AVA Member Updates

The AVA has lodged a submission to the Victorian Government’s preliminary, targeted, consultation on their sunset review of the Drugs, Poisons and Controlled Substances Regulations 2017, highlighting the need for a more practical, veterinary-specific approach to medicines and poisons regulation.

Dr Gemma Chuck reflects on the large scale changes at the AVA during her tenure as President of the association.

The new AVA Victorian Division President, Suff Suharju provides their first update. There is a focus on Branch engagement, Policy and advocacy, Biosecurity and emerging disease risks, Regulatory reform and Workforce and future pipeline.

The 2026 THRIVE Advisory Committee EOIs are now open. Applications will close on Monday 25th of May. This is a skills-based committee consisting of up to 7 appointees, a board appointed Chair and an AVA staff member, who support the AVA Board and leadership team to successfully deliver THRIVE wellbeing initiatives.

Australian Chief Veterinary Officer Beth Cookson details the need to better consider the value of Aquatic animal biosecurity, which underpins global food security, environmental sustainability and economic resilience.

The AVA Submission to the Inquiry highlights the pivotal role of the veterinary profession in disaster responses and provide 6 recommendations for improvements.

An introduction to the new AVA Victoria Division president, acknowledgement of the outgoing president- Dr. Cathy Deague, and where you can reach out regarding matters affecting you, your workplace and the broader Victorian veterinary community.

The AVA has lodged a formal submission to Queensland Health on the Draft Departmental Standard: Secure Storage of Schedule 8 (S8) Medicines. The AVA strongly supports the draft Standard, particularly its explicit recognition that veterinarians may securely store S8 medicines in vehicles when practising away from fixed registered premises, provided appropriate security outcomes are met. This represents a significant and long‑standing advocacy win for the profession, especially for veterinarians working in mobile, afterhours, rural, regional and remote settings.