VET SC 7223RW - Veterinary Public Health and Biosecurity

Roseworthy Campus - Semester 2 - 2021

Veterinary Public Health has been defined by Food and Agricultural Organisation of the United Nations, World Health Organisation/ World Organisation for Animal Health as "the sum of all contributions to the physical, mental and social well-being of humans through an understanding and application of veterinary science". Veterinary Public Health thus embraces the following areas of knowledge: diagnosis, surveillance, epidemiology, control, prevention and elimination of zoonoses and of diseases that threaten food security and social cohesion; protection of food (including meat and milk) for human consumption; food and meat science; environmental protection; animal welfare standards; and the social, behavioural and mental aspects of human-animal relationships. Veterinary Biosecurity is intrinsically linked to Veterinary Public Health and covers specific aspects on disease prevention, disease surveillance at the national, regional, state and enterprise (farm) level. In order to understand food production including welfare and food safety issues, students will attend field trips to abattoirs.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code VET SC 7223RW
    Course Veterinary Public Health and Biosecurity
    Coordinating Unit School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences
    Term Semester 2
    Level Postgraduate Coursework
    Location/s Roseworthy Campus
    Units 3
    Contact Up to 3 hours per week plus three field trips per Semester
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange N
    Prerequisites Completion of Year 1 DVM or equivalent
    Restrictions Available to Doctor of Veterinary Medicine students only
    Course Description Veterinary Public Health has been defined by Food and Agricultural Organisation of the United Nations, World Health Organisation/ World Organisation for Animal Health as "the sum of all contributions to the physical, mental and social well-being of humans through an understanding and application of veterinary science". Veterinary Public Health thus embraces the following areas of knowledge: diagnosis, surveillance, epidemiology, control, prevention and elimination of zoonoses and of diseases that threaten food security and social cohesion; protection of food (including meat and milk) for human consumption; food and meat science; environmental protection; animal welfare standards; and the social, behavioural and mental aspects of human-animal relationships.

    Veterinary Biosecurity is intrinsically linked to Veterinary Public Health and covers specific aspects on disease prevention, disease surveillance at the national, regional, state and enterprise (farm) level.

    In order to understand food production including welfare and food safety issues, students will attend field trips to abattoirs.
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Associate Professor Wayne Boardman

    Course Timetable

    The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.

  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes
    1 Describe zoonotic and non-zoonotic diseases of veterinary public health significance
    2 Understand and participate in contagious diseases management, including disease prevention and control programmes
    3 Define and detect suspicious signs of notifiable/emerging/re-emerging and transboundary diseases
    4 Explain conditions and measures to ensure the safety and suitability of food of animal origin including appropriate use of veterinary products to e.g. reduce antimicrobial resistance
    5 Knowledge of national/state veterinary bodies, biosecurity procedures and protocols and legislation and provide leadership on ethical considerations involved in the use and care of animals by humans
    University Graduate Attributes

    This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

    University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s)
    Deep discipline knowledge
    • informed and infused by cutting edge research, scaffolded throughout their program of studies
    • acquired from personal interaction with research active educators, from year 1
    • accredited or validated against national or international standards (for relevant programs)
    1 - 5
    Critical thinking and problem solving
    • steeped in research methods and rigor
    • based on empirical evidence and the scientific approach to knowledge development
    • demonstrated through appropriate and relevant assessment
    1 - 5
    Teamwork and communication skills
    • developed from, with, and via the SGDE
    • honed through assessment and practice throughout the program of studies
    • encouraged and valued in all aspects of learning
    1 - 5
    Career and leadership readiness
    • technology savvy
    • professional and, where relevant, fully accredited
    • forward thinking and well informed
    • tested and validated by work based experiences
    1 - 5
    Intercultural and ethical competency
    • adept at operating in other cultures
    • comfortable with different nationalities and social contexts
    • able to determine and contribute to desirable social outcomes
    • demonstrated by study abroad or with an understanding of indigenous knowledges
    2, 4, 5
    Self-awareness and emotional intelligence
    • a capacity for self-reflection and a willingness to engage in self-appraisal
    • open to objective and constructive feedback from supervisors and peers
    • able to negotiate difficult social situations, defuse conflict and engage positively in purposeful debate
    1 - 5
  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes
    The various themes (see below) of the Veterinary Public health course will be introduced in the lectures (often by senior practicing figures currently working in the field), further enhanced by the tutorials and student researched topics (and presentations) within that theme.

