Rural Veterinary Practice - Livestock Medicine (VETS5024)

Course overview

Students develop their clinical skills in rural veterinary practice, with an emphasis on livestock medicine, through participation in the clinical activities of the School of Veterinary Science clinical facilities and on external clinical placement. There is a focus on both individual animal and flock/herd health.

The VETS5024 Rural Veterinary Practice - Livestock Medicine Rotation is a 4 week clinical work integrated learning placement consisting of two parts.

The 4 weeks of clinical placementﾠis designed to develop competencies required to provide veterinary services to livestock producers, rural communities and production animal systems. To attain these competenciesﾠthis course develops the knowledge, understanding, and clinical skills required to investigate and manage animal health, welfare, and performance problems affecting individual livestock and those affecting managementﾠgroups, herds or flocks of livestock.

Part A

Students will attend an assigned 2 week Clinical Extramural Work Integrated Learning (WIL) Placement (External).

This placement incorporates a range of clinical activities to build veterinary skills and knowledge in clinical practice. Students may attend small animal cases during this placement. However, the focus should be directed to production animal cases - ruminants, chickens, camelids and pigs. 

Part B

Students will attend a 2 week Clinical Internal Work Integrated Learning (WIL) Placement (Rotation) with the Production Animal Service (PAS) at the University of Queensland (UQ) Gatton campus.

During clinical placement at PAS, students will be given primary responsibility for investigating and managing clinical cases during the rotation and will be expected to make professional decisions and demonstrate the Day-one competencies expected of a recently graduated veterinarian.

Course requirements

Prerequisites

You'll need to complete the following courses before enrolling in this one:

VETS4010, VETS4022, VETS4035, VETS4034, VETS4040

Restrictions

Enrolment restricted to Bachelor of Veterinary Science (Honours) students.

Course contact

Course staff

Timetable

Additional timetable information

Clinical Work Integrated Learning (WIL) Placement Schedule

Prior to enrolment in the final year of the Bachelor of Veterinary Science (Honours) program, you will be allocated a schedule of Clinical Work Integrated Learning (WIL) placements in UQ’s placement management system, InPlace. A condition of your enrolment in 5th-year courses with a Clinical WIL placement requirement is the completion of all scheduled WIL placements, including internal and external WIL placements, as per your allocated InPlace schedule. Once published, variations to your InPlace schedule can only be approved by the School of Veterinary Science Chief Examiner via a Deferred Examination Request. Variation requests will be considered in line with the conditions outlined in the UQ deferred examination policy. Deferring an exam - my.UQ - University of Queensland.

Acceptable grounds for a request to vary your schedule include:

• Medical grounds
• University-sanctioned commitments e.g., registered elite athlete/performer
• Compassionate grounds e.g., death or serious illness of a family member or close relative

Schedule variation requests will NOT be considered for the following reasons:

• Birthdays, weddings, and other cultural or social events
• Pre-booked holidays – you should not make any travel or vacation plans at any time during the full calendar year of the final year of your program

To request a change to your schedule, submit a deferred assessment request via mySI-net Requests and include documentary evidence of the reason for your request.

Clinical Extramural WIL Placements (EXTERNAL)

All Clinical Extramural WIL Placements must be self-sourced in line with the placeholder dates in your InPlace schedule.

Self-sourced placements must be registered via the [VETS5024] Self Placement link on your InPlace dashboard within the following timeframes:

• A minimum of four (4) weeks prior to the placement start date for domestic placements (within Australia).
• A minimum of six (6) weeks prior to the placement start date for international placements (outside Australia) – more than 6 weeks’ notice is preferred.

