By Alesha Capone
The University of Melbourne says that no changes are being planned to operations or staffing levels at the U-Vet Werribee Animal Hospital “at this time” despite reports a number of staff would be made redundant.
Racing.com last week reported that the university was looking to make 11 of the 50 academics who teach trainee vets at the hospital redundant.
It was also reported that the future of the university’s Werribee Equine Centre, which provides care for international racehorses ahead of the Spring Carnival, was “clouded” due to “considerable changes” which could potentially be rolled out.
The Equine Centre’s head, Dr Chris Whitten, told radio station RSN927 that the university was in discussions as to how it could “deal with the substantial shortfall in income based on the loss of international students”.
“The University of Melbourne, through all its faculties, have to look at saving money to cover the loss of international students through the COVID crisis and it would be naive to think the equine centre would be immune from that,” Dr Whitten said.
In a statement, a university spokesperson said: “There are no changes to U-Vet operations or staffing at this time.
“Staff are currently being consulted on a proposed change plan for the U-Vet Werribee Animal Hospital as part of the university’s response to the impact of COVID-19, but no decisions have been made and no changes have been implemented.
“U-Vet Werribee Equine Centre is a valuable research hub and the university plans to maintain it so our researchers can continue their work, which has tangible beneficial impacts on equine health, including within the racing sector.”
