Introduction to Orthopaedics Fixing Fractures
2 Days of Practical Learning for Vets, Nurses & Techs
Learn fracture repair skills your clinic can use today.
June 5th - 7th, 2026
Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga Campus
CPD Points
NSW = 24
All other states = 16
AVNAT = 16
Watch the Workshop Experience
Proudly Partnered With
Is This Workshop For You?
If you’re ready to pick up the drill and repair your first fractures, this two-day entry-level orthopaedics course is exactly what you need. Start your orthopaedic development the right way, from handling equipment to full procedural guidance and into postoperative care.
Veterinarians will perform these procedures:
- Compression plate repair of a transverse radial fracture
- Independent lag screw & neutralisation plate repair – oblique tibial fracture
- K-wire & tension band for tibial tuberosity transposition (TTT)
- Plate/rod repair – comminuted femoral fracture
Nurses & Techs will get hands-on training:
- Triage
- Fracture stabilisation
- Instrument knowledge & care
- Infection control
- Patient prep for orthopaedic procedures
- Scrubbing in
- CRIs for pain management
- Monitoring anaesthesia
- Complications
- Dressings & postoperative care
This course is available to any registered veterinarian who is inspired to start orthopaedics, PLUS a nurse or tech from the same clinic. Everyone is welcome from general practice, referral hospitals, internship programs and emergency clinics.
Bonus Value: A dedicated Nurse & Tech Stream is now included, ensuring the whole clinical team learns together.
Why This Workshop is Different
Who Should Attend
Take this opportunity, designed for vets, nurses & techs, to improve their orthopaedic care together. Learn to manage fractures with confidence while keeping the whole animal in mind and strengthen your team’s skills to deliver the best outcomes for every patient.
Hands-On Fracture Experience for Vets
Surgeons will repair four different fractures each, with personalised critique and surgical debrief. This course is suitable for vets who would like to commence orthopaedics. No previous fracture fixation experience is necessary.
Case Review & Planning
Vets will review cases, interpret radiographs, plan repairs, and handle a range of orthopaedic equipment and implants, building confidence in each procedure before entering the theatre.
Interactive Surgical Practice
The best part? After interactive demonstrations, every veterinary surgeon will get to fix fractures themselves, putting theory into practice in a hands-on environment.
Dedicated Stream for Nurses & Techs
Focused training on perioperative care, theatre prep, analgesia, instruments, and assisting in surgery. Arming your team with the tools to deliver seamless, patient-centered orthopaedic procedures.
What's On Offer
Clinical Context to Help You Thrive
Learn how bone responds to injury and healing, recognise factors that affect recovery, and choose the right hardware for each case. You’ll also develop the judgment to know when to reconstruct and when to bridge a fracture.
For the Surgeons in the Room
You’ll develop practical skills in fracture assessment, planning, and execution across a variety of cases. Learn in a dynamic, hands-on environment where you can practice decision-making, handle implants and equipment, and refine techniques that make a real difference in patient outcomes.
For the Nurses & Technicians
Develop practical skills in orthopaedic nursing. From patient triage and surgical preparation to anaesthetic monitoring and post-op care. You’ll gain confidence scrubbing in, maintaining infection control, and supporting every stage of the orthopaedic workflow.
Workshop Breakdown
What’s Included?
2 Full Days of Training with over 9 Hours of Practical Lab Time
All Materials & Equipment Provided
CPD Certificate with 24 Points NSW, 16 Points All Other States.
Nurse/Techs 16 AVNAT Points
A printed practical handbook and digital notes to review on your own time
Lunch, Morning Tea & Afternoon Tea
Need to Travel?
We’ll send you a recommended
accommodation list and provide the details you need ahead of time.
Your Educators
Dr Brenton Chambers
Qualifications: BVSc (Hons), MVSc, FANZCVS (Small Animal Surgery)
Dr Chambers graduated in 1994 from the University of Queensland, and spent his early career in general and emergency practice. He became a registered specialist in Small Animal Surgery in 2013. Brenton works in specialist referral practice at the Centre for Animal Referral and Emergency (CARE) in Melbourne, with a special interest in minimally invasive surgery. Brenton is an experienced educator and says the fine nuance of surgical procedures are learned from doing and watching others. He reminds all vets to keep in touch and support each other.