If you require assistance sourcing an external placement, contact vetenquiries@uq.edu.au to seek support from the SVS Placements Team. Include the following information in your request:

• Placement dates (as per the placeholder in your InPlace schedule)
• Course code and any specific placement requirements (e.g., [VETS5024] – mixed animal practice)
• Locations other than your normal semester residence in SI-net where you have access to free accommodation (e.g., staying with family or friends)
• Distance you can travel daily for your placement
• Interest / ability to relocate for the placement and support yourself with paid accommodation
• The type of clinic experience you are seeking for this placement (e.g., emergency, specialist, primary care)

If there are fewer than four (4) weeks remaining until the start date of a placeholder in your schedule, and you have not registered a self-sourced placement for these dates, the SVS Placements Team will allocate you to a Clinical Extramural WIL Placement at a site within reasonable driving distance of your Australian Semester Address*, as recorded in your mySI-net Personal Details.

*The SVS Placements Team will provide assistance with sourcing placements within Australia only. All international placements are self-sourced by the student and subject to approval by the Course Coordinator and Head of School.

Pre-placement requirements

On the first day of the 2-week PAS rotation, students on this rotation will meet at UQVETS Production Animal Service (PAS), building 8163, Gatton Campus at 8:00am for their clinic induction or as directed before the start of the rotation.

Additional Information

The placements do not function as a four-week block but consist of two parts that function separately. Students will be rostered centrally to attend placements via InPlace.

Students on external placement must contact their allocated veterinary clinic 1 week before the scheduled placement to establish start times and required materials.

During the PAS and external clinical placements, students may be required to work with multiple animals and on several premises on any given day. As such, hygiene and maintaining biosecurity are priorities. To maintain these requirements, students must bring with them at least 3 pairs of clean overalls, work boots and rubber boots in preparation for attending clinical placement.

Clinics are not equipped to provide overalls to students, consequently, failure to attend visits due to not having clean PPE could result in incompletion or failure of the placement or rotation.

When on placement or rotation, students may be required to attend after-hours veterinary calls.

Please refer to the induction documents on the VETS5024 Blackboard page, where further details regarding rotation expectations and assessment details are provided. Students must work through induction materials on Blackboard before starting the placement or rotation.

See Section 8 Learning Activities > Additional Learning Activity Information for more information about Attendance and Absence.

Aims and outcomes

The two components of the Rural Veterinary Practice - Livestock Medicine will provide undergraduate veterinary students with a sound understanding of the role of veterinarians in production animal practice. Students will gain the necessary skills and understandingﾠto deliver veterinary services required by livestock producers and rural communities. A major aim of the course is to provide students with a practical understanding of the approach to investigating and managing production animal medicine problems not only as individual cases but also at a herd/flock level. The rotation will focus on developing student's abilities to make practical evidence-based decisions about the diagnosis and management of clinical cases.

Learning outcomes

After successfully completing this course you should be able to:

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment details

UQ VETS Gatton Production Animal Service (PAS) - Clinical Internal Rotation

• In-person

Mode

Activity/ Performance

Category

Placement

Weight

40%

Due date

Students will submit a minimum of 3 feedback forms per week of the rotation. 

Other conditions

Work integrated learning.

See the conditions definitions

Learning outcomes

L01, L02, L03, L04

Task description

Submission guidelines

Submit your work through the MyProgress App or ePAD. Assessor to sign off or email for later approval.

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

If all required days of the PAS Clinical Internal Rotation cannot be completed in the scheduled time due to unforeseen circumstances, the student must request an extension via my.UQ My Requests to arrange for the placement to be rescheduled by the Placements Team. Note that it may not be possible to reschedule the placement prior to the end of year results release, in which case completion of the BVSc(Hons) program will be delayed.

Late submission

You will receive a mark of 0 if this assessment is submitted late.

• Failure to submit on time without extension results in zero marks awarded for that activity
• Forms will not be accepted if less than 4 criteria are not included
• Forms are to be submitted to a range of different veterinary mentors over the 2-week placement

Case Management Scenarios Exam

• In-person
• Online

Mode

Written

Category

Examination

Weight

20%

Due date

The exam will be held in the last week of the UQ VETS Gatton PAS Internal Rotation 

Learning outcomes

L01, L02, L03

Task description

Exam details

Submission guidelines

Attend on the day of the assessment.

