SA Division President's Report May 2024

^{Image: Catherine Harper and Jax, courtesy of The Leader.}

Thank you for having me as your AVA SA President, I am looking forward to the challenge of reinvigorating AVA offerings in South Australia and ensuring relevance to you as our local members. 

There are so many exciting things happening in our state at the moment; the VSBSA engaged and much improved on previous years, the new Veterinary Practice Act passing parliament and moving to the next stage of developing regulations and the Animal Welfare Act currently under review. 

^{Image: Catherine Harper and Barossa Vet Clinic team, courtesy of The Leader.}

These opportunities are here now, and we can have a say in this change.  Yet, we really need some help, the committee is currently a very small team, making it hard to run multiple events, advocate for the profession, represent to the media and generate healthy discussion about points of interest. To help maybe inspire a first step, I thought it might be worth sharing my why.

Like so many of us, being a vet is all I ever wanted to do, rightly or wrongly it is part of who I am.  I am a business owner with a team to lead, a mum with two kids, both who seem to be following this desire to help and care for animals and so there is a combined drive, to make a difference to a profession I love and ensure that is a sustainable and enriched career for my kids and any that follow. 

My goal is to build connections to inspire change; in all warps of life, listening, learning, and supporting others to be their best selves, challenging business owners to run better businesses and advocating externally all the wonderful work we do in the many different facets of veterinary science.  I believe connection part is key, relationships and communication are what drives us forward, so, I am asking; are you willing to form a connection with me, with the AVA and to assist in shaping the future of vet in South Australia?

I am happy to talk about what involvement looks like, it is not as scary as you might think!  Please reach out on catherine@barossa.vet. 

Dr Catherine Harper
SA Division President