	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 12	Case studies on adjusting drug doses for unwell animals	Tutorial (2 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

The Sydney School of Veterinary Science has established attendance guidelines to ensure compliance with accreditation requirements.

Classes identified as a RLA will be available on the Canvas site.

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. For a 3 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 60-75 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

Detailed information on any required readings may be found on Canvas.

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. Describe and apply surgical principles including aseptic technique, tissue handling, and haemostasis
LO2. Apply wound healing and antimicrobial stewardship principles to development of bandaging and wound management plans
LO3. Explain and apply pharmacologic principles including pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics and fundamentals of therapeutic use
LO4. Apply pharmacologic principles to generation of appropriate therapeutic recommendations for a patient
LO5. Explain and apply principles of radiography to ensure radiation safety

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) - 11. Perform routine procedures, including surgeries, identifying associated indications and contraindications and adjusting the procedures as indicated. 4. Identify and prioritise problems to develop differential diagnoses and a diagnostic plan, then interpret clinical and diagnostic evidence to establish a diagnosis.
	Australasian Veterinary Boards Council (D1Cs) - 11. Perform routine procedures, including surgeries, identifying associated indications and contraindications and adjusting the procedures as indicated. 12. Assess and triage animals in an emergency, perform first aid to stabilise the patient, and refer promptly to appropriate colleagues as needed. 4. Identify and prioritise problems to develop differential diagnoses and a diagnostic plan, then interpret clinical and diagnostic evidence to establish a diagnosis. 6. Develop appropriate treatment and preventive plans and administer appropriate treatments 7. Tailor the diagnostic, treatment, preventive, and control plans when providing veterinary services, considering animal welfare, client expectations and economic contexts. 9. Adapt and apply knowledge and skills to varied scenarios and contexts, including where information is incomplete.
	Australasian Veterinary Boards Council (D1Cs) - 32. Prescribe, dispense and use medicines correctly and prudently, including recording and reporting adverse reactions, in accordance with legislation and current prescription guidelines. 6. Develop appropriate treatment and preventive plans and administer appropriate treatments
	Australasian Veterinary Boards Council (D1Cs) - 32. Prescribe, dispense and use medicines correctly and prudently, including recording and reporting adverse reactions, in accordance with legislation and current prescription guidelines. 6. Develop appropriate treatment and preventive plans and administer appropriate treatments 7. Tailor the diagnostic, treatment, preventive, and control plans when providing veterinary services, considering animal welfare, client expectations and economic contexts. 9. Adapt and apply knowledge and skills to varied scenarios and contexts, including where information is incomplete.
	Australasian Veterinary Boards Council (D1Cs) - 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. 5. Select appropriate diagnostic tests and techniques, including diagnostic imaging. Safely apply diagnostic techniques and safely collect, preserve and transport samples as applicable. Interpret results of diagnostics, accounting for their limitations.

Australasian Veterinary Boards Council (D1Cs) -

Competency code	Taught, Practiced or Assessed	Competency standard
11		Perform routine procedures, including surgeries, identifying associated indications and contraindications and adjusting the procedures as indicated.
12		Assess and triage animals in an emergency, perform first aid to stabilise the patient, and refer promptly to appropriate colleagues as needed.
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.
32		Prescribe, dispense and use medicines correctly and prudently, including recording and reporting adverse reactions, in accordance with legislation and current prescription guidelines.
38		Promote health and safety of patients, clients, colleagues and themselves in the veterinary setting, including applying risk management principles to practice.
4		Identify and prioritise problems to develop differential diagnoses and a diagnostic plan, then interpret clinical and diagnostic evidence to establish a diagnosis.
5		Select appropriate diagnostic tests and techniques, including diagnostic imaging. Safely apply diagnostic techniques and safely collect, preserve and transport samples as applicable. Interpret results of diagnostics, accounting for their limitations.
6		Develop appropriate treatment and preventive plans and administer appropriate treatments
7		Tailor the diagnostic, treatment, preventive, and control plans when providing veterinary services, considering animal welfare, client expectations and economic contexts.
9		Adapt and apply knowledge and skills to varied scenarios and contexts, including where information is incomplete.

Responding to student feedback

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

This is the first time the unit is offered. The unit was developed as part of the revised DVM curriculum following extensive consultation and in response to evolving accreditation requirements.

Additional information

Work, health and safety

Risk assessments are regularly conducted for units that require the completion of compulsory learning activities that may expose students to zoonotic diseases. These assessments aim to identify appropriate risk mitigation controls, such as vaccination against vaccine- preventable zoonoses.

Vaccination against Q fever (Coxiella burnetii) is an inherent requirement for students enrolling in this unit of study. Students must be vaccinated against Q fever before commencing the unit or no later than the first day of the enrolled teaching session. Q fever vaccination is only available in Australia with the vaccination process taking three weeks to complete.

Students must also submit a Q fever Vaccination Declaration upon enrolment.

Students who fail to receive vaccination by the specified deadline and/or submit a Q fever Vaccination Declaration are precluded from practical learning activities and will not be able to satisfactorily complete relevant units of study and/or progress in their course more generally.

Please refer to the University’s website here for more information on student vaccinations.

Disclaimer

Important: the University of Sydney regularly reviews units of study and reserves the right to change the units of study available annually. To stay up to date on available study options, including unit of study details and availability, refer to the relevant handbook.

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

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI)

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Support for students

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

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

VETS6231: Clinical Foundations A

Semester 1, 2026 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI)

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Support for students

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

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