Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Minister Dr John McVeigh today officially opened the University of Queensland’s new $2.4 million large animal veterinary surgery at Dayboro.
“The new medical and surgical facilities expand UQ’s veterinary services which have been part of the Dayboro community for 25 years,” Mr McVeigh he said.
“The LNP Government welcomes UQ’s commitment to vet services for Dayboro and adjacent communities.
“These facilities provide vital training and experience for vet graduates who will go on to work in all areas of large animal practice contributing to our beef, dairy and horse industries.”
Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Deborah Terry said the new facilities would help students move to commercial practice - learning rural vet skills and techniques to treat horses, cattle, sheep and other farm animals, as well as dogs and cats.
“Students live on site, giving them excellent opportunities for hands-on involvement in production animal operations, farm economics and biosecurity,” Professor Terry said.
“This training, together with the experience of life in a small country town, could well spark an interest to draw our students to a rural veterinary career.
“The new facilities will allow UQ to continue to provide a quality veterinary service while enabling students to develop their skills and integrate their knowledge within the context of a working veterinary practice.”
Professor Terry said the facilities ensured UQ met its international accreditation requirements with the Australasian Veterinary Boards Council, the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons in the UK and the American Veterinary Medical Association.
“Such accreditation assures our veterinary graduates of a global workplace,” she said.
Clinic Practice Manager Malcolm Heath said the building that originally housed the Dayboro Veterinary Surgery had been donated to the Dayboro Agricultural, Horticultural and Industrial Association Inc. and would be moved to the Memorial Showgrounds.
“The University is honoured to be an integral part of the Dayboro community and it was important for us to be able to relocate the building to the showgrounds to preserve the town’s rich history for the community to enjoy,” Mr Heath said.
Media: UQ Faculty of Science, Karli Kollegger, 0488 780 229.
Minister McVeigh: Louise Gillis, 0408 709 160
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