New management for JCU veterinary hospital

23 March 2015

James Cook University has announced a new management arrangement for its veterinary hospital, with management services to be provided by Greencross Limited.
Founded in Townsville in 1994, Greencross is now Australia’s largest network of veterinary practices.

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Professor Ian Wronski, Deputy Vice Chancellor of the Division of Tropical Health and Medicine at JCU, said the new arrangements would ensure the teaching hospital’s sustainability and expand the opportunities available to students.
“We will continue to operate under the name JCUVet, but we’ll have the business acumen of Greencross behind us,” he said.
Professor Wronski said the new arrangements promised significant benefits for veterinary science students.
“Our students will have access to a wider range of placement opportunities and clinical cases across the Greencross network, which extends from Cairns to Adelaide,” he said. “They will also benefit from further training in the financial expertise that’s essential to running a vet practice.”
Greencross Limited Chief Operational Officer, Dr Ian Kadish said the arrangement would help JCU produce even more work-ready graduates.
“It’s exciting for JCU students to be able to access clinical cases across the Greencross network, as well as JCU’s vet hospital,” said Dr Kadish.
JCUVet, which provides Townsville’s only veterinary emergency and referral centre, will extend its operating hours and will have access to improved pathology services.
Professor Wronski said JCUVet would remain independent and would continue to seek and take referrals from its referring partners in the North Queensland veterinary community.
“Our relationship with the veterinary profession in our region is important to us,” he said. “Their support is important in providing our students with valuable experience in regional and tropical practices, and has helped us make JCUVet a high-quality teaching hospital.
“We’ll continue to take specialty and emergency referrals from across North Queensland, and we’ll continue to work closely with local vets.”
The arrangement is effective from January 1, 2015.
Greencross has more than 115 clinics across the country and was founded in Townsville in 1994 by former JCU Veterinary School student, Dr Glen Richards.
In 2011, Dr Richards received the JCU Chancellor’s Outstanding Alumnus Award.

About JCU Veterinary School

The JCU Veterinary School has offered the Bachelor of Veterinary Science program since 2006. Students will acquire the knowledge and skills to diagnose, treat and prevent disease in a wide range of animals including companion animals, farm animals, aquatic species and native fauna. In addition, students will acquire a thorough knowledge of animal production systems, particularly tropical animal husbandry and aquaculture.
James Cook University’s veterinary science program offers state-of-the-art teaching facilities in a new veterinary emergency and referral clinic on the Townsville campus and a specialist large-animal treatment facility on the tablelands, which provide clinical experience and training for final-year students.
Program title: Bachelor of Veterinary Science (BVSc)
Location: Townsville, Queensland
Semester intake: February
Program duration: 5 years
Application deadline: September 30, 2015

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Do you have questions about JCU Veterinary School and about studying veterinary science at Australian universities? Contact OzTREKK’s Australian Veterinary Schools Officer Rachel Brady at rachel@oztrekk.com or call 1-866-698-7355.

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