Melbourne University plans to close Werribee animal hospital

At least 80 jobs will disappear in Melbourne’s west after a university announced plans to close its animal hospital and scrap its Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences.

Melbourne University has announced plans to close its U-Vet animal hospital at Werribee.

In an email to staff, university vice-chancellor Duncan Maskell said staff shortages, a fall in revenue and rising costs had forced the proposed closure.

It’s believed as many as 80 jobs would go if the plan goes ahead.

“Over many years, various modifications to the current teaching model and operations have been explored to ensure that the hospital was able to provide our students with the clinical experience required,’’ Professor Maskell said.

The U-Vet animal hospital is open to the public and has provided care for animals for several years.

U-Vet Werribee Animal Hospital will close.

The equine centre at the Werribee campus will continue to operate.

The university will also dissolve the Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences and integrate the vet and ag schools into the Faculty of Science.

The current head of veterinary and agricultural sciences, Professor John Fazakerley, will finish up as Dean on Friday.

“The University remains fully committed to all disciplines within both faculties,’’ Prof Maskell said.

“These changes do not involve the discontinuation of any area of research or teaching and all of our campuses associated with our work in both faculties will be retained.’’

It’s believed all courses will continue unaffected.

In a statement, the National Tertiary Education Union said its members had continually been subjected to restructures and redundancies which had affected their mental health and wellbeing.

“Reorganisations take a psychological toll on University of Melbourne staff who are trying to deliver the high-quality care U-Vet hospital patients deserve. Budget cuts and reorganisations add another layer of complexity to incredibly complex work,” said David Gonzalez, Melbourne Uni’s branch secretary, said.

“The Werribee Animal Hospital had already been subject to $10 million in cuts by the University of Melbourne in 2021 which resulted in the closure of pet emergency services and dozens of staff redundancies.

“Those cuts saw an outpouring of community support for the hospital and staff with over 4000 people signing a change.org petition to try and stop them.

“It’s especially devastating for our members and colleagues to learn about the proposed sale of the U-Vet hospital.

“Western suburbs residents have relied on the hospital’s services for their beloved pets and animals for many years and may now be abandoned by the University of Melbourne.’’

Under the vet proposal, a new structure would be necessary, a university spokesman said, and 20 new roles – 15 academic and 5 professional – would be required.

The changes come after the Herald Sun revealed last year of the closure of emergency and 24-hour services at the equine hospital.

And in 2020, the U-Vet centre was seeking redundancies as the hours of operations were scaled back.