Placement, Teaching and Education
High School Work Experience Students
Our practice does accept high school students*** who wish to gain work experience in a veterinary practice. We hope that this opportunity will inspire high school students to undertake further studies to become a vet, vet nurse or work in the animal health industry.
If you are a high student and wanting to arrange a work experience at the practice, please send your enquiries to admin@rochyvet.com.au
***Please note we only take a couple students each year due to our teaching commitments to Vet students.
Veterinary Undergraduates
2024 – Our Practice is fully booked up until November 2024 with vet students
In association with the University of Melbourne, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences and Charles Sturt University (Wagga Wagga), as well as other Veterinary Schools throughout Australia (and overseas), we often have veterinary students completing placements and electives with us.
Students will be exposed to many aspects of mixed practice based in a rural setting. Students get to develop their clinical skills and gain a lot of hands on experience when working with our vets.
Our practice enjoy this side of work, as teaching the next generation of vets is important for the veterinary industry to encourage new graduates to practice in rural and regional settings.
If you are a student and wanting to arrange a clinical placement or an elective at the practice, and, would also like to arrange accommodation, please send your enquiries to admin@rochyvet.com.au
Information for Undergraduates
Getting to Rochester
Public transport
There is a V/Line train service from Melbourne to Rochester.
Car
It takes approximately 2 hours to drive from Melbourne to Rochester.
Accommodation at Rochester
The practice has a 2 bedroom unit available for student accommodation that is 1.5km from the practice (2 minutes via car or a 20 minute walk)
If you are coming by train/bus the unit is approximately a 12 minute walk (900m) from the station
The address is Unit 1, 13 Hart St. Rochester.
Rent is $20 per night
Direct depositing rent payment can be made, please contact the practice and we can provide the details.
Everything is supplied at the unit (Linen, cutlery, bedding etc). The only thing you have to bring is your food and a towel. If you can remove the sheets at the end of your stay, to be brought into the clinic will have them cleaned.
Please note that the unit does not have a washing machine. There is a laundromat in Rochester, 58 MacKay Street, the opening hours are from 6:00am – 9:30pm.
Supermarkets
Rochester has an IGA supermarket (10-20 Gillies St). The opening hours are:
Monday and Tuesday 8:00am to 6:30pm
Wednesday to Friday 8:00am to 8:00pm
Saturday 8:00am to 6:00pm
Sunday 9:00am to 4:00pm
Alternatively, Echuca is located 34km north of Rochester and has Coles, Woolworths, Aldi and other grocery stores.
What to expect on placement
On your first day at the practice, you are expected to arrive at 8:00am to go through an induction process. Each day you are expected to arrive at the clinic at 8:00am. You are not expected to attend on Saturday mornings, however, you are welcome to attend large animal and small animal consults if you would like to.
In regard to afterhours calls, you are not expected to participate. However, if you would like to be on call, please give your phone number to the vet on call and they can contact you if they get a call.
Large Animal Consultation:
Each day, you will be assigned to a veterinarian and attend to farm calls. It is a good idea, to have a packed lunch as some days our vets don’t get back to the practice until late afternoon.
Small Animal Consultations and Surgeries
You are welcome to participate in small animal consultations. Just ask the vet if they mind you joining them.
In regard to participating in small animal surgeries, this may be dependent on what surgeries are book in for the day. Our vets will try and get you involved when they are able to do so.
Things we recommend to bring on placement
Sunscreen
Hat
Water bottle
Several pairs of overalls
Gumboots
Wet weather gear (particularly for winter)
Stethoscope