May 2025 NSW Flooding Funding Arrangements and Supports for NSW Veterinarians
21 May 2025In May 2025 severe flooding has impacted parts of NSW. This NSW flooding update provides details on funding arrangements for veterinarians, flood response activities, available support services, and key resources for treating animals affected by the floods.
1800 814 647 - Animal and Agriculture Emergency Hotline:
1800 814 647 is the NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) Agricultural & Animal Services Functional Area (AASFA) emergency hotline number to request assistance with:
- Animal assessment and veterinary assistance;
- Stock euthanasia and burial;
- Emergency fodder (up to 3 days supply);
- Emergency stock water;
- Livestock feeding and management advice;
- Care of animals in evacuation centres.
Members of the community and veterinarians should call the emergency hotline number if they come across stranded, lost, injured or dead livestock, so that AASFA can arrange to attend to these animals.
DPIRD - AASFA Engagement and Funding Veterinary Assistance to Disaster Impacted Animals:
DPIRD - AASFA will be providing funding to private veterinarians via issuing Task Request Numbers to facilitate emergency animal assessment and treatment for a condition that is as a direct result of the disaster event.
Private veterinarians can provide “emergency animal treatment for a condition that is as a result of the flood event” without seeking prior approval. This will be done by DPIRD - AASFA issuing initial Finance Request (authority to spend the agreed value) approvals for each practice to the total value of $10,000. If you haven’t been provided with a Finance Request please email emergency.finance@dpird.nsw.gov.au. Please note, the initial $10,000 Finance Request amount is not an upper limit for each practice’s spending. If the cost of eligible cases exceeds this amount, additional Finance Requests can be generated.
Is the treatment eligible?
- “emergency treatment”: includes initial consult and treatment to address the immediate welfare and veterinary needs of the animal. Does not include subsequent consults and treatment.
Note: Where different animals present with separate conditions at different times, each consult is regarded as initial. e.g. A single owner has a horse that presents with a laceration sustained while escaping flood waters, then several days later reports lameness in cattle as a result of standing in floodwaters. Both consults and treatments are eligible for payment.
- “as a result of the flood event”: includes conditions directly arising from:
- exposure to floodwaters,
- trauma from escaping floodwaters
- the immediate evacuation process
- exposure to prolonged rain
- exposure to wet/muddy ground
- where it is clear that stress from the flood event is a precipitating cause.
For more information, please read the NSW Guide for Emergency Animal Treatment during NSW Floods for Privates Veterinarians.
FAQ Received During Flood Response:
Q: Will the AASFA funding program cover the cost of medications if a vet cannot assess the animals on-farm due to access or availability issues?
A: Yes. This is permitted under AASFA funding arrangements and VPB legislative guidance, provided the medication is prescribed by a veterinarian with clear administration instructions for the landholder to follow and with appropriate documentation. From a legislative perspective, under NSW Poisons and Therapeutic Goods Regulation clause 48, injectable penicillin may be supplied in urgent circumstances without a veterinary visit. The Veterinary Practitioners Board (VPB) supports applying the same principle to veterinarians. For other medications, a physical examination of a representative sample of animals is typically required, but in extenuating, documented circumstances, the Board may not enforce this requirement (See telehealth question).
Q: How will medications and first aid supplies reach isolated farms?
A: Essential animal medications and first aid supplies will be delivered to isolated properties via AASFA air-drop services during the flood response.
Q: Are veterinary telehealth appointments allowed and eligible for funding?
A: Yes. AASFA will fund veterinary telehealth consultations where in-person access is limited due to flooding or workforce constraints. The VPB has guidance for providing telehealth appointments VPB Guidance – Technology-based Patient Consultations.
Q: What should I do if there is a shortage of veterinary medicines or supplies?
A: Donated veterinary supplies are available to support flood response efforts. If you are experiencing shortages, please contact the AVA to arrange access.
Q: The current flood disaster has led to the requirement to consider transporting cattle that may be borderline ‘fit for transport’.
