Companion Animal Placements

Compassion • Respect • Professionalism • Teamwork

The Ballarat Veterinary Practice is committed to providing quality educational companion animal placement opportunities to students studying in the Veterinary Industry.

For information on what to expect working in the veterinary field in Ballarat, have a look at our website – Vet Life in Ballarat.

The Experience

Participants in the Externship Program are part of a well-designed training program, and will experience the typical caseload of a large regional companion animal practice.

As a large regional practice, we see a diverse range of interesting and exciting cases, and we only refer if we absolutely have to. For this reason, participants in the BVP/EVH Externship Program will receive exposure and opportunities not seen in many metropolitan clinics.

BVP / EVH’s Externship Program is participatory in nature and not merely a “shadowing” experience. The student vet will be encouraged to actively take part in hospital rounds and case discussions. We encourage sharing of thoughts and questions about cases and appreciate the fresh perspective that you will bring.

Because our clinic rarely refers and the caseload is diverse, we feel that the most value will be gained by externs in our practice from week-five onwards, when there is the capability for a more hands-on experience.

Our goal is to equip externs with the tools they need to learn and grow!

• Gathering histories
• Performing complete physical exams
• Obtaining diagnostic samples
• Acquiring and interpreting radiographs
• Developing diagnostic and therapeutic plans
• Scrubbing into and assisting with surgeries
• Performing simple elective surgeries on stable
• Patients under supervision (e.g. desexing and dentistry)
• Anaesthesia and sedation
• Medical oncology and chemotherapy
• Assisting in the management of medical cases
• Providing wellness care

We also hope that you will see this as an opportunity to:

• Develop your client communication skills
• Cultivate situational awareness within the emotional and economic context of a consultation
• Polish your clinical/technical skills
• Learn about BVP/EVH’s approach to business.

Program Guidelines

• The duration of BVP/EVH externships vary according to the student’s program, but are most often two weeks.
• Students will be provided with accommodation at our expense.
• The schedule is usually 8:00am to 6:00pm Monday to Friday.
• Students are required to be professionally presented, punctual and maintain a professional demeanour at all times.
• Availability of places within the program may be limited based on the number of students, staffing and space restrictions, so some flexibility around timing may be required.
• Students of the Externship Program will be required to complete BVP/EVH’s Occupational Health and Safety Assessment prior to commencing the program, and are required to follow BVP/EVH clinic policies and procedures.
• Any information that visiting students are privy to, such as client and patient information, must be treated with strict confidentiality.
• Visiting students are covered by the insurance of their academic institution, and must make themselves familiar with the details of their insurance cover.
• Visiting students are encouraged to make the HR department aware of any serious medical conditions (e.g. anaphylaxis or epilepsy) which may affect them and any medication or treatment which may be necessary.

Interested students should email us at careers@bvp.com.au with a resume and cover letter outlining which intake period they are applying for and indicating their preferred placement dates.

Due to the quantity of requests, verbal applications will not be accepted at the clinic.