Vet school leads brain gain

Veterinary Science

The number of students and staff at the University of Adelaide's Roseworthy Campus is expected to reach as many as 900 within the next few years, exceeding the University's expectations and resulting in a major "brain gain".

These projections were announced at the official launch last month of the University's new Veterinary Health Centre by the Minister for Agriculture, the Hon. Michael O'Brien, at the Roseworthy Campus.

With state-of-the art facilities for teaching, research and animal care, the Veterinary Health Centre is the first of its kind in the State and among the best facilities of its kind in the world.

It is part of a $37 million investment for the School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, with joint funding from the Commonwealth ($15m), the State ($5m) and the University ($17m), and is a major project in the University's $400 million capital works program.

"The opening of the new Vet Health Centre realises the dream of many for South Australia to have its own vet school. It represents a significant milestone in the history of our Roseworthy Campus, securing its place in the future of this State, the local community and the agricultural sector," said the University's Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor James McWha.

Minister O'Brien said the Vet School had already exceeded expectations only three years after being established.

"When the University first announced a feasibility study for the Vet School back in 2006, there were 200 students at Roseworthy Campus. The University now expects to have more than 700 students at Roseworthy by 2012," Mr O'Brien said.

"When you consider that local students were previously lost to interstate universities for veterinary studies, as well as the number of staff now required to work at the campus, this represents a major brain gain for Adelaide's north and for the State. It will service the needs of the community and the agricultural sector now and into the future."

Designed by leading architecture, design and planning firm HASSELL, the Veterinary Health Centre contains integrated teaching and research spaces, as well as a Companion Animal Health Centre (for cats, dogs and other pets) open to the public. Facilities include a diagnostic pathology laboratory, intensive care, ultrasound, radiology, surgical theatres and other specialist facilities.

Staff at the Veterinary Health Centre range from qualified vets to vet nurses, academics, specialists and support staff, and have been employed from around Australia and overseas.

"In addition to teaching undergraduate students and training the next generation of vets, our new Vet Health Centre will also become a focal point for ongoing professional development of current vets and vet nurses," said the Head of the School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Professor Gail Anderson.

"There's a huge amount of support for our School from within the South Australian vet industry. We now have an opportunity to provide ongoing professional development for the industry, to build the Vet School into something that services their needs as well as the needs of the community, industry and farming," she said.

To see a story about the new Veterinary Health Centre on YouTube, go to: www.youtube.com/watch?v=ovWgLF85688

Story by David Ellis