Dr Julian Lunn
Qualifications: BVSc, MANZCVS (Small Animal Surgery and Small Animal Medicine), MVetClinStud (Neurology)
Julian has worked at Veterinary Specialist Services (VSS) in Qld and Animal Referral and Emergency Centre (AREC) in NSW. He has also been a clinician and teacher at the University of Sydney, James Cook University and the University of Queensland.
He has memberships in both small animal medicine and small animal surgery and completed his surgical residency in 2007 with time at Murdoch University and Colorado State University. He also has a Masters of Veterinary Clinical Studies.
Julian has experience in all areas of surgery from cardiothoracic, oncology and vascular to orthopaedic, neurological and trauma. He is a passionate teacher and is keen to share real-world surgery with both undergraduate students and postgraduate veterinary surgeons.
Dr Peter Young
Qualifications: BVSc MANZCVS
Dr Peter Young describes a varied and rewarding career in many aspects of veterinary practice. While his early clinical years were spent in dairy cattle, an equine stud and rural practice, a move to Albury sparked an interest in small animal surgery. Membership exams followed in 1990, then second opinion surgical practice. In 2010, Peter joined Charles Sturt University, where he was involved in providing referral surgical services and served as Superintendent of the Veterinary Teaching Hospital until 2017. Since then, Peter has decided on part-time work, to allow time for many other pursuits.
Dr Malcolm Jack
Qualifications: BVSc(Hons) MANZCVS DipECVS
Malcolm graduated from The University of Melbourne in 2011 and completed a surgical internship in Brisbane, followed by a residency at Massey University in New Zealand. In 2020, he achieved ECVS Specialist status in Small Animal Surgery. He then spent six years at Cave Veterinary Specialists in the UK, where he developed a particular interest in fracture repair and wound reconstruction. Malcolm has recently returned to Melbourne and is now part of the team at AEC + Specialty Care. Outside of work, he enjoys cycling, hiking, and exploring the outdoors with his wife and their dog, Yeti.
Rhonda Ponder
Qualifications: RVN, AVN, DipVN(GP), DipVN(Surgery)
Rhonda has over 20 years of experience spanning general practice, specialty surgery and anaesthesia, emergency and critical care, as well as management and professional development. She holds Diplomas in Veterinary Nursing (General Practice and Surgery), is RECOVER certified, an accredited Mental Health First Aid Officer, and has maintained VNCA Accreditation since 2009. One of the first AVNAT Registered Veterinary Nurses in Australia, Rhonda was named VNCA National Veterinary Nurse of the Year in 2023. Passionate about advancing veterinary nursing, she lectures and teaches nationally and internationally, with clinical interests in anaesthesia, loco-regional analgesia, surgery and critical care.
Dr Margie McEwen
Qualifications: BVSc DACVAA MANZCVS
Margie is a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia.
Many vets and nurses will agree that Margie’s warmth and her willingness to share her clinical and academic experience have been instrumental in their careers. Margie maintains, however, that it was her years in private practice rather than her academic accolades which keep her tuned in to the reality of veterinary medicine. Margie continues to teach anaesthesia and analgesia into VetPrac’s hands-on workshops and online courses, as she continues her mission for lifelong learning.
Cindy Grew
Qualifications: Cert IV Vet Nurse, Cert IV TAE
Cindy is the Marketing & Education Coordinator at VetCare B. Braun Pty Ltd Australia and New Zealand, and is a practicing veterinary nurse with more than ten years of experience. Cindy coordinates workshops, onsite and online training with vets and vet nurses. One of Cindy’s passions is caring for Australian native wildlife: she is a wildlife carer with WIRES, heading up the wildlife treatment division within the clinic. Cindy’s passion is sharing current skills and techniques with veterinary professionals and helping them achieve their potential.
Lauren Harris
Qualifications: RVN AVN DipVN (Surgery) DipVN (Leadership & Management)
Lauren has been a Veterinary Nurse for over 20 years, with the latter part of her career spent in specialty practice. She also worked for four years as an Anaesthetic Nurse at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital. Most recently, she has stepped out of specialty and into her current role as Senior Nurse at the RSPCA.
