Veterinary Instrumentation Orthopaedic Symposium
“Everything Thoracic Limb”
September 3rd – 5th 2022
Mantra Legends, Gold Coast

Veterinary Instrumentations inaugural Orthopaedic Symposium has been designed to grow both Veterinary and Nursing knowledge within your practice in order to “Do more and treat better.”
The Symposium will be split into two streams to support your practice’s Orthopaedic knowledge, encompassing both Veterinary and Nursing streams.
The Veterinary stream will incorporate five of Australia’s leading Orthopeadic Specialists and CPD presenters. It will explore in depth – the cervical spine, shoulder, elbow and carpus, using both presentation and small group, case-based and scientifically supported discussions.
The aim being to target the most common thoracic limb lameness cases seen in Australian small animal practice. Providing clinicians with improved practical knowledge surrounding lameness evaluation, investigation modalities and treatment options.
The Nursing stream will target all aspects of specialised Orthopaedic Veterinary Nursing, aiming to ensure clinic Orthopaedic patients are treated to Gold Standard care. Topics include anatomy and physiology, pre-anaesthesia checks, anaesthesia and pain relief for Orthopaedic patients, hospital care, post-operative care and nutritional management.
Incorporating presentations from Orthopaedic Veterinary Specialists, leading Nursing and Surgical Nursing presenters, the Nursing stream will culminate with presentations on managing stress and resilience as a part of your own self-care.
Veterinary Stream Overview
Two Day Symposium
A two-day symposium that will cover the common Orthopaedic conditions of the thoracic limb. The format will be case-based and participants will spend time between lecture presentations and small group case based discussions. Topics for presentation will include:
- Investigative modalities – X-ray v MRI v CT
- Shoulder OCD
- Biceps disease
- Elbow dysplasia
- Ununited Anconeal Process
- Fragmented Coranoid Process
- Medial Compartment Disease
- Partial and Pancarpal Arthrodesis
- Ulnar-carpal bone pathology
Optional Day 3 Practical Workshop
Locking Plates – Dry Bone Workshop
Locking bone plates are now being used regularly in Veterinary Orthopaedics. They reflect an evolution in the principles of application, design and biomechanics from the traditional dynamic compression plate. They do however carry their own specific principles of application and cannot be treated in the same way a traditional DCP is applied. An understanding of the nuances of clinical use is necessary to enhance clinical success. Learning outcomes include:
- The Evolution of Locking Plate technology
- Instrumentation and implants
- Biomechanics of Locking Plates
- Case Selection
- Application of Locking Plates
- Complications
- Case Studies
Veterinary Presenters
Dr Mark Glyde
BVSc MACVSc MVS HDipUTL DiplomateECVS
Mark is Associate Professor of Small Animal Surgery at Murdoch University and heads the orthopaedic and neurosurgery referral service.
Mark holds a Masters degree in Veterinary Surgery, is a Member of the Australian College of Veterinary Scientists in small animal surgery, a Diplomate of the European College of Veterinary Surgeons and is an Australian, European and RCVS registered Specialist Small Animal Surgeon.
He is an internationally recognised and awarded teacher with a passion for training veterinary undergraduates and postgraduate veterinarians. His main clinical interests are in small animal lameness, agility and performance / working dogs, minimally invasive orthopaedic surgery, fracture repair, arthroscopy, hip replacements and angular limb deformity correction.
Mark is also the Chair of AOVET Asia Pacific and is on the AOVET International Board and the AOVET Education Commission.
His main research interests are in fracture and implant biomechanics, particularly minimally invasive fracture repair and in veterinary kinetics of agility and sporting dogs.
Dr Lucas Beierer
BVSc GradDipEd MVetSurg DACVSSA Registered Specialist in Small Animal Surgery
Lucas graduated as a veterinarian from the University of Queensland and immediately undertook a rotating internship at Queensland Veterinary Sepcialists. Surgical internships then followed in Adelaide and Perth, part of which involved a tertiary qualification in adult education.
He undertook a residency in Small Animal Surgery at Murdoch University whilst also completing a Masters of Veterinary Surgery looking at the biomechanics of locking plates.
