WA Division President's Article - August 2024

Dear AVA WA Members and Colleagues,

Following up on last month's newsletter, I was approached by ABC radio for two separate interviews surrounding regional veterinary services in WA. In particular, we spoke about the provision of out of hours emergency services and the overall shortage of vets in regional towns.

The main takeaways here are that veterinarians need to be recognised and supported by government as part of the health care industry, not just in rural clinics, but as a whole. The AVA recommendations following the NSW parliamentary inquiry has created some solid framework for identifying how the profession can be supported by government.

On the home front, the WA committee is living the values of connection through meeting with and listening to the concerns of veterinarians throughout the state. Division Committee Member Dr Gaelia Hunt, and Senior Advocacy Officer Dr Robyn Whitaker are currently at the Murdoch VPL camp supporting 2^nd year vet students by introducing them to their professional body and allowing that initial safety networking web to be woven.

Dr Liv Brabant, our AVA Policy Council liaison has recently worked with the greater council body to help develop and support over 30 policies which help guide and support the profession in areas where discussion, deliberation and direction are required.

Looking forward to the month of August, the committee and major stakeholder representatives will be meeting to discuss the year gone and the year ahead and where our priorities should be focused. I am very happy to receive feedback from our WA membership that can be addressed and progressed.

In WA we continue to advocate for medicines and poisons legislation to be fit for purpose for the veterinary profession and anticipate further communication with the Department of Health. Also in August, myself and the AVA Education organisers will be working diligently to bring WA it’s conference in early October, and the much loved trade fair. I look forward to speaking with many with you about your visions for the future and how we get there.

Remember to put on your own oxygen mask before assisting others,

Dr Katie Kreutz
WA Division President