The exam will only be available in Inspera Assessment for the duration of your exam. You will not be permitted to click START until directed to do so by your Exam Invigilator.

You will submit your exam by clicking ‘Submit Now’. Once you have clicked ‘Submit Now’ you will not be able to access the exam.  So do not click submit until you are sure you do not want to make any further changes.

When the exam window has closed, you will be directed to the Summary page where you must click ‘Submit Now’. If you do not click ‘Submit Now’, you will not be able to exit Safe Exam Browser. You will not be able to access the exam after the exam window has closed.

Deferral or extension

You may be able to defer this exam.

Clinical Extramural WIL Placement Case Log

• Online

Mode

Written

Category

Notebook/ Logbook

Weight

5%

Due date

Case Log is due on the Placement End Date (as recorded in InPlace) of the VETS5024 Clinical Extramural WIL Placement.

Other conditions

Work integrated learning.

See the conditions definitions

Learning outcomes

L01, L02, L03, L04

Task description

Submission guidelines

Submit your Case Log (as recorded on the Word document template) via InPlace at the end of your Clinical Extramural WIL placement. The submission link will become available on your InPlace dashboard from the Start Date of the placement, and can also be accessed via the 'Survey/Assessments' tab on InPlace.

Deferral or extension

You cannot defer or apply for an extension for this assessment.

Late submission

You will receive a mark of 0 if this assessment is submitted late.

The submission link will close 28 days following the Placement End Date (as recorded in InPlace) - submission after this time is not possible.

Clinical Extramural WIL Placement Performance

• In-person

Mode

Activity/ Performance

Category

Placement

Weight

Pass/Fail

Due date

Submitted by industry placement partner at the end of each placement

Other conditions

Work integrated learning.

See the conditions definitions

Learning outcomes

L01, L02, L03, L04

Task description

Submission guidelines

At the end of the placement, UQ will send a request via email to your industry placement partner supervisor to complete an assessment on your performance in the workplace. Supervisors will submit this report directly to UQ as per instructions in the email. The formal feedback will be released to you following review by UQ.

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

If all required days of the Clinical Extramural WIL Placement cannot be completed in the scheduled time due to unforeseen circumstances, the student must request an extension via my.UQ My Requests to arrange for the placement to be rescheduled by the Placements Team. Note that it may not be possible to reschedule the placement prior to the end of year results release, in which case completion of the BVSc(Hons) program will be delayed.

Late submission

SVS Placements Team will follow up with industry placement partners to retrieve this assessment. Students do not need to take any action.

Case Presentation

• In-person
• Online

Mode

Oral

Category

Presentation

Weight

15%

Due date

To be submitted within 4 weeks of completing the placement where you attended the case. 

Other conditions

Student specific, Time limited.

See the conditions definitions

Learning outcomes

L01, L02, L03, L04

Task description

Submission guidelines

Recorded Case Presentations will be submitted through the VETS5024 Blackboard page. 

VETS5024 eLearning Blackboard page, click on Assessments, click on Case Presentation folder, click on Submit your Case Presentation Video here.

Follow the link for instructions on how to submit a video assignment with EchoVidoe (Original). Submit a video assignment with EchoVideo (Original) - eLearning - University of Queensland

If concerns are noted with the recorded presentation submitted, a live presentation may be requested at the coordinator’s discretion.  

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

The maximum extension allowed is 7 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.

Information on applying for an extension can be found here: my.UQ Applying for an extension. Extension applications must be received by the assessment due date and time.

Late submission

You will receive a mark of 0 if this assessment is submitted late.

Case Presentations received 4 weeks after attending the case will not be marked. 

Capstone Examination

• Identity Verified
• In-person
• Online

Mode

Written

Category

Examination

Weight

20%

Due date

Second End of Semester Exam Period

8/11/2025 - 22/11/2025

Other conditions

Time limited.

See the conditions definitions

Learning outcomes

L01, L02, L03

Task description

Exam details

Submission guidelines

Deferral or extension

You may be able to defer this exam.

Late submission

You will receive a mark of 0 if this assessment is submitted late.