    External: During the practical component of the course, students will participate in visitations to abattoirs and other food processing facilities

    Workload

    The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

    A student enrolled in a 3 unit course, such as this, should expect to spend, on average 12 hours per week on the studies required. This includes both the formal contact time required to the course (e.g., lectures and practicals), as well as non-contact time (e.g., reading and revision).
    Learning Activities Summary
    1. Overview of Veterinary Public Health – the animal-human interface
    2. Current issues in Veterinary Public health, zoonoses, transboundary and wildlife diseases
    3. Biosecurity
    4. Disease risk analysis
    5. Structure of the veterinary public health community (local, national, regional, international)
    6. National and international trade and disease control (role of World Organisation of Animal Health, state veterinary service, impact of World Trade Organisation, traceability etc.)
    7. Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points principles
    8. One health Concept
    9. Veterinary legislation
    10. Role of veterinarians in the safe production of meat including visits to abattoirs
  • Assessment

    The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

    1. Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
    2. Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
    3. Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
    4. Assessment must maintain academic standards.

    Assessment Summary
    Assessment Task Task Type Due Weighting Hurdle Learning Outcome
    Mid Semester Exam Formative and summative Week 6 - 7 15% No 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
    Team based Presentation Formative and summative Weeks 10 - 12 10% No 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
    Field trip reports Summative Throughout semester 25% No 1, 4, 5
    Final Exam Summative Exam week 50% Yes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
    Assessment Related Requirements
    Assessment Item with hurdle % needed or requirement to meet hurdle Is additional assessment available if student
    does not meet hurdle requirement? Yes or No
    Details of additional assessment, if available
    Final Exam 50% Yes Additional examination
    Assessment Detail
    Mid Semester Exam (15%):
    Students will undertake a Multiple Choice Question (MCQ) exam based on the first 6 weeks of the course.

    Team based Presentation (10%):
    Using disease management scenarios during the surveillance/disease outbreak workshops, students will work in a team of up to 6, research the issues and present their findings to the class and staff. Presentation content will be discussed by the whole  class and marked by staff.

    Field trip report (25%):
    Students will produce one 2000 word report based on their field trip experiences throughout the semester. The report will be due within a fortnight of the respective field excursions being completed. Students unable to attend the field trips due to medical or compassionate circumstances must apply to the Course Coordinator for an alternative assessment which will fulfil the Course Learning Outcomes taught and examined in this assessment task.

    Final Examination (50%):
    Students will undertake a 3hr final examination which may include short answer, long answer and multiple choice questions.
    Submission
    If an extension is not applied for, or not granted then a penalty for late submission will apply.  A mark of zero will be allocated to late submitted assessment.



    Course Grading

    Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

    M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme)
    Grade Mark Description
    FNS   Fail No Submission
    F 1-49 Fail
    P 50-64 Pass
    C 65-74 Credit
    D 75-84 Distinction
    HD 85-100 High Distinction
    CN   Continuing
    NFE   No Formal Examination
    RP   Result Pending

    Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

    Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

    Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.

  • Student Feedback

    The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

    SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.

  • Student Support
  • Policies & Guidelines
  • Fraud Awareness

    Students are reminded that in order to maintain the academic integrity of all programs and courses, the university has a zero-tolerance approach to students offering money or significant value goods or services to any staff member who is involved in their teaching or assessment. Students offering lecturers or tutors or professional staff anything more than a small token of appreciation is totally unacceptable, in any circumstances. Staff members are obliged to report all such incidents to their supervisor/manager, who will refer them for action under the university's student’s disciplinary procedures.

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