Lucas was accepted by examination as a Member of the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists (Surgery chapter) in 2011. He became a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons – Small Animal in 2015 and an RCVS Recognised Specialist in Small Animal Orthopaedics in 2016. He has spent several years working in the Northwest of England prior to making the decision to return home to Brisbane. He has a broad array of surgical training and clinical experiences, enabling him to offer the very best to QVS clients and to his CPD students. He is certified to perform Total Hip Replacements and has extensive experience in minimally invasive traumatology
Dr Mark Newman
BVSc MVS MANZCVS DipECVS
Mark is a Specialist in Small Animal Surgery at Western Australia Veterinary Emergency and Specialty (WAVES) in Perth.
After an internship in Ireland, several years in general practice, and surgical residency at the University of Sydney, Mark became a Diplomate of the European College of Veterinary Surgeons in 2015. He then spent several years as a lecturer in Small Animal Surgery at Murdoch University and two years in private referral practice in Sydney, before returning to Western Australia.
Mark enjoys teaching the new generation of veterinarians and specialists and is currently a tutor in the Centre for Veterinary Education Surgery distance education course, an adjunct senior lecturer at Murdoch University, and a faculty member of AOVET. He is also an active member of the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists, and is a regular examiner at both the membership and fellowship level.
Mark is particularly interested in minimally invasive joint surgery and fracture repair.
Dr Ricky Cashmore
BVSc FANZCVS (SAS) Registered Specialist in Small Animal Surgery
Ricky has 15 years of experience in specialist referral practice. As a specialist surgeon, he enjoys all areas of orthopaedic, soft tissue, oncologic and neurosurgery.
Ricky received his veterinary degree from The University of Melbourne in 2005. Following a year in general practice, he completed a rotating internship at the Queens Veterinary School Hospital University of Cambridge (UK), surgical internship at the Veterinary Specialist Centre and surgical residency at Australia’s largest referral centre, the Small Animal Specialist Hospital (SASH) in Sydney. Ricky also completed additional training at Murdoch University, Sydney University, University of California, and Gulf Coast Veterinary Specialists.
Ricky is a Fellow of the Australian New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists in Small Animal Surgery and a Registered Small Animal Surgical Specialist. He has published widely and is a regular guest lecturer both nationally and internationally. Ricky is also a consultant to several Specialist Hospitals around Australia and Orthopaedic companies both nationally and internationally.
Dr Tim Pearson
BVSc MANZCVS GradDipEd MVetClinStud MVetSurg DipECVS Registered Specialist in Small Animal Surgery
Tim graduated from the University of Queensland in 2001 with honours and worked in Mixed and Small Animal practice for several years in both Australia and the UK before returning home in 2008 to pursue his dream of becoming a Specialist Small Animal Surgeon.
He attained Membership of the Australian & New Zealand College in Small Animal Surgery by examination in 2009 and then moved to Perth where he completed a 12-month surgical teaching and research program at Murdoch University followed by a 3-year specialist residency training program in Small Animal Surgery as well as Clinical and Research Masters degrees in fracture biomechanics. After leaving Murdoch in 2015, he worked for 3 years in a busy private referral practice in Perth and in 2017, he became a Diplomate of the European College of Veterinary Surgeons by examination and is a registered specialist in Small Animal Surgery. Tim embraces all aspects of surgery but in particular, he enjoys complex fracture repair, joint replacement and neurosurgery.
Tim and his wife Lauren returned home to Brisbane in 2019 after 9 years in Perth. In his spare time, Tim is a sporting tragic and spends his spare time refereeing rugby and supporting his beloved Broncos, Reds and the Wallabies. He and his wife have a little boy named Tom and a tabby cat named Poppy.
Price and Inclusions
Morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea are included each day, with a Saturday evening cocktail style dinner event.

Accommodation
Mantra Legends Hotel unlocks sun, surf, sand and the very best the Gold Coast has to offer. Located just 100m from the beach.

Plenary Speaker
Gerrard Gosens is one of Australia’s true high achievers. Gerrard is a totally blind adventurer, threetime Paralympian, Project Manager, Chocolatier and motivational speaker.

Dinner Event
A great opportunity to catch up with old friends, make new friends or just let your hair down for a couple of hours.
