Practitioner in residence 2015

Information package

Background
The Practitioner in Residence (PIR) Program has developed as a genuine collaboration between the
Melbourne University Veterinary (Alumni) Society (MUVS), Melbourne Metropolitan Practitioners
Branch (MMPB), Australian Small Animal Veterinary Association (ASAVA), Australian Veterinary
Association (AVA) Victorian Division, Animal Emergency Centre (AEC), Lyppard and the University of
Melbourne. The PIR Program enables the profession to contribute to the life and role of the faculty,
enhances the Universitys understanding of the industry, and helps to produce graduates with good
insight into the profession. The PIR Program also enables the chosen PIR practitioner to benefit
personally from the experience of interacting with students and staff, and a modest stipend helps to
compensate for the financial cost of being away from practice for the term of the appointment.
Objectives

To help students create an excellent professional portfolio, including communication and

interviewing skills, development of their curriculum vitae and letter of intent
To help mentor students through their decision making regarding professional direction
To provide students with an insight into the real world of practice and teach them some
survival and coping skills
To be a resource to the Faculty by assisting students to learn professional practice attributes
that augment material provided in lectures, clinics and hospital rotations in the veterinary
course
To be both a role model and mentor to the students, and a mentor to younger members of
clinical staff who participate in teaching
To engender an appreciation of professional ethics and responsibility to contribute to both
the community and the profession and an understanding of the role of the AVA and its
special interest groups
To give our Melbourne students the opportunity to develop the skills that they need to have
to become the preferred veterinary graduate in Australasia

History
The idea of the Practitioner in Residence arose from the Melbourne University Veterinary Society in
1989 to promote an interaction between the Veterinary Profession, the University and the students.
Initially the main purpose of the PIR program was to allow the successful applicant to develop skills
in a chosen area of veterinary activity and to encourage applicants who had been in practice at least
5 years who could be a good influence in their exposure to the students.
The programme has been very successful, especially in relation to the professional development of
students and facilitating their transition to practice. The sponsors of the PIR Program see this latter
aspect as most important and this has formed the basis for the PIR program.

PIR responsibilities
The role of the PIR has been modified for 2015 (PIR Mark II) to meet the changing demands of the
DVM curriculum. The two primary functions of the PIR will be to provide assistance with
development of students professional portfolios and to be a mentor to the students as they
navigate decision making about their career direction. This year the role could potentially involve
several PIRs with experience in different sectors of the profession (companion animals, mixed
practice, production, equine, industry). It is envisaged that the position will commence in July 2015
and will involve one to two days per week through to October.
1. Professional portfolio development
The PIR Mark II effort and funding will be directed towards helping third year DVM students create
their professional portfolio by reviewing with them their interview techniques, CVs and cover
letters. This activity will be integrated into the curriculum as a hurdle requirement for the third year
subject Principles of Professional Practice (PPP). With the help and engagement of the academic
associates and PIR, mock position descriptions will be drafted to represent jobs in various sectors.
Students will apply for the positions. The PIR will assess and provide feedback to the students
materials (recorded interview, CV, cover letter). Support in this regard from the Universitys Careers
and Employment office and potentially from professional recruiters will be sought. Students will be
expected to have recorded their interview and self-assessed prior to meeting with the PIR. It is
expected that some final year students will also be interested.
2. Mentoring activities
Aside from the aforementioned work with students professional portfolios, in order to achieve the
other objectives of the program the PIR may:

spend time with students embedded in the hospital context (emergency and critical care,
referral medicine, general practice, surgery)
work time one-on-one with students
develop new resources for soon-to-be graduates (e.g updating the Beginning veterinary
success book)

Requirements of Applicants
It is required that applicants for the Practitioner in Residence Program be:
a. A current AVA Member
b. Registered to practice in Victoria
c. To have been practicing for five or more years in Veterinary Medicine and Surgery

Application Details the following details should be included in the application packet.

Full name
Home address, contact telephone number(s) and email
Current work address and contact numbers
Three referees (to be contacted only after the interview and with the applicants permission)
Emergency contact name and numbers

Whether you are an AVA member and, if so, for how long
Whether you are an ASAVA member and, if so, for how long
Date of graduation from veterinary school
Which university(s)
Your qualifications
Have you been in practice full time for the past 5 years Y/N

Please provide your curriculum vitae and cover letter. In addition to the above details, please
indicate

Your motivation for becoming a part of the PIR Mark II program

Why you should be considered for the position by addressing the stated objectives of the
program and the description of the responsibilities of the PIR

Applicants will be assessed on the above. Short listed applicants will be required to attend an
interview in early May 2015.
Should you have any questions regarding the PIR Program feel free to contact:
Dr Leonie Richards
University of Melbourne Veterinary Hospital
250 Princes Highway
Werribee Vic 3030
Ph: 03 9731 2000
Email: leonier@unimelb.edu.au

Applications should be forwarded to:

Ms Nadine Carter
C/- Melbourne University Veterinary Society
Faculty office, Veterinary Clinical Centre
250 Princes Highway
Werribee, Victoria 3030
Ph: 03 9731 2351
Email: nkcarter@unimelb.edu.au