Veterinarians play a major role in the health care of pets, livestock, zoo animals, and sporting and laboratory animals. With high and increasing demand for sustainable animal usage and production which meets health and welfare expectations, our degree makes this a core focus. JCU Veterinary Science students benefit from a range of state-of-the-art facilities, as well as JCU’s unique emphasis on rural and tropical practice. You will acquire the knowledge and skills to diagnose, treat and prevent disease in a wide range of animals including companion animals, farm animals, aquatic species, and native fauna. To complement your theoretical studies, you’ll gain practical, real-world experience throughout the course and with clinical placements in a variety of veterinary hospitals, private practices, laboratories and government agencies around the state and beyond. Successful applicants will require Q fever immunisation and current Queensland First Aid and CPR Certificate before undertaking placement. It is recommended that these requirements be completed by the end of your first semester/teaching period. You will learn in dedicated and high-tech settings including teaching laboratories, JCU Veterinary and Emergency Centre and Hospital on campus, on-site animal yards, JCU working cattle station for livestock production, and JCU Teaching Resource Centre and Large and Small Animal Clinic on the Atherton Tablelands. With JCU’s tropical focus, you will gain specialist knowledge and skills in tropical and rural veterinary settings, plus experience in tropical animal husbandry and aquaculture. JCU Veterinary Science students recently gave a 96 percent satisfaction rate to the course. This was the highest for Vet Science programs in Australia (National 2013 Course Experience Questionnaire), so you can expect a quality educational experience. As well as regular practical work and field trips, you will complete a series of clinical placements in your final two years in rural or urban settings in Queensland, around Australia or even abroad. Students may b required to undertake such placements away from the campus at which they are enrolled, at their own expense. (Note: health professional courses generally involve extensive professional or clinical placements). You will also benefit from JCU’s active partnerships with government agencies and agricultural networks and learn from the latest research. Career opportunities Veterinarians not only work in private veterinary clinics but their expertise is also vital in a range of fields including agriculture, quarantine and public health, as well as pharmacological and biomedical research. Government statistics forecast strong employment growth and earnings for veterinarians. Employment opportunities are diverse and include: Operating or working in private veterinary practice Zoos and wildlife sanctuaries, animal welfare organisations Government departments and agencies in quarantine and biosecurity Industries concerned with animal health such as animal nutrition, animal production (stock and breeding) and pharmaceuticals Research organisations and university teaching (with further study)