NSW Division President Update - July 2023

Hi NSW Vets!

The last month the NSW Committee and the Advocacy team have had a singular focus – the parliamentary inquiry into the NSW Veterinary Shortage. The process started with collating feedback from members, primary research, and industry knowledge from the NSW committee, AVA Board, and many other sources. Then the Advocacy team collated this and organised it to address the long list of issues being considered by the committee – ranging from after-hours services, to government vet availability, to treatment of wildlife.

The NSW committee then provided additional input and the whole document was approved by the AVA board. Even though this inquiry was focussed on NSW, the implications are national. I would encourage you to read the report here. If nothing else, it will give you an overview on the state of the profession in NSW and some of the experiences being had by your colleagues across the state. I want to thank everybody who had a part in creation of the document, and a further thanks to those of you who provided individual submissions to the inquiry.

This inquiry has also proved a great opportunity to have our voice heard in local, state and national media. Getting the issues out there is a never-ending challenge as we get the public to understand the complexities of veterinary work. This advocacy cannot be taken for granted. As we have seen with the withdrawal of funding for the Byron Bay Wildlife Hospital, governments and the public often don’t appreciate the benefits that veterinarians bring to our society and the animals which we share our world with. The AVA has made representations that the funding be urgently reinstated for the hospital.

As you all know, the work never stops, and the NSW committee is now considering another parliamentary inquiry – this time into pounds in NSW. We will be repeating the same process as above with consultation, collaboration and a similar amount of work. Thankfully, the AVA has been advocating for improved management of stray and unowned animals for many years, so we have a good idea of the problem. I would encourage you to share with us your ideas for the solutions and how dealing with the pound system impacts on you and your team. You can find out how to participate here.

And finally, as a reminder, the new financial year means that lots of bills come at once. NSW Vet Board renewals and annual returns are due, and of course, AVA membership. This advocacy into the parliamentary inquiry, the media work, and the ongoing advocacy is not just done by volunteers like myself, and the committee – it is supported by a skilled set of AVA staff – without them we simply would not be able to be effective in this space. Part of your membership fees goes towards that work – and when looking at the future of veterinary practice, I see it as a great investment!