Leanne Branford
Qualifications: RVN, AVN, Cert IV VN, DipVN(Surgical)
Leanne has a Diploma in Veterinary Nursing (Surgical) and is focused on surgical and critical patient care, surgical assistance, anaesthesia and analgesia, theatre management and sterile supply.
Leanne enjoys all aspects of surgical nursing, striving for the highest standards of care with each patient. Throughout her career, Leanne has mentored colleagues by sharing her knowledge and passion for surgery, and is now expanding to embrace her passion for education in the wider veterinary nurse community.
Payment Options: Vet + Nurse/Tech Ticket
Payment Options: Nurse/Tech Ticket Only
What Vets Are Saying
Hear It from Past Attendees:
– Dr Brendan Sinnott
– Dr Anita Barton
Don’t Miss Out!
Addressing Common Questions
"Is the Introduction to Orthopaedics Workshop worth the investment?”
Absolutely! The skills you’ll gain at the Introduction to Orthopaedics Fixing Fractures Workshop will repay your investment many times over. You’ll learn how to handle orthopaedic equipment, repair common fractures, and provide effective postoperative care with improved technique. Skills that translate directly into better patient outcomes and smoother surgical workflows.
"I don’t have time to take off work. Why should I attend?"
Investing two days in the Introduction to Orthopaedics: Fixing Fractures Workshop is an investment in your patients, your team, and your own professional satisfaction. You’ll gain hands-on experience managing a variety of fracture cases, build practical skills that improve surgical efficiency, and learn techniques that directly enhance patient care. On top of that, you’ll earn CPD points while returning to work more confident, capable, and ready to make a real difference in your practice.
"Will I actually be able to apply these skills?"
100%! The Introduction to Orthopaedics Fixing Fractures Workshop focuses on practical, real-world training that you can take straight back to your clinic. You’ll spend extensive time in hands-on sessions, performing fracture repairs yourself under the guidance of experienced surgeons. Every procedure, technique, and discussion is designed to build understanding and capability you can begin using in general practice right away.
Reserve Your Spot Now
Only 32 Vet and 40 Nurses/Tech Places Available
Investment: $3,900 AUD Vet + Nurse/Tech Ticket
Vets Earn 24 CPD Points NSW, All other States 16 CPD Points.
Nurse/Techs Earn 16 AVNAT Points
Ready to Take Your Skills to the Next Level? Secure your place today!
This workshop is designed for real vets and nurses working in real clinics. Teams who want to build their confidence, strengthen their surgical skills, and improve outcomes in fracture repair. If that sounds like you, we’ll see you there!
Your Questions Answered
Are group discounts available?
Yes. At the Introduction to Orthopaedics Fixing Fractures Workshop we believe in work together, learn together. If three or more veterinarians from the same clinic register under one booking, you’ll automatically receive a 5% discount at checkout when you book through our website. Nurse and tech places are already included at no extra cost, so this discount is reserved for groups of veterinarians.
Will I get CPD points and a CPD certificate?
Yes. Every participant in the Introduction to Orthopaedics Fixing Fractures Workshop will earn CPD points and receive a personalised CPD certificate. Certificates are emailed within seven days of the workshop, making it easy to update your professional records straight away.
What kind of learning materials are included?
At the Introduction to Orthopaedics Fixing Fractures Workshop, all participants receive comprehensive learning materials. You’ll get digital course notes for easy reference and a printed copy of the practical guide to support your hands-on training. These resources ensure you can revisit key techniques and tips long after the workshop ends.
What happens if I pay and then later can’t attend?
If you need to transfer or change your registration to another workshop, an administration fee of $50 applies. Cancellations made within 45 days of the workshop start date will incur a fee equal to 50% of the course investment. Please note that cancellations made within 7 days of the workshop commencement are non-refundable.
Can I pay in instalments, or do you offer payment plans?
Yes! At VetPrac we are pleased to offer payment plans for our online courses and workshops. We want to make it manageable for you to invest in your professional development.
For more information regarding our payment plans, please email [email protected].
What happens if the workshop is cancelled?
If VetPrac cancels the Introduction to Orthopaedics Fixing Fractures Workshop, your course fees will be refunded in full. Please note that VetPrac cannot be held responsible for any travel, accommodation, or other expenses you may have incurred.