TAS Division President's Update

The year is speeding by and like most of you, I am feeling the increased workload. There just never seems to be enough hours in the day to get everything done. But the satisfaction that our job gives us makes the hard days more bearable. Nothing like a kiss from a patient that you helped feel better, or a nice word from a client to know that you have helped someone. The charity, Sophie's Legacy, is working hard to spread the word throughout the community and encourage clients to think before they speak to those in the veterinary profession. If you haven't heard of Sophie's Legacy, there is a great podcast that tells the story of Sophie Putland and her family, called Sick As A Dog. When I listened to it, I found it confronting at first. It is hard to hear people talking openly about the hard parts of our profession. But I also felt a huge sense of pride that people were talking about it, and connection as I realised that others have had the same experiences I have had. I am at a place in my career where I love going to work each day, enjoy all (nearly) of my patients and have strong relationships with my clients. I have learnt to put boundaries in place to look after my mental health and be present for my family when away from work. It has taken many years and I hope those that are at this place in their careers, can look out for those that aren't there yet. We need to help support each other through the good times and the bad.

Over the last few years there have been alot of changes within the AVA. Some of these are minor and some are major, with effects being felt through the state of Tasmania. All changes have been made to try to make the AVA what the members have been asking for. If you have any questions or concerns about what the changes mean for you and your colleagues, I encourage you to reach out and talk to me. We are working towards a more sustainable and enjoyable future for all vets. But we need your help! We need volunteers to join the AVA committee and help us advocate for the vets of Tasmania. The workload can be as much or as little as you can take on, with helped from the national AVA group every step of the way. Again, please contact me if you want more information on what is involved or how you can help! I can be contacted via email on rhiannakbooth@gmail.com