Useful links
Unit of study_
VETS6111: Professional Competency 1A
2025 unit information
This Unit of Study introduces the foundational knowledge, skills and attributes required to be an effective veterinary professional. This includes both technical skills performed routinely by veterinarians and non-technical skills that determine how a veterinary professional works and interacts with others. Key themes of this unit include professionalism, leadership and collaboration, risk assessment and management, animal handling, restraint and basic husbandry, communication, and foundational clinical skills. The practical component of this unit comprises an introduction to handling and restraint of common domestic animals with a focus on risk assessment, safety and animal welfare; biosecurity procedures to mitigate risk of zoonotic disease and risk of disease spread; common technical skills relevant to common domestic species; a framework for conducting a veterinary consultation and communicating effectively; and a veterinary teaching hospital visit to observe the application of the knowledge and skills acquired in the unit in a clinical setting. Broadly, this Unit of Study will develop your veterinary professional competency by enhancing your emotional intelligence and application of relevant codes of conduct; expanding your understanding of normal animal behaviour and safe work practices; and building your proficiency to safely handle and restrain animals, conduct a veterinary consultation, and perform foundational clinical skills. Risk assessments are regularly conducted for units that require the completion of compulsory learning activities that may expose students to zoonotic diseases. These assessments aim to identify appropriate risk mitigation controls, such as vaccination against vaccine- preventable zoonoses. Risk assessments are regularly conducted for units that require the completion of compulsory learning activities that may expose students to zoonotic diseases. These assessments aim to identify appropriate risk mitigation controls, such as vaccination against vaccine- preventable zoonoses. Vaccination against Q fever (Coxiella burnetii) is an inherent requirement for students enrolling in this unit of study. Students must be vaccinated against Q fever before commencing the unit or no later than week two of the enrolled teaching session. Q fever vaccination is only available in Australia with the vaccination process taking three weeks to complete. Students must also submit a Q fever Vaccination Declaration upon enrolment. Students who fail to receive vaccination by the specified deadline and/or submit a Q fever Vaccination Declaration are precluded from practical learning activities and will not be able to satisfactorily complete relevant units of study and/or progress in their course more generally. Please refer to the University’s website https://www.sydney.edu.au/students/q-fever-vaccinations.html for more information on student vaccinations.
Unit details and rules
Managing faculty or University school:
Science
| Study level | Postgraduate |
|---|---|
| Academic unit | School of Veterinary Science Academic Operations |
| Credit points | 6 |
|
Prerequisites:
?
|
None |
|---|---|
|
Corequisites:
?
|
VETS6104 |
| Prohibitions:
?
|
None |
| Assumed knowledge:
?
|
One semester of study in each of chemistry, biology and biochemistry |
The learning outcomes for this unit will be available two weeks before the first day of teaching.
Unit availability
This section lists the session, attendance modes and locations the unit is available in. There is a unit outline for each of the unit availabilities, which gives you information about the unit including assessment details and a schedule of weekly activities.
The outline is published 2 weeks before the first day of teaching. You can look at previous outlines for a guide to the details of a unit.
There are no availabilities for this year.
| Session | MoA ? | Location | Outline ? |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Semester 1 2025
|
Normal day | Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney |
Outline unavailable
|
There are no availabilities for previous years.
Find your current year census dates
Modes of attendance (MoA)
This refers to the Mode of attendance (MoA) for the unit as it appears when you’re selecting your units in Sydney Student. Find more information about modes of attendance on our website.
Important enrolment information
Departmental permission requirements
If you see the ‘Departmental Permission’ tag below a session, it means you need faculty or school approval to enrol. This may be because it’s an advanced unit, clinical placement, offshore unit, internship or there are limited places available.
You will be prompted to apply for departmental permission when you select this unit in Sydney Student.
Read our information on departmental permission.
