Planning is well underway for the annual Tonga veterinary clinic, which will see a group of 24 Unitec ākonga, kaimahi, veterinarians and veterinary nurses based in a Tongan village for one week in December to support the work of South Pacific Animal Welfare (SPAW).

The voluntary trip, which has been running for the past 11 years, provides Unitec’s veterinary nursing students with a valuable learning opportunity as part of the Bachelor of Veterinary Nursing.

SPAW runs five pop-up clinics a year in the village of Tokomololo in Tongatapu to provide desexing surgeries to help with animal population control, as well as a range of preventative health care services such as flea and worm treatment and vaccinations.

Unitec Veterinary Nursing Programme Coordinator Kate Harder is leading the initiative for the first time this year, while running several collaborative research projects to evaluate and improve animal health in Tonga.

“This is a fantastic opportunity for our students to practice their skills in a more challenging environment,” she says.

“The normal bells and whistles associated with the average New Zealand clinic are not available in
Tonga and team members often have to be creative with the materials and resources available.

“The added bonus is that students also get a chance to learn more about the Tongan culture as well as hands-on professional skills which they can put in place in our veterinary clinics at home.”

With no permanent veterinarian in Tonga, preventative health care services are not easily available, and these clinics are usually the only time the community can gain access to treatment for their cats, dogs, and any other animals brought into the clinic, which ranges from ducks to piglets.

The students assist local communities with preventative animal health care services, including pre-surgical health checks, preparation of required anaesthesia drugs, monitoring anaesthesia, and assistance with recovery after surgery. Learners also get the opportunity to support the veterinary team with emergency surgeries and illnesses, carrying out more than 130 surgeries and over 100 medical consultations last year.

Veterinary nursing student Madelene Clunie, who took part in the clinic last year, says, “A highlight for me was when I was placed on running consults. I felt I thrived in that setting, just getting to know the locals and helping them the best I could.

“I’ve never been very confident with client communication, but in Tonga, I could quite literally feel my confidence grow throughout that particular day and the week overall.”

More than 40 veterinary nursing students applied for this year’s trip, with 12 students selected. They are accompanied by five staff members and several practising veterinarians and veterinary nurses.

The group relies on donations to support the trip, and is currently collecting flea and worm treatments, dog collars and other animal products for use while they’re based at the clinic in December.

One staff member has also made over $500 selling homemade tomato relish, marmalade and lemon honey to friends, family, and staff.

Donations can be made here: https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/help-us-support-companion-animals-in-tonga-3 or directly to a designated fundraising account.

Please contact course coordinator Kate Harder on kharder@unitec.ac.nz for bank account details or if you have further fundraising or donation ideas. They’d love to hear them!

Trip highlights from 2023 

Madelene Clunie (now third year BVN student)

“A highlight for me would have been when I was placed on running consults. I felt I thrived in that setting, just getting to know the locals and helping them the best I could.

Another clinical highlight would have bee

n when I placed a catheter in a puppy. Admittedly, I didn’t get it the first time, but did on the second attempt, which was rewarding in the moment.

To any students questioning whether to apply for this trip or not, just go for it, it is so worthwhile. I know for myself I was second-guessing myself beforehand, but I have absolutely no regrets about taking part in this t

rip. If I could go again, I would.”

Lauren Prior (Unitec lecturer and Tonga Head Anaesthesia Nurse)

 “My highlight would be not only seeing the students’ practical skills and confidence grow over the week, but also their ability to work compassionately together as a team. Watching them helping each other out when others were busy, ensuring team members took breaks and being supportive when new skills were being practiced is fantastic to watch as a lecturer. This gives me the warm fuzzies because our veterinary industry needs this type of teamwork to thrive.”

Our 2024 Pacific Practicum Course Co-ordinator

This year, NZCAT Programme Coordinator Kate Harder is taking over the reins of this course. Kate has had a strong interest in improving animal care in Tonga since her first trip there in 2012. Kate is running several collaborative research projects currently to evaluate and improve animal health in Tonga so is a perfect staff member to take over the role from Head of School Laura Harvey.

“My first trip to Tonga with SPAW showed the hardship the communities face with restricted access to preventative healthcare resources and knowledge and sparked a love in me for this Pacific Island. Since starting at Unitec in 2019 and becoming involved in this Practicum field trip, I am thrilled to be able to pass on my knowledge and experiences with our students to show them how lucky we are here in New Zealand, and how we can use our knowledge and skills to help Pacific communities. As a frequent visitor to Tonga, having some local knowledge and friends certainly helps with the logistics of the trip! I am looking forward to leading the team this year and watching another batch of students develop their skills and cultural knowledge.”