To retain your enrolment, please complete the following tasks before your programme start date:
1. Secure Your Work Placements
You are responsible for arranging your own work placements in:
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An animal-related facility, and
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A veterinary clinic
Please note: availability of placements may vary depending on your location, and you may need to travel to secure a suitable placement. If you are based in Dunedin, you must be prepared to travel outside the wider Dunedin area to complete your vet clinic placement as there is very limited availability in the area.
Please read the following document to help you with securing work placements:
There is an email template that you can copy to help introduce yourself to potential veterinary clinics below. Edit this as required before emailing this to your local clinics.
Once your placements are confirmed:
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Fill in pages 1 and 3 of the Work Placement Tripartite Agreement
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Ask your supervisor to complete and sign page 3
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Provide a copy of the form to each work placement
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Return the completed form(s) to: animalhealth@op.ac.nz
Download: Work Placement Tripartite Agreement
If you need help securing a placement, contact our placement coordinator:
Katie Prasad – Katie.Prasad@op.ac.nz
2. Read the Programme Information Sheet
This document explains:
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Placement hours requirements
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Other key programme information
Download: Programme Information for New Students
3. Vaccinations
Tetanus vaccination is strongly recommended.
If you are not currently vaccinated, please speak with your healthcare provider before starting your work placements.
4. Block Course Dates
Block courses are compulsory and held at four locations around the country.
Please review the dates for your nearest venue and arrange time off and travel as needed.
If you are unable to attend, you must inform us before the start of the programme.
Block Course Dates:
5. Uniform, Textbook, and Equipment
Uniform (Compulsory):
Order online: Uniform Shop | View prices: Uniform Pricelist
You will need:
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Polo shirt
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Scrub top
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Name badge
Scrub pants are optional (available from the Uniform shop or KMart)
Equipment (Required): (available from Medshop)
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Nurses’ fob watch (approx $6-$12)
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Stethoscope (choose one based on your budget – note you do not need one immediately but aim to have one by mid-year):
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Budget friendly - Prestige Dual Head Stethoscope – $38.69
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Expensive but an investment: Littmann Classic III – $164.47
Textbook (Required):
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BSAVA Textbook of Veterinary Nursing (6th Edition)
Authors: Cooper, B. et al. ISBN: 9781910443392
If unavailable at Unibooks, check other online suppliers. Allow for up to 3 weeks' delivery from international sellers.
6. Optional Extras:
These are not compulsory but may be helpful:
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Saunders Comprehensive Veterinary Dictionary (5th Ed.) - Studdert, Gay & Hinchcliff | ISBN: 0702074632
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Mosby’s Veterinary PDQ (4th Ed.) - Holtgrew-Bohling | ISBN: 0323881491
7. Buy/Sell/Swap Groups
You may wish to source second-hand uniforms, textbooks, or equipment. These Facebook groups can help:
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Otago Polytechnic Buy/Sell/Swap Page
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Vet Nurses and Students NZ Facebook Group
8. Programme Contacts and Support
You will be assigned a Learning Advisor who will contact you before the programme begins. They will help you:
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Join your online Teams classroom
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Get started with your studies
If you have any questions in the meantime:
Call: 0800 762 786
Email: animalhealth@op.ac.nz (your query will be forwarded to a Learning Advisor)