Course grading

Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.

Additional course grading information

Attendance and absence

Attendance is required at all rostered shifts during each clinical rotation, and forms part of the professionalism criteria on the assessment tasks for each rotation.

• Students are expected to remain until all cases are up-to-date and treated.
• Students must take appropriate breaks as required (at least 10 minutes’ break every two hours) to ensure health and wellbeing.
• Students should check with their rotation supervisor prior to taking a break or leaving for the day.

All students MUST follow the instructions in the Learning Activities > Additional Learning Activities Information section of this course profile to notify of any absence

Grade calculations

When rounding final marks for grade calculations, part marks of <0.5 will be ROUNDED DOWN to the nearest whole number, and part marks of >/= 0.5 will be ROUNDED UP to the nearest whole number. 

To pass VETS5024

• achieve a minimum of 50% overall

Rotation Performance Assessment and FALP

Students who receive a “Does not meet standard,” in any category, will be required to undertake a “Formalised Additional Learning Plan” (FALP). A FALP is tailored to the individual student to provide opportunities to improve on and/or demonstrate achievement of the learning objective not met in the performance assessment. ﾠ

• The FALP may include a repeat of up to 50% of the total rotation time for students who receive a “Does not meet standard” in one or two categories and up to 100% for students who receive a “Does not meet standard” for more than two categories.
• FALPs may also include clinical case scenarios, written assignments, HUB skills demonstrations, or oral viva-type examinations. ﾠ
• Upon completion of a FALP, and demonstration of satisfactory performance the mark in that category, the mark in the related categoryﾠmay be adjusted to no greater than 1.0 ("Meets standard").
• If the remediation is judged, by the course coordinator, to be unsuccessful, it remains a “Does not meet standard”, the grade remains a zero in that category,ﾠand the student will formally fail the rotation and the course. Students who fail the course may be eligible for a supplementary assessment.

Details of the FALP will be recorded in the online marking platform, written by the Course Coordinator in collaboration with the student. It will clearly state the deficiency, remediation required and time commitment. The student, in consultation with the Course Coordinator, will be booked in for additional learning as required by the plan by the SVS administration team. The plan should be completed, if possible, no later than one week before the final grade upload for graduation in the current year. Students must make themselves available when additional learning is offered.

If the plan cannot be completed before grade upload, students will be awarded an INC (Incomplete grade)ﾠand may miss graduation for that year.

Supplementary assessment

Supplementary assessment is available for this course.

Should you fail a course with a grade of 3, you may be eligible for supplementary assessment. Refer to my.UQ for information on supplementary assessment and how to apply. 

Supplementary assessment provides an additional opportunity to demonstrate you have achieved all the required learning outcomes for a course.  

If you apply and are granted supplementary assessment, the type of supplementary assessment set will consider which learning outcome(s) have not been met.  

Supplementary assessment can take any form (such as a written report, oral presentation, examination or other appropriate assessment) and may test specific learning outcomes tailored to the individual student, or all learning outcomes. 

To receive a passing grade of 3S4, you must obtain a mark of 50% or more on the supplementary assessment

Learning resources

You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.

Library resources

Library resources are available on the UQ Library website.

Other course materials

Additional learning resources information

A comprehensive set of learning resources has been loaded onto the VETS5024 Blackboard site. Students should review these before commencing the rotation, and during the rotation. Additionally, revision of the textbooks recommended for VETS4034, VETS4035 and VETS4040 is encouraged.

SSWS + UQU

Maintaining a work-life balance and seeking help early is crucial for successful university studies. UQ Student Support and Wellbeing Services (SSWS) and the Student Union (UQU) offer numerous resources for UQ students. Student Services provides various mindfulness programs and counselling services to boost confidence and improve overall physical and mental wellbeing. UQU also offers a range of support, welfare, and wellbeing resources.

For immediate assistance, please call the 24/7 UQ Counselling and Crisis Line at 1300 851 998.

