2023 WA Advocacy wrap up

A summary is provided below of the AVA Advocacy work that was undertaken at WA Division level in 2023.

If you would like additional information about the AVA’s broader advocacy work please visit this AVA webpage.

Also available at this link is guidance for the veterinary policy and advocacy process.

WA focused advocacy

• Advocacy Projects

  • Reducing the barriers of Vet Services in WA (in progress)
    • To explore the challenges and barriers experienced by veterinary teams in WA to provide veterinary care to animals that meet animal welfare needs and obligations while adhering to regulations and requirements of legislation, such as those of WA Poisons & Medicines regulations, Veterinary Act and Veterinary Board.
    • To explore opportunities for the AVA to advocate for change (to legislation and other regulations) if areas are identified where benefits could flow to the profession, clients and animals.
    • This could include working in consultation with the WA Veterinary Board to provide support for any proposed regulatory changes
  • HECS relief for graduates/early career vets working in remote & regional practice
    • Letter to WA Minister for Agriculture advocating to introduce a Rural Bonding Scheme for graduate veterinarians, similar to the HELP forgiveness programs or degree subsidy programs currently available for medical practitioners and teachers
  • Small Business Development Commission 
    • Information shared included;; challenges faced by the veterinary profession, who are in the significant majority small business owners.
    • Resources obtained and shared with WA members
    • Advocacy assistance to be explored further
  • Communication with The Hon John Carey MLA, WA Minister for Local Government
    • In follow up to editorials in Community Newspapers around the management and containment of cats in WA, the AVA policy “Management of cats in Australia” was presented to be considered in this matter and a request made for the AVA to contribute input to the upcoming review of the WA Cat Act.
  • The Cat Haven - communication was made in response to the issue of clients being unable to afford veterinary care due to them experiencing disadvantage.
  • Australian Wildlife Rehabilitation Conference 2023 – AVA WA sponsorship support provided
  • Dairy Innovation Day – Dr Katie Kreutz represented the AVA
  • Graduate Mentoring Program event –  assisted with organising and attended a meet and greet for the AVA GMP mentors/mentees
  • RoVeRs
    • a project to explore alleviating veterinary professional shortages to clinics in rural and remote locations in WA.
    • This is a two step project involving surveying the scope of veterinary shortages in rural and remote areas, leading to facilitating and promoting skilled veterinarians to undertake relief work in these locations.
    • Survey is open – will close early 2024
  • Media Briefings Resources – is being considered in the context of advocacy & communications planning for 2024 across the broader AVA platform.
  • Murdoch Vet Student Career Fair – AVA had an exhibit stand with AVSG & Division member reps attending
  • AVA WA Conference exhibit stand – manned by AVA WA committee and staff members to showcase AVA Advocacy work
  • Veterinary Practice Board of WA representatives are now regularly attending WA Division committee meetings

• Government Meetings

  • Hon Jackie Jarvis MLC – WA Minister for Agriculture and Food, Forestry, and Small Business; focus of topics discussed:
    • insight was provided on the retention issue that is the main contributor to the vet workforce shortage.
    • emphasised that the government (ie public) funding is one of the suite of support mechanisms that are required to assist with changing the veterinary business model for it to be sustainable – especially in rural and regional practice. Eg HECS forgiveness/Rural bonding schemes.
    • vet sector is highly regulated with reduced Government vet capacity and producers moving toward using non-vet resources is contributing to both the unsustainability of rural practice as well as increased risk to biosecurity and animal welfare – as well as human health.
  • DPIRD Animal Welfare Regulation, Sustainability and Biosecurity
    • discussions in follow up to the Animal Welfare Act 2002 review and the AVA’s recommendation that it should be amended to include a power for veterinarians to euthanise animals on welfare grounds.
  • The Hon Rick Wilson Liberal MP; focus of topics discussed
    • the reduction of veterinary knowledge and services in all communities and the pathway that has led to this.
    • the workforce and mental health crisis impacting the sustainability of the vet sector and factors contributing to this.
    • the value of veterinarians was demonstrated, especially in rural and regional WA, along with the need for more vets on farms in WA.
    • the AVA’s 2023 - 24 Federal Pre-budget Submission was provided, including the call for the Federal Government to prioritise veterinarians, particularly at a time when burnout and poor mental health is taking a huge toll on the sector
  • Senator Slade Brockman, Liberal Party of Australia; focus of topics discussed:
    • Vets are highly valued and trusted by the communities they serve, however there is a critical shortage of veterinarians in Australia. This shortage is significantly more acute in rural and regional areas. Regional practices have in recent years been closing clinics because of a lack of veterinary staff.
    • Adequate supply of veterinarians has direct flow on benefits to biosecurity, animal health and welfare, and human health. The sustainability of veterinary service provision is under threat from decades of underinvestment and the situation in regional areas is increasingly untenable.
    • If Australian communities are to enjoy the benefits of modern standards of animal health and welfare and minimal animal-human disease transfer, investment in the veterinary profession is needed to ensure that these services can be sustainably provided.
    • Request for vet student prac placement financial support eg NABSnet subsidy program extend beyond the NW to other regional/rural areas of WA and be a recurrent program
  • Member for Tangney, Sam Lim, Labor MP – AVA staff met with their office to communicate an awareness of the workforce and mental health crisis impacting the sustainability of the veterinary sector and factors contributing to this. Also, demonstrating the value of veterinarians, especially in rural and regional WA.

• Working Groups

  • Murdoch University School of Veterinary Medicine External Advisory Group.
  • Committee for Animal Welfare in Emergencies (CAWE) – an AVA representative attends regular meetings and advocates for matters that impact the vet profession
  • Animal Care Skills Network – An AVA representative participates in their annual meeting

• Consultations/Submissions

• Western Australian Biosecurity and Agriculture Management Act Review submission
• Standards and Guidelines for the Health and Welfare of Horses in Western Australia consultation submission
• WA State Emergency Relief and Support Plan consultation – submission placed regarding animals in evacuation centres and also the role of veterinarians in emergencies.
• Development of Dog and Cat Regulations in WA - submission to the WA Government on the development of regulations relating to the sterilisation of dogs, pet shops, dog supply approval, approval to breed, microchipping and dog registrations.
• Australian Alliance for Animals – Robyn and Garnett attended a forum with stakeholders from a wide range of organizations to address the speed of reform to the WA Animal Welfare Act following its review in 2019-2020
• RWWA Greyhound Welfare Forum – AVA representative attended
• Veterinary Regulations Tranche 2 consultation – progress of the development of the regulations, including opportunities to provide further input, is pending from DPIRD

• Information provided to WA members

  • National recognition of veterinary registration
  • Subsidy for Veterinary Student Placements in Northern Australia
  • Student Practical Placements – promotion of local clinics where practices can submit all their information at no charge (to AVA members) and students can search through a filter to “find a student placement”.
  • Protective measures against Ehrlichiosis
  • EAD notifications, prep & support
  • Natural Disaster prep & support
  • Monthly Division newsletter