Southern Cross University has partnered with the Lincoln Institute to endorse the veterinary education provider’s suite of professional development short courses as building continues on its new veterinary facilities..

The new partnership will see the Lincoln Institute of Veterinary Business’ leadership and non-clinical training programs formally recognised with micro-credentials from Southern Cross University, thereby acknowledging the academic and professional merit of the training.

It comes as Southern Cross University prepares to launch its five-year Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine (Honours) degree in March 2026. The University’s three-year Bachelor of Veterinary Technology , which commenced earlier this year, has proved popular with veterinary nurses, school leavers and mature-aged students from around Australia.

Construction of the new veterinary science facilities in U Block at the Lismore campus is well underway and expected to open by the end of 2025.

(Professor Jon Hills at the construction site for the new Veterinary Laboratory and Veterinary Training Clinic at U-Block SCU. Photo: supplied)

The collaboration between Southern Cross and the Lincoln Institute reflects a growing commitment to equipping veterinary professionals with the skills and recognition they need to thrive in an increasingly complex and demanding profession.

“It’s a quality assurance mechanism. The credentials bring real value to both graduates of Lincoln’s short courses as well as employers,” said Professor Jon Hill, Executive Dean of the Faculty of Science and Engineering at Southern Cross University.

“For Southern Cross University, this is a wonderful extension of our undergraduate programs into postgraduate and professional realms. As a veterinary school, we are committed to co-designing and co-delivering education with input from the profession.

“Lincoln brings an established reputation, a proven curriculum, and deep industry relevance that helps us build a veterinary program that’s fit for modern veterinary practice.”

The University’s Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine (Honours) is a reimagined veterinary medicine course that is student-centred and co-designed with the veterinary profession to produce practically and clinically skilled, resilient graduates.

The Lincoln Institute contributed to the curriculum development for the professional and communication skills units in the Bachelor of Veterinary Technology and the Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine (Honours) degrees.

(Professor Hill in the new veterinary sciences tech labs. Photo: supplied)

“Leadership, communication, and resilience are as critical to veterinary success as clinical skill. By embedding Lincoln’s proven leadership content into our undergraduate offerings and recognising their external programs, we’re preparing students for the complexities of the veterinary profession,” said Professor Hill.

Paul Ainsworth, Founder and Co-Director of the Lincoln Institute, said the partnership marked a major step forward for the profession.

“This integration into Southern Cross University’s undergraduate program is designed to strengthen students’ professional competence in leadership, communication, and team effectiveness – areas identified as critical to long-term career sustainability in the veterinary profession,” said Mr Ainsworth.

Mr Ainsworth said the expansion of the partnership directly into the veterinary profession through university-back credentials was testament to Lincoln Institute’s rigorous curriculum development over 15 years.

“We’re proud to partner with Southern Cross University in raising the bar for professional development across the industry. This collaboration sets a new benchmark for industry-academic alignment and reflects a growing recognition of the need for non-clinical competencies in ensuring sustainable, successful veterinary careers.”