AVA Response to Inquiry into Veterinary Workforce Shortages in NSW Report

Today the NSW Parliamentary Committee published the report and their recommendations from the Inquiry into the Veterinary Workforce Shortage in NSW, including 17 findings and 34 recommendations. The AVA emphasises the significance of this report for NSW and Nationally. We thank the Inquiry Committee for their attention to these urgent issues for the veterinary profession.

The AVA have provided an initial response to the report recommendations via the following media release and we’ll provide a more detailed analysis of the report.

 

Report Recommendations

Recommendation 1

That the NSW Government provide dedicated, ongoing funding for the provision of veterinary services to wildlife, including for:

• wildlife rescue organisations
• existing wildlife hospitals
• support the expansion of wildlife units at other hospitals
• private veterinary practices to contribute to reasonable costs for services.

Recommendation 2

That the NSW Government consider amending the Companion Animals Act 1998 to:

• ensure local government authorities collect stray animals from licensed veterinary clinics
• ensure that appropriate funding is provided to local government authorities to ensure that there is a consistent interpretation of the Act across all local government areas.

Recommendation 3

That the NSW Government develop a clearer regulatory framework for the provision of telehealth veterinary services to complement the delivery of after-hours services and potentially help reduce the burden on the veterinary workforce.

Recommendation 4

That the NSW Government consider amending the Veterinary Practices Act 2003 and other relevant legislation to ensure that mobile veterinary clinics can be easily registered to deliver veterinary care, particularly in areas with no clinic within a reasonable distance. Any changes must ensure mobile clinics work collaboratively to ensure they can provide essential additional veterinary services without causing detriment to local clinics.

Recommendation 5

That the NSW Government consider reviewing the Veterinary Practices Act 2003 to ensure that the Veterinary Practitioners Board NSW complaints investigation process is updated to allow for a streamlined process, and to distinguish between substantial complaints and those which are frivolous or vexatious. 

Recommendation 6

That the NSW Government advocate to the Australian Government to:

• align visa requirements for veterinarians with those in the human medical field
• amend working holiday visa requirements for veterinarians to enable longer stays with a single employer.

Recommendation 7

That the NSW Government prioritise a review of the Veterinary Practitioners Act 2003 and its associated regulation immediately following, or in conjunction with, the review of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1979 and associated regulations and codes.

Recommendation 8

That the NSW Government continue to work with the Australian Government to increase the availability of childcare places, particularly in regional and rural areas.

Recommendation 9

That the NSW Government provide grants to appropriate organisations to raise awareness and educate clients about the impact of their behaviour on veterinarians.

Recommendation 10

That the NSW Government consider funding the Australian Veterinary Association to support its work developing mental health programs for veterinarians.

Recommendation 11

That the NSW Government consider how it can support and promote the establishment of the field of Veterinary Social Work in New South Wales.

Recommendation 12

That the NSW Government, through the Agricultural Ministers Council, seek national support for a national veterinary workforce database, as proposed by the Australasian Veterinary Boards Council.

Recommendation 13

The Minister for Mental Health, in conjunction with the Minister for Agriculture, take steps to ensure suicide prevention programs are made available which are specifically targeted at veterinarians.

Recommendation 14

That the NSW Government examine data held by NSW government agencies regarding the suicide rate in the veterinary profession across the state over the last two decades, including all causal factors and develop a framework to better support mental health of veterinarians.

Recommendation 15

That the NSW Government considers providing financial incentives for veterinarians who work with livestock, to ensure an adequate number of large animal practitioners are available to support primary producers in regional areas.

Recommendation 16

That the NSW Government advocate for the Australian Government to trial incentives, including waiving HECS debt, to attract and retain veterinarians in New South Wales, and particularly in rural and in regional areas.

Recommendation 17

That the NSW Government provide funding for targeted grants to enhance mentoring for first year graduates in private practice in New South Wales, and particularly in areas outside of large cities.

Recommendation 18

That the NSW Government to consider providing incentives for veterinarians to take up NSW Local Land Service veterinary roles in regions where recruitment has been difficult.

Recommendation 19

That the NSW Government conduct an assessment of the capacity of the government veterinary diagnostic services workforce, in particular veterinary pathologists, to respond to an emergency animal disease outbreak and to also meet projected future demands for diagnostic services. This assessment should be publicly released.

