2022 October Budget Submission

Australia’s veterinary professionals deliver an essential service, both in our rural and regional communities on commercial farms, and in our metropolitan communities caring for our domestic pets.

Vets have become part of the fabric of our communities and play a key role in detecting and managing biosecurity threats. However, they have not been compensated for the public good they deliver.

There has been chronic underinvestment in the labour component of the veterinary profession for decades, which is placing considerable pressure on the wellbeing of vets and on the sustainability of the profession.

This underinvestment has resulted in significant workforce shortages, largely attributed to by high levels of attrition and severe mental health issues. If left unaddressed, it could result in the collapse of the profession, which would have catastrophic consequences on both the commercial and domestic veterinary markets.

Recommendation

• In order to assist in addressing this issue, the Australian Veterinary Association recommends that the Commonwealth Government introduce a rural placement incentives scheme for graduate veterinarians to assist in the shortage or rural veterinarians
• This would cost $23.80 million over five years ($4.76 million per annum) and would wipe the HECS debt of 80 new graduates per year, boosting the veterinary workforce in these critically important regions.

Read the full submission here