Pre-Clinical and Clinical Placements
Why industry placements?
Industry placements form an integral component of the Veterinary degree and must be completed to be eligible for graduation. Placements provide opportunities to gain experience on properties, practicing, under supervision, in veterinary clinics, zoos and various organisations. Placements can either be domestic or international.
Pre-clinical placements
Pre-clinical placements are to be started after successful completion of all 1st year courses and fully completed before 4th year courses start. Students must complete 40 days of industry placements within strict guidelines and must be completed during students holidays.
Clinical placements
Clinical placements are completed in 5th year and are called Extramural Studies (EMS). Clinical placements are where the previous 4 years of learning are put into practice. EMS placements are fully managed by an EMS team and placement request forms are sent to 4th year students early in their fourth year.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is ePortfolio?
An ePortfolio is an online collection of evidence that shows your learning journey over time. The SVS is now using the Chalk&Wire ePortfolio system, which allows you to track your development of professional skills and graduate attributes over time. This ePortfolio is also an assessment software system; upon submission of an assignment or task, evaluation of your performance will be requested. Students can access the system via a login procedure (you will be provided with training and refreshers on how to access and use ePortfolio). You can record cases in your case-log, submit your assignments and reflections, access your assessment results, and much more.
As an ePortfolio user you also have access to 'my ePortfolio': a tool to create new personal ePortfolios to showcase yourself as a professional.
How much time is spent on placement?
Pre-Clinical placement comprises 40 days, distributed between a number of animal production enterprises, with a minimum of 5 days at any one location. Placement is undertaken during the students holiday time.
Clinical placement covers 13 weeks of off-campus learning. The time is allocated to small animal clinics, large animal clinics, mixed practices and the RSPCA for 2 weeks each and an abattoir placement for 1 week. Another 4 weeks are allocated as an Other category where students can choose, in consultation with the EMS team, where they would like to go.
Can I just go anywhere for a placement?
No.
Pre-clinical placement selection must be made from a defined list of enterprises. If you think an enterprise not listed is worthy of inclusion, then it must be brought to the attention of the Pre-Clinical Placements Coordinator.
Clinical placements must be approved by the EMS team prior to actually going on the placement.
Do I contact the enterprise owner?
With Pre-clinical placements, initial contact is made by the student and approval must be gained by the owner before any further steps are undertaken.
Clinical placements arrangements are managed completely by the EMS team. Students are NOT to contact the placement provider until the placement is fully approved and timetabled. There are 2 exceptions to this – Zoo placements and any international placement (except New Zealand). In these cases, the student makes the initial contact to seek approval from the provider. Students advise the EMS team of this and subsequent arrangements are managed by the EMS team.
Do I submit any forms?
Yes. There are separate requirements for clinical and pe-clinical placements. Students will be advised of what is needed.
What if I feel uncomfortable with the Pre-Clinical or Clinical placement after I start?
If you feel threatened in any way, either physically, sexually, verbally or you consider yourself to be in any danger, you should leave immediately and report this to the Pre-Clinical Placement, or EMS Coordinator as soon as possible.
Simply not agreeing with your placement because it is too hot or cold, you don’t like the food or you get your clothes dirty are not acceptable grounds for leaving.
Can I take my friends with me on a Pre-Clinical placement?
No. You cannot take your friends with you because you think it will be fun. This includes family members and/or partners. The only other person that would be allowed to go with you is another student in the same program. The property owner has the final approval to how many students they are willing to take at any one time. Generally, this is a maximum of two. If you want to go with another student, you will need to discuss this with the Pre-Clinical Placement Coordinator before any plans are made..