Recommendation 20

That the NSW Government, through the relevant Ministerial Council, advocate that veterinary schools and the accreditation body work together to action the recommendations of Rethinking Veterinary Education, the recent review of veterinary education commissioned by the Veterinary Schools of Australia and New Zealand, which would help reduce the cost of course delivery.

Recommendation 21

That the NSW Government, through the relevant Ministerial Council, advocate for the Australian Government to increase its per student contribution to universities for students studying to become veterinarians.

Recommendation 22

That the NSW Government, through the relevant Ministerial Council, advocate for the Australian Government to provide funding for clinical training for veterinary students training in large animal practice.

Recommendation 23

That the NSW Government, through the relevant Ministerial Council, advocate for universities to continue to review their student admission processes, to ensure that suitable candidates are chosen to study veterinary science.

Recommendation 24

That the NSW Government seek to introduce a regulatory framework for veterinary nurses and veterinary technicians in New South Wales. The framework should encompass:

• minimum qualification requirements, in line with those already in use, specifically the Australian Veterinary Nurse and Technician Registration Scheme, and the scheme in Western Australia
• title protection, where only those who meet the minimum qualification requirements can use the protected titles
• professional standards, including a code of professional conduct
• oversight by a professional board
• appropriate rates of pay.

Recommendation 25

That any regulatory framework for veterinary nurses and veterinary technicians in New South Wales:

• be provided under the same legislation as the regulation of veterinarians
• be consistent with the scheme already in place in Western Australia, and aligned as much as possible with the Australian Veterinary Nurse and Technician voluntary scheme.

Recommendation 26

That the NSW Government advocate for a nationally consistent registration scheme for veterinary nurses and technicians through the Ministerial Council for Agriculture and other appropriate forums.

Recommendation 27

The NSW Government review the Veterinary Practice Act 2003 to determine whether some restricted acts of veterinary science could be extended to veterinary nurses and technicians who are regulated under the same legislative framework.

Recommendation 28

That the NSW Government provide support for the Australian Veterinary Association to develop educational materials for pet owners containing information about:

• how veterinary clinics operate
• how pet owners should budget for unexpected costs
• how to create a positive relationship with the veterinary team
• the potential benefits of pet insurance.

This information should be available in a range of community languages.

Recommendation 29

That the NSW Government consider using the NSW Pet Registry to provide educational material to pet owners.

Recommendation 30

That the NSW Government advocate to the Australian Government for veterinarians to access the Translating and Interpreting Service for clients who hold Centrelink cards.

Recommendation 31

That the NSW Government investigate strategies to best ensure veterinary care for pet owners particularly low income earners can be made more affordable.

Recommendation 32

That the NSW Government investigate providing subsidised vet care to low-income earners, pensioner and animal rescue groups.

Recommendation 33

That the NSW Government provide funding to animal rescue organisations and the university sector to increase subsidised treatments at their veterinary hospitals and provide increased training opportunities for veterinary science students and others.

Recommendation 34

That the NSW Government consider options for trialling companion-animal friendly public transport.

 

Background

In early June 2023 the NSW established a parliamentary committee to inquire into and report on the veterinary workforce shortage in NSW. The AVA briefed the Inquiry Committee Members in late June around the current state of the profession.

Given the national importance of this issue, the AVA advocacy team engaged with the broad membership, SIGs and other stakeholders to inform the AVA’s submission. The consultation process took place over several weeks and generated over 50 000 words of member feedback, with 15 stakeholder meetings undertaken during the process. The considerable and valuable feedback provided by members played a vital role in shaping our collective AVA response.

The AVA provided a comprehensive 62pg submission to the inquiry. This AVA submission discussed the complex challenges and suggested strategies by individually addressing each of the inquiry’s terms of reference (TOR), including providing 16 vital recommendations. The AVA believes these recommendations provide the foundation for constructive dialogue and serve as a roadmap for strategic improvements to safeguard and fortify the veterinary workforce. They underscore the urgency of addressing workforce shortages while also illuminating pathways towards long-term solutions and the sustainable growth of the profession.

Drs Cristy Secombe and Dr Zachary Lederhose represented the AVA at the Inquiry hearing on the 30 August and their representations can be viewed on YouTube (at 4h 42 minutes) or via the inquiry transcript. The AVA took some questions on notice during the public hearing and were asked post-hearing a supplementary question by the Committee. Click here to see the AVA responses.