Veterinary Professional Training in Wildlife Treatment and Care (Australia)

This course is accredited with the Australian Veterinary Association and the Veterinary Nurses Council of Australia for CPD points and is delivered via a blended learning model combining online distance education and an optional one-day intensive practical workshop.

This course includes an online component (20 CPD points), and an optional practical workshop delivered in NSW, QLD or VIC (12 CPD points).

The 20-hour, online component of the course can be completed over three months and includes downloadable take-home resources and links to external resources, so that participants may refer back to important information as needed.

The optional workshop component is a one-day, practical with mock demonstrations on the veterinary treatment and care of wildlife. Spaces in workshops are extremely limited and participation is restricted to veterinary professionals currently working in an Australian veterinary clinic or hospital. Completion of the online component of this course is a mandatory pre-requisite to attend the practical component.

Course Contents

• The online component encompasses 5 modules of competency. It is estimated that this will take approximately 20 hours to complete. However, the course has been designed so you can complete it at your own pace over three months.
  • Module 1 – Introduction to Treatment and Care of Wildlife
  • Module 2 – Amphibians and Reptiles Treatment and Care
  • Module 3 – Birds Treatment and Care
  • Module 4 – Mammals Treatment and Care
  • Module 5 – Koalas Treatment and Care (developed by the Koala Health Hub)

Topics

• Topic 1: Regulation, resources and risks
  • This topic will cover important facts about animal welfare and legislation pertaining to wildlife, what information to record in the initial examination of a wildlife patient, available sources of advice for assessing and treating wildlife patients, wildlife associated zoonotic diseases, and practices for minimising zoonotic disease risk at your practice.
• Topic 2: Handling and immediate housing
  • This topic will cover clinically relevant anatomy and physiology, handling techniques, basic housing and feeding of wildlife while hospitalised at your practice.
• Topic 3: Assessment, triage and emergency care
  • This topic will cover clinical assessment, first aid, chemical restraint and criteria for euthanasia. Specifically, how to conduct a physical examination in the wildlife patient, the steps that follow initial assessment and triage, the principles of providing basic first aid to wildlife patients, basic information on providing fluids, wound care, the criteria and preferred methods for euthanasia of wildlife.
• Topic 4: Diagnosis and treatment
  • This topic will cover common injuries and diseases of wildlife, therapeutics, drug administration, pain management, antibiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs.

Cost

• With support from the NSW Government, they can offer the partially subsidised costs below:
  • $200 – online component
  • $495 – practical component (not including travel costs)
  • $695 – full course (online + practical)

Eligibility Criteria

• be a fully qualified veterinary professional (i.e. vet, vet nurses and vet techs); and
• work in a veterinary clinic or hospital in Australia; or
• be an enrolled, final year veterinary science student (at this time they cannot accept vet nurse or vet tech students)
• They encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

For more information, visit Taronga Conservation Society Australia.