The dedication of the Federal Member for Riverina Kay Hull in promoting the development of Charles Sturt University (CSU) will be acknowledged when a new veterinary teaching facility is officially opened next week.

 

The Kay Hull Veterinary Teaching Hospital at the University’s South Campus in Wagga Wagga will be opened from 2.30pm on Tuesday 20 April by Dr Kevin Doyle, the National Veterinarian for the Australian Veterinary Association and the former Australian Deputy Chief Veterinary Officer.

 

The hospital provides both first opinion services for animal owners as well as medical referral services for veterinarians in Wagga Wagga and the surrounding region.

 

“The retiring Member for Riverina Kay Hull has been a dedicated and proud advocate for Charles Sturt University, including in the development of our veterinary science program for almost 10 years when it was an idea right through until the unveiling of our latest purpose-built teaching facility in 2010,” said CSU Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Ian Goulter.

 

“Mrs Hull has been one of our strong voices in Canberra and we could not have brought the veterinary science program to inland Australia without her hard-work and support,” Professor Goulter said.

 

The first opinion and surgical practice is run by Veterinarian Dr David Golland, who relocated his Wagga Wagga Veterinary Hospital to the new Urana Street site in Wagga Wagga. Dr Golland’s practice continues to service farm animals and equine clients as well as attending to small animals.

 

“The medical referral practice within the Veterinary Teaching Hospital is operated by Charles Sturt University and our clinicians,” Head of the School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences at CSU in Wagga Wagga Professor Kym Abbott said. “The practice currently offers referral services for veterinarians in small animal surgery, but we hope to expand the referral services in the future.” 

 

As the final purpose-built veterinary science teaching facility opened by the University, the Veterinary Teaching Hospital will provide valuable clinical training for students in the three final years of their six-year Bachelor of Veterinary Science degree at CSU.

 

The senior students will be exposed to, and receive experience in, the diagnosis and treatment of small animals, under the direct supervision of CSU veterinarians, as well as from the veterinarians who work with Dr Golland in his first-opinion practice.

 

“My experiences with the Charles Sturt University students as a supervisor and mentor have been extremely positive,” said Dr Golland. “These experiences leave me with no doubt that the graduates  will be more than up to meeting the diverse demands on veterinarians in rural and regional Australia.” 

 

The $3.3 million building includes five consulting rooms; separate foyer for dog and cat waiting area; pharmacy; laboratory; radiology and ultrasound rooms; large preparation and treatment area with custom designed treatment tables; dog and cat wards; dentistry area; isolation dog and cat facilities; and internal and external dog runs. The facility will also include referral surgery areas supported with a preparation room, intensive care unit, sterile room, and scrub area.

 

The building also has teaching, seminar and office spaces for students, veterinarians and CSU staff. In house accommodation facilities for the on-call students, veterinarians and CSU staff will support 24-hour monitoring of the animals and emergency services.

 

• Project cost: $3.3million
• Building area: 760 square metres
• Architect for the project: Merat Architects, Melbourne
• Engineers: Wood and Grieve Engineers, Melbourne
• Contractor: Burton Constructions, Wagga Wagga
• Project Manager: Chris Nesakumar, Architect, Division of Facilities Manager, CSU
• This facility meets the requirements and standards of Australasian Veterinary Boards Council; Australian Small Animal Veterinary Association; and the American Veterinary Medical Association
• The Veterinary Teaching Hospital is operating as a fully serviced veterinary hospital for the public
• The first opinion practice for the public, the Wagga Wagga Veterinary Hospital, is run by Dr David Golland. He has a staff of three full-time and two part-time veterinarians plus veterinary nurses and reception staff
• The medical referral practice is run by Charles Sturt University and its veterinarians within the School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences
• Bachelor of Veterinary Science students in their fourth, fifth and sixth years receive clinical experience in the Veterinary Teaching Hospital under the supervision of CSU clinicians and veterinarians from Wagga Wagga Veterinary Hospital
• The first 30 students of the Bachelor of Veterinary Science are due to graduate from CSU in August 2010
• The Bachelor of Veterinary Science at CSU is a six-year, double degree program. 
• The Veterinary Teaching Hospital follows the opening at CSU in Wagga Wagga of the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory in February 2010, the Veterinary Clinical Centre in 2008 and the Veterinary Pre-Clinical Centre in 2006.