The importance of veterinary continuing professional development

^{Image: Australian Chief Veterinary Officer Dr Beth Cookson (credit: Andrew Watson)}

This year marks 20 years since I graduated as a veterinarian from the University of Queensland, and being a member of the veterinary profession continues to be a great source of pride and provides a sense of accomplishment.

Reflecting on the last two decades, this is in no small part due to the multitude of different opportunities and career paths available to us as veterinarians – as well as the variety of unexpected work challenges and learnings that emerge day-to-day that keep us on our toes. This is as true in the veterinary public health field of work as it is in veterinary clinical practice, or whichever aspect of the veterinary profession your career has taken you.

My career has seen me work in clinical practice, together with undertaking a variety of interesting biosecurity policy and operational roles in the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, as well as roles in community engagement and disaster recovery support.

ANZCVS Membership

Having developed a career interest in animal disease surveillance and preparedness work, I sought out further knowledge and expertise in epidemiology and public health. I became a Member of the Epidemiology chapter of the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists (ANZCVS) in 2013.

My Membership is something I value immensely, and I utilise this knowledge in many aspects of my daily work. The collegial nature of the chapter also provides additional networking and peer-support opportunities, which is an important part of supporting each other through the highs and lows of our veterinary careers.

We have a strong and close-knit profession, and in the face of the new and unexpected, I associate our veterinary community with its ability to innovate and think outside the box. As the veterinary landscape constantly evolves – whether that be from new approaches and technologies or the emergence of new biological events, continuing professional development (CPD) is critical to exposing us to new developments, knowledge sharing and networking opportunities, and is also something that has provided me with ongoing professional satisfaction.

As you are aware, there are a vast array of learning opportunities available, including conferences, courses, seminars and journal clubs, and in sharing my own veterinary professional development journey, I hope to perhaps provide some inspiration for veterinary public health CPD options available to you to explore.

Veterinary public health and epidemiology CPD

For veterinarians, whatever your focus of work, veterinary public health and epidemiology has relevance. Whether you work in clinical practice seeing companion animals, or in farm animal practice treating livestock, or with wildlife, in research, or in industry - each of us has a vital role to play in keeping in mind the bigger picture animal health and public health implications of the evolution and spread of diseases.

For those considering applying for a Membership with the ANZCVS, I encourage you to speak with others who have achieved this professional accreditation to learn from their experiences with studying and preparing for the examinations. Group study activities are a positive way of sharing knowledge and supporting each other on the journey amidst your existing work and personal activities. Our veterinary community and colleagues are our best assets, and I have benefited greatly from learning from colleagues and likewise enjoy sharing my experiences and championing others.

^{Image: DAFF veterinary staff at the recent AVA Conference 2024 in Melbourne (credit: Dr Phil Tucak)}

Similar to other large professional development events like the recent AVA national conference, the ANZCVS Science Week is open to both members and non-members, and provides a forum for participants to hear updates from global experts whilst also encouraging early career researchers, such as those undertaking internships or residency training programs to share their work.

This year, Australia will also host the International Symposium on Veterinary Epidemiology and Economics (ISVEE) in November. I encourage you to consider taking advantage of this event, and the wealth of epidemiological expertise and knowledge that will be showcased.

Emergency animal disease preparedness training

Another area of veterinary professional development I’d like to highlight, is participating in emergency animal disease preparedness training. In the event of an emergency animal disease outbreak, private veterinarians will be vital to supporting a government-led outbreak response. There are many courses available online in which you can upskill and refresh your understanding of emergency animal diseases, and learn about the types of activities which would be involved when working on a response.

The National Biosecurity Training Hub provides a centralised platform for biosecurity training to support biosecurity preparedness, response and recovery, and there are many courses of particular relevance to veterinarians – and I encourage you to explore the website and the learning resources it holds.

^{Image: DAFF veterinarians attending the recent AVA Conference 2024 in Melbourne (credit: DAFF)}

Importance of building ‘soft skills’

Another area of professional development which can set the foundation for huge personal and professional growth and resilience, is to seek out learning opportunities focused on development of so-called ‘soft skills’ such as communication, emotional intelligence and well-being.

There are numerous veterinarians and organisations offering fantastic leadership and well-being related courses and workshops, and investing in this type of learning will equip you for the challenges and successes of whatever veterinary career you pursue. Recently I completed the Executive Master of Public Administration degree through the Australia and New Zealand School of Government (ANZSOG), which equipped me with additional knowledge in evidence-based decision-making, leadership and organisational management.

If you’re searching for veterinary professional development opportunities, the AVA also has a plethora of CPD opportunities spanning both virtual and face-to-face activities, along with initiatives such as the Return to Work (RTW) Program supporting veterinarians returning to clinical practice after a career break.

Another aspect of professional development that I’d also encourage everyone to consider, are opportunities to mentor our undergraduate veterinary students, along with opportunities to share your own expertise and experiences through presentations to peers. Both of these activities can be fantastic ways to give back to the veterinary community whilst also refreshing your own skills and knowledge.

I’d encourage everyone to search out learning opportunities that both mirror your career interests, provide an avenue for you to engage with colleagues and also extend your thinking outside of your normal scope of work– you might be surprised by what’s available and where the taste of something new might lead your career!

For the latest updates on the work of the Office of the Chief Veterinary Officer, please follow the social media channels of the Australian Chief Veterinary Officer on Twitter/X and LinkedIn.