vet

【Australia Veterinary】Complete & Easy Guide to Becoming a Veterinarian 2025

As social systems improve and personal incomes rise, the number of people raising pets is increasing. Veterinarians, regarded as guardians of animal health, have gained significant attention and respect in recent years. Currently, there is only one university in Hong Kong offering a veterinary program, and it has a limited number of places. As a result, many Hong Kong students choose to study veterinary medicine in other countries. Today, we will discuss veterinary programs in Australia.

Australia is a country primarily based on agriculture and livestock farming, with a thriving breeding industry. It is home to about 1.5 million sheep, making it one of the world's largest producers of wool and sheep products. Additionally, Australia boasts a variety of unique animals, such as koalas, kangaroos, kookaburras, platypuses, and wombats, which cannot be found in other countries.

This highlights the global recognition of Australia's veterinary programs and medical technologies. Students studying veterinary medicine here have ample opportunities to work with different species of animals. Australia has numerous animal clinics that provide students with valuable hands-on experience. Furthermore, there is a shortage of professionals in the veterinary sector, resulting in promising job prospects for graduates. This has led to thousands of international students choosing to pursue veterinary programs in Australia each year.


What is Veterinary Sciences?

Veterinary Sciences is a field based on molecular biology that studies the patterns of disease development in animals, including livestock, domestic pets, and wildlife. It focuses on diagnosing and preventing diseases, ensuring the overall health and well-being of animals.

Today, the scope of veterinary sciences extends beyond just agriculture. Veterinarians work in various areas, from clinical practice for large and small animals to fundamental research and public health. They monitor diseases, mitigate risks from animals in zoos, and prevent illnesses that may threaten animals, humans, or both, such as avian influenza and bovine spongiform encephalopathy.

In addition to addressing general medical issues, veterinary sciences also examine animal behavior and involve professionals who have undergone veterinary training to treat animals, known as veterinarians.

Job Responsibilities of Veterinarians

  • Treat animals using medical and surgical methods
  • Manage and prescribe medications, including analgesics and anesthetics
  • Conduct physical examinations, laboratory tests, and diagnostic imaging (e.g., X-rays, ultrasound)
  • Perform surgeries, dress wounds, and stabilize fractured bones
  • Assist with animal births
  • Participate in government programs to prevent animal diseases
  • Administer vaccinations and test for infectious diseases
  • Report outbreaks of infectious diseases to authorities
  • Conduct necropsies to determine causes of death
  • Provide consultations on animal health, nutrition, and care
  • Offer professional services to companies producing biological and pharmaceutical products
  • Specialize in treating specific animal populations or in fields such as cardiology, chiropractic, dermatology, or critical care

How to Register as a Veterinarian in Australia

To become a registered veterinarian in Australia, students must complete a course accredited by the Australian Veterinary Board Council (AVBC) and achieve an overall score of 7 in the IELTS exam. Once these requirements are met, they can register as qualified veterinarians with the veterinary board in their respective state.

Typically, veterinary courses in Australia last between 5 to 6 years. The University of Queensland, Murdoch University, and James Cook University offer 5-year programs. Meanwhile, The University of Sydney, Charles Sturt University, and The University of Adelaide provide 6-year programs. Additionally, the University of Melbourne offers a 4-year Doctor of Veterinary Medicine program.

What is the Required "Animal Experience" for Veterinary Studies?

Students intending to study veterinary medicine in Australia must be aware of the admission requirements set by Australian universities to prepare in advance. Veterinary programs place significant emphasis on whether students have sufficient animal care experience. Many students, believing their experience with household pets like cats, dogs, and rabbits qualifies them, may feel they have enough experience, but this is far from adequate!

Veterinarians treat a wide variety of animals, not just cats and dogs. Therefore, Australian universities typically require students to have at least one month of animal care experience, and the types of animals cared for should not be limited to common pets.

For instance, at The University of Sydney, students are required to complete a "Declaration of Commitment," listing their past animal care experiences. This includes a variety of animals such as horses, sheep, cattle, pigs, and poultry, along with detailed accounts of how they cared for these animals and what their experiences entailed. For example, students should describe how they handled a bird from a cage, herded sheep back into a pen, or captured and restrained pigs.

Therefore, students interested in pursuing veterinary studies in Australia should consider participating in animal volunteering activities, caring for animals on farms, or engaging in "shadowing" experiences at veterinary clinics to enhance their animal care experience. As veterinary medicine is a challenging and compassionate profession, students must be mentally prepared to endure unpleasant odors from animal waste and not shy away from blood throughout their studies and professional careers.

Extended Readings

A Comprehensive Guide to Applying to G5 Universities and Specialist Program

Guide for Hong Kong Students Pursuing a Law Degree in the UK

The Importance of Shadowing in UK Health Science

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Jessie C.
Desire Subject Physiotherapy
Programme Medicine and Allied Health Professions Admissions Preparation Course
Hours Attended 20

From a young age, Jessie was passionate about sports, especially football and competitive jump roping. An injury during a jump roping competition that required physical therapy piqued her interest in the profession. Jessie chose Biology and Chemistry as her subjects, and her predicted DSE scores met the entry requirements. However, she had doubts about her suitability due to her petite stature and introverted nature, fearing these could be obstacles to becoming a physical therapist. Despite Jessie's excellent grades, her father was also concerned about her career choice, worrying that Jessie was blindly following a trend without truly considering her interests and abilities, as choosing this field would mean committing to a career as a physical therapist.

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When preparing her personal statement, Jessie tried writing it herself but felt it lacked persuasiveness. With her tutor's guidance, she realized many areas needed improvement. The tutor helped her reorganize her experiences volunteering in physical therapy, highlighting her passion and dedication to the field. During interview training, she learned how to showcase her strengths and effectively answer the interviewer's questions. For example, Ascent Prep tutors taught students how to answer common situational questions, such as:

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This journey highlights the value of Ascent Prep, offering practical clinical experiences and professional guidance, enabling students to not only improve academically but also to find their direction in their future career paths.

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Desire Subject Architecture
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Hours Attended 10

Sophie is a high school student from Hong Kong who has been passionate about architecture since she was young. She excelled academically and actively participated in various architecture-related activities, such as architectural model competitions and visits. However, as the time for further education approached, Sophie began to feel somewhat lost, due to her very high standards for herself. She knew that to gain admission into architecture programs at prestigious universities like Cambridge or UCL, she needed not only excellent academic grades but also well-rounded abilities and creativity.

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Hours Attended 30

Andy attended a local Hong Kong secondary school. Despite having average grades at school, he has always been afraid of English, to the point of hesitating to speak it. Andy is a typical slow starter; when under pressure, he easily feels overwhelmed. This became even more evident after he took the AEAS test unprepared, resulting in scores far below expectations. The AEAS report recommended Andy to undertake an English course for 20-30 weeks, and the substantial cost of attending a 30-week language course in Australia, including tuition, accommodation, and student insurance, caused considerable concern for his parents. Not only were they considering the dual factors of time and finances, but they also hoped that Andy could have more opportunities to apply to his desired schools. That's when they found us, the only official preparatory course institution recognized by AEAS. In the 1-on-1 courses at Ascent Prep, students receive meticulous instruction from teachers and consultants, improving their English skills and gradually overcoming their fear of English. To the parents' surprise, the child performed excellently in the AEAS test. By achieving good results in Hong Kong, the AEAS report reduced the required language class from 30 weeks to just 4 weeks before entering mainstream schools in Australia. This not only saved money but also allowed the child to integrate into the Australian mainstream education system sooner.

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