Victorian Division President's Report - July 2024

With July upon us, the Victorian Division is preparing for our annual general meeting. This is to be held prior to our Vic Div Executive Committee meeting. All Victorian AVA members are welcome to attend at 7pm online – details will be sent out soon, but pencil this date and time in your diary.

During our subsequent committee meeting we will be discussing the top 5 priorities for the division, following on from discussion at the Council of Presidents’ meeting at the annual conference.

We would welcome your input either during the AGM or you can email me directly at drcdeaguevet@gmail.com. What do you think should be the focus of the Victorian Division moving forward? Bearing in mind that resources are limited and we need to target our time and energy, what advocacy issues should be top of our agenda? What can we do to bring the Victorian veterinary profession together? How can we support and celebrate our friends and colleagues?

During June, we continued to receive and forward on to you updates regarding the avian influenza outbreak in Victoria. Despite an increase in the number of properties affected, it is encouraging to see that the outbreak has been contained within the restricted areas around the affected properties thanks to the efforts of Agriculture Victoria under the guidance of Graeme Cooke.

The final report from the Victorian Government’s enquiry into pig welfare was released in June. The Victorian Division, in conjunction with the Pig and Animal Welfare and Ethics SIGs, provided a submission to this enquiry. You can access the report here: Inquiry into pig welfare in Victoria (parliament.vic.gov.au)

Another important parliamentary enquiry also handed down its findings at the end of June. Although a NSW enquiry, this is important nationally as it was focused on the veterinary workforce shortage which we know is a national problem. The AVA submitted a comprehensive 62 page submission to the enquiry following extensive engagement with the membership, and was represented at the enquiry last August by Dr Cristy Secombe and Dr Zachary Lederhose. As well as the findings from the enquiry, the report included many recommendations.

 Personally, I was pleased to see recommendations to:

• improve funding and support for wildlife hospitals and rescue organisations
• develop a clearer regulatory framework for provision of telehealth veterinary services, especially in the after hours space
• support the need for HECs forgiveness
• provide support for raising awareness and educating clients about the impact of their behaviour on vets, as well as suicide prevention programs targeted at vets and development of a framework to better support the mental health of vets
• provide support for the AVA to develop educational materials for pet owners around topics such as how veterinary clinics operate and the potential benefits of pet insurance

I hope that all state and territory governments, including our Victorian Government, are taking note of this report as the veterinary shortage, and the factors that feed it, are a nationwide issue that requires action.

Lastly I would like to remind you about the survey regarding the unpaid work that veterinarians carry out. As I have mentioned previously, this could be anything from discounted or low cost surgical procedures such as speys and castrations, treatment of wildlife, participation on ethics committees, involvement in biosecurity and disaster responses, or volunteering on AVA committees – anything where you are providing your skills, knowledge and expertise for free or at low cost.

The survey is a collaboration with the University of Melbourne and AVA, and aims to provide data to support ongoing advocacy around the value of veterinarians, the social good we provide and the need for additional funding and support. The survey has two components – one for individual vets and one for veterinary workplaces. Although the latter takes a little longer, the data it will provide is crucial. Quick and approximate figures are all that is required – it is not a tax audit!

A summary of questions can be provided to assist you on request – just contact Dr Kristen Steele at steele.k@unimelb.edu.au or Kristen.steele@ava.com.au. We understand the irony of asking you to take the time to complete this survey unpaid but urge you to do so to contribute to a deeper understanding of the role our profession plays in the community.

On that note I will sign off for another month. Stay warm through this chilly winter and I look forward to seeing some of your faces at our AGM.

Cathy Deague

Victorian Division President