Unit of Study VETS1001 Foundations of Veterinary Professionalism and Communication (2026)

Unit description

This unit introduces first-year veterinary science and veterinary technology students to the foundational concepts, values, and practices that underpin professional identity and success in the veterinary profession.  Delivered through engaging tutorials, practical sessions, and collaborative iterative learning, students will be encouraged to develop academic and clinical readiness skills. To aid transition into the veterinary courses, we start by building awareness of academic scholarship, lifelong learning strategies through drilling into learning styles and study planning and reflective goal setting.  Professional attributes (such as teamwork, cultural awareness and communication), skills (such as biosecurity and biosafety) and knowledge (in critical thinking, clinical reasoning and evidence-based medicine approaches are introduced as part of programmatic assessment.  By the end of the unit, students will have a clear understanding of their professional responsibilities, be equipped with foundational tools for success in academic, field and clinical contexts, and be prepared to contribute to ethical, culturally aware, and evidence-informed veterinary care.

Unit content

1. Introduction to veterinary sciences, how we learn, planning for learning as a life-long strategy, scholarship and study planning.
2. Veterinary professional identity, fitness to practice, veterinary community.
3. How we communicate: communication, teamwork, leadership, inclusivity and diversity, cultural competence.
4. Critical thinking, clinical reasoning, introduction to ethical use of AI in veterinary practice, research practices.
5. Evidence based veterinary medicine.
6. Introduction to practice: basics, bad days and being safe, skilled up and situationally aware.