Nursing Stream Overview
Two Day Symposium
A two-day symposium that will ensure participants are well equipped to set up their practice with Gold Standard Orthopaedic care and be able to support both Surgeons and Patients through pre, during and post op Orthopaedic procedures. Topics for presentation will include:
- Introduction to Orthopaedic anatomy and physiology of the thoracic limb
- Orthopaedic Radiography
- Pre-anaesthetic planning
- Intraoperative monitoring
- Post-operative nursing
- Nutritional management
- Pain and analgesia
- Continuous rate Infusions
- Managing Stress and Resilience in the workplace
Optional Day 3 Practical Workshop
Introduction to Animal Physiotherapy
Learn and practice treatment modalities that can
be applied to the orthopaedic patient:
- Safe Handling of Orthopaedic Patients
post-operatively - Passive Range Of Motion (ROM)
- Hot and Cold Therapies, their applications,
and safe use - Harnesses, slings and braces – application
and fitting
Instrument care and audit
Understanding your Orthopedic equipment is absolutely critical in maintaining its longevity in clinic and maximizing the efficiency and effectiveness of your veterinary nursing team. This practical hands on workshop will step veterinary nurses through understanding Orthopedic equipment, its usage, proper care and cleaning. Veterinary nurses will explore not just how certain instruments are used, but why and when a piece of equipment has reached and exceeded the end of its useful life expectancy. Veterinary nurses will also be given the tools to conduct an equipment audit, ensuring they are able to go straight back into their own clinics and audit their kits looking for the correct signs of usage, wear and damage that indicates a piece of equipment can be repaired, replaced or is okay to continue serving its purpose as a critical member of the surgical team.
Nursing Presenters
Tania Gover
Business Development Advisor Assoc.Dip.App.Sc. VN
Tania has over 20 years’ experience within the veterinary industry, including 10 years practice management, and more recently as Business Development Manager with Provet. She has a passion for all aspects of Veterinary business with special interest in inventory control, business development and efficiencies and purchasing analysis and trends. This combined with her positive, proactive and enthusiastic style, makes her a well-respected and sought-after advisor and trainer.
Navin Prakash
Veterinary Technology Clinical Coordinator BAppSci(VT), RVT, CVN, AFHEA
Navin graduated from the University of Queensland in 2011 and has worked in specialist and emergency practice in Brisbane. He spent most of his clinical career at Queensland Veterinary Specialists, working as a surgical and anaesthesia technician. He quickly worked his way up to head department technician before transitioning over to hospital Nurse Manager, coordinating over 30 Veterinary Nurses and Technicians across two locations in medicine, surgery, anaesthesia, critical care and husbandry.
Navin returned to the University of Queensland in 2017 as a teacher for the Veterinary Technology degree both as an educator and clinical/ rotations coordinator. He is also an Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (UK).
Navin has a strong interest in clinical teaching in surgery and anaesthesia, as well as professional training and development for Veterinary Nurses and Technicians.
Dr Alena Gadoury
BBVSc (First Class Honours), BScN
For over 15 years, Alena has dedicated herself to the healthcare industry. She is currently a veterinarian and is the National Sales Specialist for Provet – VI (Veterinary Instrumentation).
Alena’s desire to help others has shown throughout her career. After obtaining her nursing degree at McMaster University in Canada, Alena worked as a registered nurse in paediatrics and in adult mental health. She then embarked on her veterinary journey across the world at the University of Sydney. She has worked in emergency, mixed animal, small animal, exotics and wildlife hospitals.
In 2019, Alena switched into an industry position. Since then, she has become the administrator for Vets: Stay, Go, Diversify – Down Under, and is an international speaker having been involved in The Global Veterinary Career Summit and The Big Student Careers Fair. She also volunteers her time to support animals and veterinarians across Australia and New Zealand.
Andrew Thompson
Cert IV VN, Cert IV TAE, Dip. Counselling
Andrew started his Veterinary Nursing career in early 2003 and has worked in GP, ECC, Bird and Exotics and even a Pet Crematorium since then. As well as a Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing and Certificate IV in Training and Assessment he holds a Diploma of Counselling and completed Mental Health First Aid Instructor Accreditation in December of 2020 after first becoming an Accredited Mental Health First Aider in August 2016. Andrew has been working with AIRC since early 2015, first in the enrolments department before moving to a trainer/assessor role in late 2016. In his time spent outside of AIRC he volunteers and works as a Peer Supporter/ Counsellor for a national hotline and has done since 2013.
