EMS Stories

James Fensham

After finishing high school in Melbourne in 2007 I was accepted into the Bachelor of Animal and Veterinary Biosciences (SBANS) degree at La Trobe University, Bundoora campus that I completed in 2010. With a major in biochemistry and minor in zoology, I was offered an animal science honours project. However, with a strong desire to pursue a career in veterinary science I accepted an offer to enrol in the Bachelor of Science (Pre-vet) at the University of Adelaide. Appearing to focus on large and production animals this degree appealed to me, although I also have a passion for marine vertebrates and exotic animals.

After receiving recognition for previous education, I spent the first semester of 2011 completing AHEMS placements throughout my home state of Victoria. I began by gaining handling and equine management skills with a horse trainer in the Dandenong Ranges. I then assisted with calving and artificial insemination a month later on a seasonal dairy farm in Gippsland, followed by a week performing spit-offs and halter training cria in Lakes Entrance, at a suri alpaca stud. Although, the highlight of my AHEMS experience so far was the three weeks I spent with the zookeepers at Halls Gap Zoo. Pouch-checking brush-tailed bettongs and feeding over 100 species, including 'Pemba' the very friendly red panda (inset) are memories I won’t soon forget.

Posted 3 May 2012

Kirri Solly-Slade

For the beef cattle component of my animal husbandry extramural studies I went to a beef Stud in Flaxley owned by Margaret Wilksch. Having had minimal exposure to beef cattle in the past my main aim was to gain as much cattle handling experience as possible.

Whilst on placement my main task was to prepare an 18 month old heifer (Kylie) for the SA Junior Heifer Expo which I entered as a senior competitor. Prior to placement Erin Taylor (fellow student) and I had agreed to enter the heifer show but we had no idea how much work we were in for and did not anticipate how much we were going to learn!

The first week of placement consisted mainly of getting the heifer's used to human contact via brushing, leading, washing, blowing and clipping them as well as putting on and taking of halters and nose clips. Tasks with the heifers at the heifer show included those mentioned above as well as mucking out stalls, feeding and watering animals, walking the heifers round the show ring, calming them and standing them using the show cane. Other activities included a day of lectures, a marketing assignment, an interview, a short quiz, a clipping demonstration, being a senior 'buddy' to a junior competitor as well as junior judging. For junior judging we had six minutes to judge four heifers on the basis of their condition and conformation and we then had to explain to the overseeing judge on a microphone why we had placed them like this. I think for me getting on a microphone and talking about what makes a quality heifer was the most nerve-wracking experience of the whole show. Ironically it was also this task which highlighted to me how much I had learnt and where I got to display this new knowledge the most.

I gained a lot from competing at the SA Junior Heifer Expo and on my placement and also had a lot of fun. I definitely achieved my aim, to see the practical demonstration of theory that I had learnt at uni. I feel that I also fulfilled my goal of gaining experience in the handling of beef cattle. The SA Junior Heifer Expo was a very steep learning curve but I learnt so much and I feel a lot more confident now.

Posted 3 May 2012

Faustina Niap

One of my best experiences during the Pre-Vet degree was doing the AHEMS placement. The AHEMS is a great opportunity to go out there and experience the real world particularly from the perspective of farmers.

Prior to starting the Pre-Vet degree, I had little experience with animal handling. However, the workload of the program meant that there is not really enough time to obtain the skill a vet would be expected to have upon completing the degree. I believe that AHEMS has given me the skill and confidence to approach all sorts of animals in various situations.

Being an international student, AHEMS also helped tremendously with my communication skill with Australians, especially farmers who I hope to work closely with in the future as a large animal vet. All the farmers, managers and supervisors on placements were very accommodating both to my lack of experience and skills. At the end of the day, I truly felt that I had come away with a whole repertoire of newly acquired abilities.

I truly enjoyed being able to assist in many veterinary and husbandry procedures. For example, on my first day at sheep placement, we drafted more than a thousand ewes and lambs and earmarked, tail-docked, vaccinated and even assisted in mulesing the lambs. After vaccinating that many lambs, I am able to say that I am proficient in giving sub-cutaneous injections which will, to say the least be useful as a veterinarian.

Many of the supervisors on placement are very down to earth people who loved the idea of an extra pair of hands. As such, we were able to get our hands dirty; carrying out post-mortems, helping the vet out with surgery, handling different drugs and also the more mundane tasks such as administering daily medications for sick animals. Although all these experiences will be taught during the degree, having a one on one discussion with the vet during the surgery and post mortem was indeed an invaluable experience.

Although AHEMS may sometimes seem like a conspiracy to take holidays away from vet students, a positive approach to the experience will indeed be the best learning experience you can gain during the degree. The only trick is to pick the right places at the right time and to plan ahead so that you are not stuck with doing straight weeks of AHEMS in the last summer holidays. Of course not forgetting to speak to higher level students about what they have done. The Veterinary gang at Roseworthy are a superb bunch and we are always ready to speak to a newbie about the ins and outs of the degree.