Outline

Overview

This unit extends students' foundational knowledge and skills for working effectively as a veterinary professional, by introducing key concepts in Practice Management. The unit also builds on and extends students' application of professional competencies introduced in VETS6101 (The Veterinary Professional 1) and VETS6201 (The Veterinary Professional 2) including communication, teamwork, cultural competence, professional reasoning, leadership and selfcare. It utilises a case-based approach to aid understanding of financial, legal and ethical perspectives in the management of problems encountered in Veterinary Practice. Students are given opportunities to review, critically evaluate and present their findings on case studies that reflect real life veterinary challenges. This is supplemented with keynote presentations from professional experts in business, finance and law. Specifically this will facilitate students' preparedness for clinical placements in DVM4 and Clinical Practice beyond graduation. 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. 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 and VETS6201 and VETS6202 and VETS6203 and VETS6204 and VETS6205 and VETS6206 and VETS6207 and VETS6208 and VETS6301 and VETS6302 and VETS6303 and VETS6304 and VETS6305 and VETS6306 and VETS6307
Corequisites ?	VETS6221 and VETS6222
Prohibitions ?	None
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	No

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Ingrid Van Gelderen, ingrid.vangelderen@sydney.edu.au

Assessment

The census date for this unit availability is 1 September 2025

Details
Criteria

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length	Use of AI
Contribution	Active participation in all RLAs 100% participation with Required Learning Activities (RLAs)	0%	Ongoing	Refer to Canvas	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
Q&A following presentation, submission or placement	Group presentation with peer assessment - Part 3 Q&A after presentation	0%	Week 01	Q&A 2 minutes	AI prohibited
Outcomes assessed:
Portfolio or journal	Group presentation with peer assessment - Part 1 - Progress report Written report	5%	Week 01	1 -2 pages	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
Presentation	Group presentation with peer assessment - Part 2 Oral presentation	30%	Week 01	8-minute presentation	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
Evaluation	Group presentation with peer assessment - part 4 Self and peer feedback	5%	Week 01	Up to 1 page	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
Written work	Individual assignment Written task	0%	Week 02	1000 words	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
Written exam ?	Written theory exam Multiple Choice Questions	60%	Week 05	1 hour	AI prohibited
Outcomes assessed:
= hurdle task ? = group assignment ?

Assessment summary

Group work: Submission of pitch and then team presentation with peer and self assessment. Presentation evaluates a case study that demonstrates application of veterinary practice management principles in the workplace.

Written examination: Multiple choice questions evaluating learning outcomes, based on lecture notes, class discussions, online modules, relevant literature and PeerWise questions. Includes writing and rating one meaningful PeerWise question for each module.

A pass grade ≥ 50% for the final exam MUST be achieved and an overall of ≥ 50% grade is required to receive a pass grade for this unit.

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.

Individual assignment: Individual wellness plan designed to achieve balance in a range of dimensions with respect to individual pursuits in veterinary professional practice. This submission must be of a satisfactory standard in order to pass the unit.

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

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.

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

In accordance with the DVM attendance provisions, DVM students are required to complete all Required Learning Activities (RLA’s) and assessment tasks. If absent for any reason, students must notify the UOSC and apply for a special consideration at the earliest opportunity.

Classes 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 2021 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a High distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a Distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

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.

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:

In accordance with the University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date: 1) Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date. 2) 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
Week -01	Introduction to unit and assessment - team presentation planning	Lecture (2 hr)
	Customer experience - marketing and practice branding	Lecture (1 hr)
	Customer experience - customer service + client adherence	Lecture (2 hr)
	Customer experience - influencing customer behaviour and animal welfare	Lecture (1 hr)
	Responsibilities and Professionalism - Veterinary hospital licencing, record keeping	Lecture (1 hr)
	Responsibilities and Professionalism - talking about money	Lecture (1 hr)
	Responsibilities and Professionalism - conflicts of interest	Lecture (1 hr)
	Responsibilities and Professionalism - strategies for ongoing system improvement	Lecture (1 hr)
	Introduction to final year mentoring program	Lecture (1 hr)
	Business finance - veterinary business structures, KPIs and industry benchmarking	Lecture (2 hr)
	Business finance - price setting and managing inventory	Lecture (2 hr)
	Business finance - effective budgeting and financial statements	Lecture (2 hr)
	Group work for team presentations and formative feedback	Workshop (3 hr)
Week 01	Managing others and self - HR and assessing risk	Lecture (3 hr)
	Managing others and self - career development	Lecture (2 hr)
	Managing others and self - self-care strategies	Lecture (1 hr)
	Group 1 - self-care and designing a personal wellbeing plan workshop	Tutorial (2 hr)
	Group 2 - self-care and designing a personal wellbeing plan workshop	Tutorial (2 hr)
	Group 3 - self-care and designing a personal wellbeing plan workshop	Tutorial (2 hr)
	Self-directed group work	Independent study (4 hr)
	Group work for team presentations and formative feedback	Workshop (2 hr)
Week 02	Preparation for veterinary practice	Seminar (4 hr)
Week 07	Preparation for veterinary practice	Seminar (2 hr)

Attendance and class 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.

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.

Students in all years of the DVM are expected to attend all Required Learning Activities (RLAs) (practical classes, tutorials, research workshops) and other sessions as announced on Canvas.

Attendance at RLAs will be monitored using the University’s Student Relationship Engagement System (SRES) or similar. Absence from more than 10% of RLAs for any course may lead to the award of a fail grade for the unit of study.

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.

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. critically evaluate and apply principles derived from management strategies, current legislation, ethical and animal welfare standards to address challenges in diverse veterinary contexts
LO2. design personal wellbeing plan to provide care of the highest standard for self and others in the context of a veterinary professional career.

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) - 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. 33. Engage in self-directed learning, continuing professional development and career planning, acknowledging the need for self- care in the context of maintaining competency. 37. Demonstrate fundamental knowledge of the organisation, management, business principles, legislation related to veterinary business(es), and personal financial management. 7. Tailor the diagnostic, treatment, preventive, and control plans when providing veterinary services, considering animal welfare, client expectations and economic contexts. World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) Day One Competencies - 2.9. Veterinary legislation and ethics
	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.

Responding to student feedback

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

Thank you for your feedback. A report showing the distribution of responses for each question is available for your information. Key themes revealed from the 35 responses (26% response rate) related to the relevance and future value of topics covered in this unit, the well-organised structure of delivery and assessment, the use of PeerWise and the self-care / wellness and financial topics covered in this unit. A summary of feedback will be communicated to DVM3 students in 2025 and will inform future revisions of this unit.

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 week two (2) 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.

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

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

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

VETS6308: Veterinary Practice Management

Semester 2, 2025 [Normal day] - Camden, 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

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