Pre-EMS Animal Handling Skills will be taught in an intensive two-week period commencing immediately after the end of Semester B examinations. It will be followed by one clear week before any scheduled Husbandry EMS begins to allow time for remediation and reassessment should any students be judged inadequate in their interactions with some species. Students will be in small groups under close supervision by a Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences staff€ member and the activities will take place on a farm or in a kennel, cattery, or stables that has the standard handling facilities for the particular species. This will be followed by a practical animal handling examination in the form of directly observed procedure where students are observed by a suitably qualifed and experienced assessor.

Pre-EMS Animal Handling Skills will have been preceded by Livestock Husbandry and in that course, sheep handling and the sheep industry more generally will be covered.

The pattern of teaching and learning will be the same for each species. There will be a recap presentation by the staff member about indicators of the temperament of the particular species followed by the students' assessment of the temperament and behaviour of the animals presented for the class. This is followed by a revision of the animal handling activities which will be demonstrated by the staff member and practiced by each student several times. Animal handling competency will be assessed by means of a Practical Examination in which students are expected to demonstrate they can competently handle and restrain cattle, horses, dogs, and cats to pass. There will be an opportunity in the week following for remedial teaching, learning, and assessment.
One day of the two-week period will be an interactive classroom-based session focusing on professional development, including essential communication skills for the workplace.

Students are required to have demonstrated competency in all Pre-EMS Animal Handling Skills and pass the Practical Examination (directly observed procedure). Students with an unsatisfactory performance will be eligible for one remediation and resit assessment session.

Students are required to have achieved 100% completion for all animal handling skills recorded in the specified manner/system before the end of the course.

Students are also required to complete a written reflective assignment to reflect on their animal handling abilities and workplace communication including future goal setting for further skills development. This will be marked according to the rubric below.

A PASS grade will be awarded for satisfactory performance of all assessment tasks/activities.  Unsatisfactory performance will constitute an overall FAIL grade for the course.  Students must pass this course before taking part in husbandry EMS placements.