Veterinary Professional Practice (VETS5029)

Course overview

The professional roles and responsibilities of veterinarians to animals, clients, community and to their profession. In this course, students undertake a range of externally placed Clinical Extramural Work Integrated Learning (WIL) opportunities and reflect on their development as clinicians during these placements.

There are several components linked to VETS5029. Below is a brief overview of each:

Clinical Extramural WIL Placementsﾠ(December 2024 - November 2025)

Students will complete 10 weeks (typically a 5 or 6 day week of 40 hours) of Clinical Extramural WIL placement. Timetables for these placements will be available via the online schedule.

WIL requirements for 2025 include the following: Small Animal WIL (2 weeks), and Career Enhancement/Special Interest WIL (8 weeks). Zoo/Exotics placements are limited to six weeks. It is preferred that students complete five 2-week placements. If a desired placement has a minimum attendance of greater than 2 weeks, please discuss this with the SVS Placements team. Students must complete a minimum of FOUR placements.ﾠStudents will be graded on their performance as Pass/Fail.

Clinical Extramural WIL Placement Case Log (December 2024 - November 2025)

Students will log cases seen on placements to assist with learning and reflective practice. Full instructions and rubric will be provided via the course Blackboard site.

Conference Weekﾠ(23-27 June 2025)

Students will attend, and contribute to a week-long 'conference' at Gatton Campus. As part of this week, students will submit an abstract and deliver a short presentation based on a common clinical presentation seen in general veterinary practice. A range of sign-up practical hands-on workshops will also be available for students to attend in addition to other activities (for example, Abattoir Tour as per BVSc(Hons) program requirements). Attendance throughout the week is mandatory.

Preparation for Professional Practice Reflectionsﾠ(January - September 2025)

Students will compile reflections and future plans related to their experiences on clinical rotations. This activity will be largely self-directed, with assignment instructions provided as guidance.

Skills List (Dec 2024 - November 2025)

Across the year students will log a range of key clinical skills. The Skills List assessment task maps students’ acquisition of a core list of clinical skills. It is the responsibility of the student to fulfil the requirements of this Skills List hurdle by actively engaging with opportunities to practise and demonstrate skills whilst on Rotations (internal) and Clinical Extramural WIL (external) placements, i.e. in any course in 5th year. The Skills List is presented in a simplified form on Blackboard, but will be recorded using the MyProgress eWBA platform.

Course requirements

Assumed background

Completion of all courses from Years 1-4 in the BVSc(Hons) program

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

The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public 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, 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) 

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 [VETS5029] 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., [VETS5029] – small animal clinic) 
• 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 Semester Address, as recorded in your mySI-net Personal Details. 

Aims and outcomes

VETS5029 is focused on veterinary professional practice. In this course, students will explore different approaches to clinical veterinary practice and place them in context. They will get a greater sense of ‘common’ versus ‘uncommon’ presentations and procedures as they rotate through a variety of Work Integrated Learning (WIL) clinical placements. Students will work through a self-directed assignment to reflect on clinical their experiences, veterinary practice organisation and management, common ethical dilemmas and other work-related challenges. Students will attend the capstone ‘Conference Week’ activity, held at Gatton Campus, contributing to the event with a presentation designed to teach their colleagues about a common clinical presentation seen in veterinary practice in Australia. Conference Week will also cover a range of topics to assist students with imminent graduation, well-being and transition to veterinary practice.

Themes explored include:

• Veterinary practice norms including common case presentations and procedures seen in general practice
• Professional identity and roles of veterinarians, practical ethical decision-making
• Transition to veterinary practice, well-being and career planningﾠ
• Reflective practice and lifelong learning
• Clinical consultation and examination skills
• Communication with peers and the public

Learning outcomes

After successfully completing this course you should be able to:

Assessment

Assessment summary

A hurdle is an assessment requirement that must be satisfied in order to receive a specific grade for the course. Check the assessment details for more information about hurdle requirements.

Assessment details

Clinical Extramural WIL Placement Performance

• Hurdle

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

Task description

Hurdle requirements

Submission guidelines

At the end of each 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.

Clinical Extramural WIL Placement Case Log

• Hurdle
• Online

Mode

Written

Category

Notebook/ Logbook

Weight

20% 4 Case Logs worth 5% each

Due date

Case Logs are due on the Placement End Date (as recorded in InPlace) of each Clinical Extramural WIL Placement.

Other conditions

Work integrated learning.

See the conditions definitions

Task description

Hurdle requirements

Submission guidelines

Submit your Case Log (as recorded on the Word document template) via InPlace at the end of each Clinical Extramural WIL placement. The submission link will become available on your InPlace dashboard from the Start Date of each 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.

Preparation for Professional Practice Reflection

Mode

Written

Category

Paper/ Report/ Annotation

Weight

30%

Due date

7/10/2025 9:00 am

Task description

Submission guidelines

Submission via Turnitin Blackboard

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

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.

Conference Week - New Graduate Tips and Tricks

• In-person

Mode

Oral

Category

Presentation

Weight

30%

Due date

6/05/2025 9:00 am

Abstract due 6 May 2025

Conference Week timetabled for 23-27June 2025

Other conditions

Peer assessed.

See the conditions definitions

Task description

Submission guidelines

Abstract submission via Turnitin Blackboard

Deferral or extension

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

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

Task description

Exam details

Submission guidelines

Deferral or extension

You may be able to defer this exam.

Skills List

• Hurdle
• Identity Verified

Mode

Activity/ Performance

Category

Notebook/ Logbook

Weight

Pass/Fail

Due date

16/11/2025 2:00 pm

Learning outcomes

L01, L04, L05, L06, L07

Task description

Hurdle requirements

Submission guidelines

Will be recorded in-clinic using the MyProgress eWBA platform.

Deferral or extension

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

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 receive a passing grade for VETS5029, students must score at least 50% overall and;

• achieve a PASS in the Clinical Extramural WIL Placement Performance assessment task; and
• achieve a PASS in the Clinical Extramural WIL Placement Case Log submissions; and
• achieve a PASS in the Skills List assessment task

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 category may 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) and 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

Additional assessment information

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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

Find the required and recommended resources for this course on the UQ Library website.

Additional learning resources information

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 absences (i.e., medical certificate, statutory declaration) no more than 48 hours from when the absence has 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 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 - 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
• Student Travel Procedure