VETS4331 2010 Animal Husbandry Placements
Preference Entering, Communicating with Properties
Students are not to contact any property on the Faculty Database without prior consent from the Faculty.
When a vacation period is approaching, the Faculty will send out a list of all properties available for that period. Students then enter preferences through the Student Administration System (Virtual Veterinary Campus).
A random ballot allocates placements. Third year students will have first preference, followed by second year.
Once a placement has been confirmed, no cancellations will be accepted. You are required to make a courtesy call to the contact person once your placement has been confirmed and then again, 2 weeks before commencing the placement and then once more the week prior to attending.
Students are permitted to make their own arrangements for practical work on commercial properties or stables which are not currently on the Faculty database as part of their discretionary/elective placements
2nd Year 2008 students can begin placements from January 2009.
January 2009
Sites will advise of availability to host by: Tuesday 25th November 2008
Preference entering opens from 10am Tuesday 25th November until 9am Monday 1st December
Allocations advised by Friday 5th December
Students have until 9am Monday 8th December to confirm/reject offers
Further allocation rounds will occur after this time. You will be advised via email when this will occur – please check daily.
Students will be advised by email between Monday 15th and Friday 19th of placement confirmations.
February 2009
Sites will advise of availability to host by: Monday 5th January 2009
Preference entering opens from 10am Monday 5th January until 5pm Wednesday 7th January
Allocations advised by Friday 9th January
Students have until 9am Monday 12th January to confirm/reject offers
Further allocation rounds will occur after this time. You will be advised via email when this will occur – please check daily.
Students will be advised by email between Monday 19th and Friday 23rd of placement confirmations.
Administrative Documents
Prior to starting a placement, you will be required to complete either a 'Placement Allocations Form' for database site placement or a 'Work Placement Information Sheet' for non-database site placements when undertaking Electives. These forms outline your placement, travel and accommodation arrangements, as well as your emergency contact details.
After each placement, you are to fill in a Self Assessment / Skills List on the Virtual Campus along with a placement feedback form. The property owner completes a Supervisors Report and assesses you on a particular set of skills.
On commencement of all placements students will be required to sign a Site Contract with their supervisor. A copy of the contract will be sent to the placement prior to the student attending. A copy of the signed contract is to be returned to the Faculty Office. The Site Contract outlines your agreement to abide by a professional code of conduct.
Code of Conduct While on Farms
Property owners and their staff always look for enthusiasm from the students and a keenness to learn and to understand their situation.
Be aware that drought situations are affecting many properties. When you arrive at a property, you need to find out from the owner, what the current situation is on their property concerning water and what water policies they have in place.
Appropriate Attire
It is an issue of occupational health and safety and professional attitude that appropriate attire be worn when attending extramural placements. On farms, overall and safety shoes and when necessary examination gloves are appropriate. Insurance coverage should not be compromised by failure to be suitably equipped for the work that you are undertaking. When attending external veterinary practices, a clean white laboratory coat and closed shoes are appropriate.