Andrew shares his home with his partner, geriatric chihuahua Deja, geriatric cat Marshall, “normal” cat Belladonna, bearded dragon Charlie and a bird called Turtle.
Dr Keely Wilson
BVSc, MVetClinStud, MVA, MANZCVS, DipACVAA
Keely is a Board Certified Specialist in Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia. Keely graduated from Sydney University in 2008 and worked in mixed and emergency practice in Australia and overseas. After completing an equine internship, she stayed in equine referral practice where she developed her love of anaesthesia. Keely started a residency in anaesthesia and analgesia at Murdoch University, training in both the American and European programmes as well as completing two master’s degrees in veterinary Anaesthesia and Veterinary Clinical Studies.
After working in the UK for 18 months both in academia and at a busy referral practice, she has returned to Sydney and works in a number of referral hospitals. She holds memberships in the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists in Anaesthesia and Analgesia and is a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Anaesthetists.
Keely is passionate about all aspects of anaesthesia but is particularly interested in cardiac interventions, anaesthesia of critically ill patients, the use of ultrasound guided locoregional anaesthesia.
Katrinka Geelen
BHSC (OT), Cert VN, BHSC (PT), PG Dip (Vet Pty)
Katrinka is a qualified Physiotherapist, a member of the Australian Physiotherapy Association (APAM), and representative for APA Animal Physiotherapy Group. She is currently completing her Master of Science in Veterinary Physiotherapy at the University of Liverpool.
Katrinka entered the veterinary industry in 2006 as a veterinary nurse, with a keen interest in animal rehabilitation. This passion led to the pursuit of a career in human physiotherapy, with the intention of transferring her physiotherapy skills to animal care. She worked for over 8 years as a senior physiotherapist in a variety of roles, in particular acute inpatient care and rehabilitation.
Katrinka made the transition to animal physiotherapy in 2017, spending the last three years working as an Animal Physiotherapist in Sydney at the Small Animal Specialist Hospital (SASH) until recently relocating to the Sunshine Coast. Katrinka has a special interest in postoperative rehabilitation of animals following orthopaedic and spinal surgery, as well as performance dogs and horses, and beloved family pets.
Katrinka is passionate about animal physiotherapy and its unique complement to veterinary medicine, and thrives in helping patients return to their optimal function and performance. Outside of physiotherapy, Katrinka is a keen sportswoman, competing in triathlons around the country. When not training or studying, you are likely to find her exploring the great outdoors.
Maggie Burley
RVN, Cert IV VN, Dip VN (Dentistry), VTS (Dentistry)
Maggie is a Registered Veterinary Nurse with over 15 years’ experience in small animal general practice. She has experience in all facets of general practice nursing across a wide scope of surgical and hospitalised patients. Maggie has assisted in orthopaedic and soft tissue surgeries and the post-operative care and recouperation of these patients along with conducting nurse consultations to educate clients in the post-operative care of their pets.
Price and Inclusions
Morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea are included each day, with a Saturday evening cocktail style dinner event.
WIN A SCHOLARSHIP
ACM50219 Diploma of Veterinary Nursing
Delivered by Animal Industries Resource Centre (AIRC)
Are you a qualified Certificate IV Veterinary Nurse looking to advance your knowledge and skills in veterinary nursing? The Diploma of Veterinary Nursing qualification reflects the role of a senior veterinary nurse who works under the supervision of a registered veterinarian, to provide leadership to staff and advanced nursing care for animals including applying specialist skills and in-depth knowledge to patient assessment, care and management within a veterinary workplace. Choose your Diploma specialisation electives from the fields of General Practice; Dental; Emergency and Critical Care; and Surgical Nursing.
Exclusive to VI Orthopaedic Symposium delegates only, AIRC is offering a full scholarship opportunity for one eligible veterinary nurse valued at $4950. To submit your scholarship application, simply click on the below link and tell us in 500 words or less, why you should be awarded the scholarship and provide an e-copy of a recommendation letter from your supervising veterinarian.