A: To facilitate compliance with the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1979 regarding animal welfare, please find below links to the ‘Certificate for Transport of Cattle Under Veterinary Advice’, and Explanatory Notes. The purpose the Certificate for Transport is to allow for the veterinarian to use their professional judgment in a range of individual circumstances to permit an animal, or multiple animals, to be transported that may not meet, or be marginal in meeting, the requirements of transport legislation of the relevant jurisdiction. Before completing this Certificate, please read the Explanatory Notes to understand the factors that must be considered.
Links:
AVA Liaison Officer to AASFA:
The AVA has appointed an AVA Liaison Officer to AASFA to support communication between veterinarians and AASFA for:
- distribution of information to veterinarians, and
- a pathway for veterinarians to inform AASFA on emerging issues.
Veterinarians are encouraged to contact the AVA Liaison Officer if you have any concerns, comments or are seeking support regarding the disaster response/recovery activities. Please contact Liz Gemes, AVA Senior Advocacy Officer at 0481 373 330 or liz.gemes@ava.com.au.
A WhatsApp group for veterinarians involved in the May 2025 NSW floods to share updates, ask questions, coordinate assistance, and exchange relevant information. Please contact AVA Liaison Officer Liz Gemes to be added to the chat group.
Natural Disaster Resources for Veterinarians and Government Support:
Below provides links to information and advice for the treatment of flood affected animals, as well as resources for businesses.
- Suite of flood and storm resources for veterinarians to assist during and following natural disasters. https://www.ava.com.au/policy-advocacy/natural-disasters/flood-and-storm-resources/. Including:
Equine resources:
- A webinar recording Veterinary Management of Flood Rescue and Flood Injuries in Horsesby EVA Member Dr Olivia James.
- A US reference article Flood Injuries In Horsesby Dr Rebecca McConnico from Veterinary Clinics.
- A client fact sheet on Managing Horses in Floodsfrom longstanding EVA Member Dr John Kohnke.
- A Client Advice Sheet on Preparing Horses for Severe Wet Weatherprepared by longstanding EVA Member Dr Bruce Pott.
- Immersion Foot Syndrome in 6 Equids Exposed to Hurricane Floodwaters - link
Cattle resources:
Sheep, Camelid, and Goat resources:
- Camelid care after floods- Dr Jane Vaughan
- Goats and floods factsheet- Dr Sandra Baxendell
- Veterinary practice impacted by flood - NSW Business Disaster Recovery and Preparedness Resources:
- Get Back to Business: Guide to recovering from disaster
- Guide to making insurance claims
- Get Ready Business: Five step guide to preparing for disasters
- Build a Business Continuity Plan
- The AVA Veterinary Benevolent Fund exists to help any veterinary professional, AVA member or not, going through financial hardship or a difficult time, including impacts from the recent floods.
- The AVA Telephone Counselling Service is available to AVA members, the vet professionals that work for you (who may not be members) and your family members. It is available all day every day on 1300 687 327.
- NSW Government Disaster Recovery Arrangements and Supports https://www.nsw.gov.au/emergency/recovery
Please note:
- The NSW Agriculture and Animal Services Supporting Plan sets out the emergency control and coordination arrangements for agricultural and animal resources in NSW. https://www.nsw.gov.au/rescue-and-emergency-management/supporting-plans/agriculture-and-animal-services. This includes the role of the AVA as a supporting organisation.
- RSPCA volunteers being coordinated with AASFA staff to support evacuation centres and animals received there. Further information about open evacuation centres is available here https://www.ses.nsw.gov.au/during-an-emergency/evacuation-centres
- The NSW Government arrangements for disaster response for wildlife is outlined in the NSW Wildlife in Emergencies Sub Plan https://www.nsw.gov.au/emergency/rescue-and-emergency-management/sub-plans/wildlife. The Taronga Conservation Society Australia (Taronga Western Plains Zoos) supports NSW Government to manage the impact of emergencies affecting wildlife through scientific knowledge and capacity building; provision of resources and personnel and recovery expertise. Provide access to vets, accommodation, care, recovery and euthanasia services.
- In flooding events, wildlife may become displaced, orphaned or injured. IFAW offers a free smartphone app to help community members connect with their nearest licensed wildlife rescue group when they come across impacted wildlife. Download the IFAW Wildlife Rescue app to be connected at the touch of a button: https://www.ifaw.org/au/resources/wildlife-rescue-app