AVA Submission - NSW Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy

The Australian Veterinary Association (AVA) has made a submission to the NSW Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy, emphasising the unique challenges faced by the veterinary profession.

Veterinarians experience high levels of psychosocial risk, including isolation, long and irregular working hours, and significant emotional stress. These pressures contribute to workforce shortages, mental health challenges, and difficulties retaining veterinarians in rural and regional communities.

The AVA’s submission recommends:

• Better data collection – to identify at-risk professions and inform tailored interventions.

• Workforce incentives – including HECS debt relief and subsidies to encourage veterinarians to work in regional and remote areas.

• Support for early-career vets – by incentivising practices to employ new graduates and provide structured support.

• Accessible mental health programs – targeted to the realities of veterinary work, alongside expansion of the AVA Benevolent Fund and exploration of veterinary social work as a formal support role.

These reforms are critical to ensuring that veterinarians can continue to provide essential services to communities while safeguarding their own health and wellbeing.

Read AVA's submission here.