An international career specialising in farm animal medicine through education, practice and research will see Kym Abbott join Charles Sturt University (CSU) in its task of supplying high quality veterinary graduates for regional and rural Australia.

As the new Professor of Production Animal Medicine and Director of Veterinary Science at Australia’s largest regional university, Kym Abbott, returns to Australia from the University of London in the United Kingdom (UK).

“CSU has a strong record of breaking new ground in training professionals. This new degree program, the first Veterinary Science program in Australia to be offered outside metropolitan areas, is directly targeted at the need for veterinarians in rural Australia,” said CSU Vice-Chancellor Professor Ian Goulter.

“What we have set out to do here is ensure that there will be vets with the required specialist skills and knowledge to handle the herd health management issues we face in modern agriculture,” Professor Goulter said. 

“With his background in practice, research as well as training veterinarians in Australia and overseas, Professor Abbott will play a key role in educating and training our future veterinarians to ensure a sustainable and prosperous rural sector.”

A senior lecturer at the University of London until August, Professor Abbott’s early career started in mixed practices in Victoria and New Zealand. He then established a veterinary practice in South Australia – providing services to horse, dairy cattle and small animal clients before commencing a dedicated sheep consultancy practice extending to over 50 commercial sheep flocks in southeast South Australia and western Victoria.

In his academic career, Professor Abbott lectured in animal health at the University of Sydney for ten years until his most recent position as senior lecturer at The Royal Veterinary College at the University of London. 

Ovine footrot, endoparasites and ovine Johne’s disease (OJD) have been the focus of Professor Abbott’s research, reflecting his interest in the protection of Australia’s livestock industries.

“The introduction of Veterinary Science at CSU represents a tremendous opportunity to design and implement a veterinary course specifically for the needs of rural Australia and the Australian livestock industries, and I am delighted to be offered the chance to lead this initiative, said Professor Abbott.