Construction begins on State's first Vet School

Veterinary Science

Construction will begin this month on the State's first School of Veterinary Science, at the University of Adelaide's Roseworthy Campus.

The $37 million building project - funded by Commonwealth ($15m) and State ($5m) governments and the University ($17m) - will see the construction of a new 5000 square metre building that will house teaching laboratories, a clinical skills laboratory, an e-learning centre, a pathology teaching and diagnostic suite and a veterinary teaching hospital at the University's Roseworthy Campus. The project also includes the refurbishment of existing lecture theatres, laboratories and offices.

With upgrades already underway, work to construct the new building will commence in March 2009 and is scheduled for completion in 2010.

The University has appointed Hansen Yuncken as the managing contractor and Hassell as the principal consultant.

"This building project is a significant part of the University's development program, which will see more than $400 million being invested in state-of-the-art research and teaching facilities on the North Terrace, Waite and Roseworthy campuses by 2010," said the University's Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor James McWha.

"Adding veterinary science facilities to the Roseworthy Campus helps cement its place as a leader in science, research and innovation for the State's animal health and agricultural industries."

The new Vet School had its first intake of 47 students in 2008 for its three-year Pre-Veterinary undergraduate Science degree and has since received about 400 applications for places in 2009's intake. To complete their training, graduates of this degree program will then study for a three-year postgraduate veterinary science degree. There will be 70 places a year for the postgraduate veterinary science degree starting in 2011.

Head of the School of Veterinary Science Professor Gail Anderson said veterinary students at the University of Adelaide would have a broad exposure to all aspects of veterinary science, including livestock production, equine health, aquaculture and biosecurity, companion and exotic species.

"South Australia offers alternative opportunities for veterinarians, including involvement in the vital and expanding aquaculture industry," Professor Anderson said. "In particular, we hope this School will address the serious shortage of vets in South Australia.

"The new facilities will enable students to utilise teaching resources that are among the best of their kind anywhere in the world. Connection to the SABRENet network will facilitate video link learning with various regional partners, while world-class audio visual facilities in our labs and surgery suites will enable remote teaching for students. Our curriculum is integrated to allow early introduction of clinical material to the students so they see the relevance of their basic science training from year one on."

Story by Olivia Jones