University of Melbourne Magazine

Faculty of Veterinary Science Open Day 2014 — a great success

Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences
    • An Open Day visitor checks out the cattle display set up by the Bovine Appreciation Group with the help of a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine student.

    An Open Day visitor checks out the cattle display set up by the Bovine Appreciation Group with the help of a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine student.

    More than 9000 people visited the University of Melbourne’s Faculty of Veterinary Science and Veterinary Hospital Open Day in Werribee on Sunday, March 16.

    Prospective students, families, and clients of the hospital had the unique opportunity to tour the grounds as well as discover what’s involved in becoming a Veterinarian.

    Visitors were treated to demonstrations from all services at the hospital, the Werribee Dog Obedience School and Polly the pig from Edgar’s Mission; hands on experiences with Darryl’s Farm and Reptile Education Victoria; and a glimpse into the world of animal disease with displays from the Parasitology and Pathology units showcasing the wonderful and the peculiar.

    Face-to-face career advice was on hand and lectures ran throughout the day covering everything from horses and laminitis to how vets find cures for new disease, and the relationship between animal and human diseases and medicine.

    University of Melbourne Chancellor Elizabeth Alexander AM attended a special luncheon hosted by the Dean at the Open Day to present scholarships to students of the veterinary school. Channel 9 newsreader Peter Hitchener was also in attendance as an ambassador of the Faculty.

    Dean of Veterinary Science Professor Ken Hinchcliff said Open Day was the Faculty’s annual opportunity to showcase the excellent teaching, research and clinical work that takes place inside the Veterinary Clinical Centre campus and Veterinary Hospital. “Open Day is the one day of the year members of the public and prospective students can really discover what happens behind the scenes at the faculty and our world-class veterinary teaching hospital.”

    “Open Day showcases not only the Faculty of Veterinary Science, but also the veterinary profession and in doing so highlights the critical role the Faculty, and profession, plays in guarding animal and human health, animal welfare and our food,” he said.

    “It is a fantastic opportunity for us to educate the public on the work we do and to speak with prospective students about the wonderful careers available to those with a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the University of Melbourne.”

    Third and fourth year students from the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine helped with the information stands, student BBQ, traffic management and directing visitors around the precinct.

    The University of Melbourne’s Veterinary Hospital cares for more than 20,000 animals every year.