Award-winning Simulation Veterinary Clinic

Abstract

Unitec celebrates the redesign and equip­ ment upgrade of its award-winning Simulation Veterinary Clinic. The clinic, which was the first of its kind when it originally opened in 2009, now has brand-new premises designed to help with student learning. In 2010 the Department of Natural Sciences was awarded the three Rs award from The National Animal Eth­ ics Advisory Committee (NAEAC) for the replacement, reduction and refinement of the use of animals in teaching.

Since then it emerged that the Veterinary Simulation Clinic not just reduces the angst and stress of animals used for teaching but also for students.The previous facilities were well used and appreciated by students that we gladly took the opportunity to move and upgrade the clinic when this was offered early in 2013. We were fortunate that the president of the New Zealand Veterinary Nursing Association, Julie Hutt, was able to officially open the facilities with a great speech about the past, present and future of the veterinary nursing profession.