The Hub

The Student Clinical Skills Hub is a purpose-built, state-of-the-art self-directed learning facility located centrally in the School (John Mahon (8105), Room 101) with two main areas and an online resource community available for all veterinary students.

The Hub has a lab where students can practice their clinical skills using standard veterinary equipment, on simulators and/or models in conjunction with supporting audio-visual resources and a smaller communications suite with two working consult rooms, a viewing room and a debriefing space.

The Hub aims to provide a safe, authentic, self-directed learning environment where students can practice their clinical skills according to their competence, beyond the scheduled contact hours of their programs and further enhance their capacity for self-directed, lifelong learning. As BVSc5 students, you will have swipe card access to the Hub from 6am-10pm, 7 days a week from December of BVSc4. See the Hub's Blackboard organisation for induction and OH&S requirements for access.

If you cannot access the community or have other questions, please get in touch with the Hub Coordinator via svs-hub@uq.edu.au or ext 15046.

Learning activities

The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.

Additional learning activity information

Attendance at Clinical WIL placements 

Clinical WIL placements are a compulsory component of the final year of the Bachelor of Veterinary Science (Honours) program. Attendance at all Clinical WIL placements as per your InPlace schedule is expected, and full attendance is required to be eligible to pass the course. The requirements for attendance will be communicated via the course Blackboard site and shift times will be advised by the Course Coordinator / Rotation Supervisor (internal placements) or the Placement Supervisor (external placements). 

Absence from clinical placements 

Attendance at a clinical placement is treated in the same way as a course assessment item. Acceptable reasons for absence from clinical placement are in line with the Acceptable reasons for an extension to assessment due date. 

In the event you are unable to attend a clinical placement due to illness or other exceptional circumstances, you must take ALL the following steps: 

• Notify your placement site prior to your shift start time by phone or email; AND 
• Email the relevant Course Coordinator and svs-studentabsence@uq.edu.au prior to your shift start time; AND 
• Submit documentary evidence for your absence (i.e., medical certificate, statutory declaration) no more than 48 hours from when the absence occurred to svs-studentabsence@uq.edu.au. 

Rescheduling missed day/s 

To make up for the lost time resulting from your absence to meet the placement requirements of your course, the following options are available and will depend on the duration/timing of your absence. 

Option 1: Make up day/s 

If it is possible to schedule and complete the required make up day/s within the existing dates of the scheduled placement, this can be arranged directly with your Placement Supervisor/Course Coordinator and ‘resolved’ within the scheduled placement. 

Option 2: Extension 

If it is not possible to schedule and complete the required day/s within the existing scheduled dates, you must apply for an extension to your placement dates via the my.UQ Extension to Assessment Due Date process to arrange for the make up day/s to be scheduled at a later time. 

If approved, the SVS Placements Team will liaise with the placement site and adjust your InPlace schedule as required. Where possible*, the make up day/s will be scheduled to occur within a holiday period in your schedule. 

Option 3: Deferral 

If you are absent for the entire scheduled placement or have missed enough day/s to require rescheduling of the entire placement, you must apply for deferral of your placement via the mySI-net Deferring an exam process, to be considered by the SVS Chief Examiner. 

If approved, the SVS Placements Team will liaise with the placement site and adjust your InPlace schedule as required. Where possible*, the deferred placement will be scheduled to occur within a holiday period in your schedule. 

*Options 2 and 3: Possible delayed graduation 

Scheduling make up days or deferred placements within the same academic year will depend on the capacity of the placement site (internal or external) and the student’s individual InPlace schedule. 

In some cases, it may not be possible to schedule make up day/s or reschedule the placement prior to the end of year results release, which may result in delayed completion of the course and program requirements and potentially affect your eligibility to graduate. 

Policies and procedures

University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:

• Student Code of Conduct Policy
• Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy and Procedure
• Assessment Procedure
• Examinations Procedure
• Reasonable Adjustments for Students Policy and Procedure

Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.

You'll also need to be aware of the following policies and procedures while completing this course:

• Fitness to Practise Policy
• Work Integrated Learning and Work Experience Policy