title: Demographics and employment destinations of a new group of veterinary technologists in Australia.
abstract: This article provides a descriptive analysis of the demographics and employment destinations of the first three cohorts (2003-2005) of graduates (N=69) from a program that is unique in Australia: the Bachelor of Applied Science (Veterinary Technology) at the University of Queensland. Data for this study were collected in February 2006 via e-mail, telephone, or personal communication with graduates, and from university records. Ninety-three percent (64/69) of the graduates were female. The mean age was 23 years, and 58% (40/69) had entered university directly from high school. Employment destinations were determined for 96% of the graduates (N=66). Of those, 52% (34/66) were employed in veterinary practices. Government agencies and allied animal industries accounted for 15% (10/66). Another 14% (9/66) had enrolled in further undergraduate study. Three percent (2/66) had enrolled in a research honors year or a doctor of philosophy (PhD) degree program at the School of Veterinary Science. Eight percent (5/66) were employed in wildlife parks, zoos, or universities, and the remaining 9% (6/66) were traveling overseas, seeking employment, or employed outside the field. The study revealed that graduates were employed in diverse veterinary and allied animal health occupations. There appears to be a niche for Australian veterinary technology graduates educated in a university environment that complements the role of the veterinary profession in the twenty-first century. This reflects trends emerging in other countries, most notably the United States and the United Kingdom.
authors.affiliation: School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD, Australia. patricia.clarke@uq.edu.au
authors.forename: Patricia M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Clarke
authors.forename: Daniel N
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Schull
authors.forename: Glen T
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Coleman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017750:Animal Technicians / Q000193:education / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003710:Demography; D004651:Employment / Q000145:classification / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011793:Queensland; D013336:Students, Health Occupations / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult