Frequently asked questions

This initiative aims to deliver psychological health and safety awareness training sessions for all individuals working in the veterinary profession. This will be a tailored, one-hour in-workplace training that is fit for purpose for the veterinary profession. In the initial pilot program, the training will be made available free of charge for 50 participating workplaces between September 2023 and December 2024

All veterinary workplaces in Australia are encouraged to express their interest in participating. To effectively measure the success of this pilot program, we are aiming to include a diverse range of workplaces, from both country and city locations. If you are a veterinary professional who is working in clinical practice, in industry, an academic setting, or any other veterinary specific working environment, we encourage you to apply.

Expressions of interest can be done via the AVA Website.

Successful applicants and their workplace are required to sign an industry pledge stating their commitment to cultivating a safe and mentally healthy workplace.

Participating workplaces will need to provide appropriate facilities for training to occur onsite, relevant to the number of participants involved within their workplace.

Participating workplaces agree to dedicate up to 2 hours of training leave for team members participating in the pilot program.

All participants will be asked to complete ongoing surveys, participate in at least two online feedback sessions and be available for interviews during and after the conclusion of the pilot program.

The training will be delivered in the workplace face-to-face – AVA has commissioned Aspect Group, a leading provider of workplace psychological health and safety solutions, to co-design and deliver the training program over an 18-month period.

Minimum of 3 and a maximum of 25-30 per session.

YES. An industry specific mental health and suicide prevention framework will form part of a suite of resources available to participants during the pilot program.

All applicants will be advised of the selection outcome by 31 July. Following this we will determine a training schedule in consultation with successful applicants.

We are asking all participants and their workplace to commit to cultivating a safe and mentally healthy working environment.

The aim is to unite participating workplaces involved in the pilot and to build on this across the broader profession beyond the pilot program phase.

These are the integrated wellness pillars that underpin all THRIVE programs, including Cultivating Safe Teams.

Preventing harm from psychosocial hazards in the industry; promoting strengths, capabilities, and the rewards of work; and protecting all of us when we experience stress and are unwell.

Following completion of the CST pilot, data and feedback collected from participating workplaces will be reviewed and analyzed from a continuous improvement perspective with a view to scale the program for the entire profession. This will be achieved through the implementation of a train the trainer program in which members of the profession will be trained to deliver the program on an ongoing basis.

Interested individuals will be invited to express interest in becoming a trainer for the ongoing implementation of the CST program. To ensure sustainability of the program a peer training approach will be taken in which up to 15 individuals from within the profession will be trained by qualified facilitators from Aspect Group with a long-term view to train every veterinary practice in the country.

The 15 individuals chosen to be a trainer or champion will be required to undertake the CST training, as well as an additional 2-day train the trainer session run by Aspect Group, there will be an accreditation process inclusive of observation by an Aspect Group facilitator and follow up coaching for all champions.