AVA Member Updates

This week the AVA says farewell and thank you to David Andrews who finished as CEO on Friday.

The WVA has extended nominations for a Councillor for the Oceania region, which includes Australia. The AVA is seeking Expressions of Interest to be submitted no later than 8.00am Wednesday 7 February.

The AVSG sponsored the lunch for the Murdoch University Veterinary School 5th year students “Veterinarian In Training” name badge presentation ceremony. The AVA is very pleased to be able to be involved with the veterinary student orientation program.

Participating in this network, the AVA communicated the challenges facing veterinarians and nursing teams, and outlined that retention is the aspect that requires most assistance, rather than an increased supply to the workforce.

The AVA, in consultation with subject matter experts from APV and AVAWE, placed a submission to the Animal Health Committee (AHC) who is currently considering the use of microencapsulated sodium nitrite (meSN®) for the destruction of domestic pigs in an emergency animal disease (EAD) response.

I am looking forward to kickstarting more conversations about what we need as a profession and an organization. I want you to make the most of your AVA membership and lean into the greatest aspect it offers – the network.

A resource has been developed for AVA members to utilise for communicating a balanced insight and provide perspective around the cost of veterinary care. Veterinary care is highly sophisticated and almost everything that can be done for humans can be done for animals. However, the major difference is that unlike human health care, veterinary care is not subsidised or supported by the government through Medicare, the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) or the public hospital system.

There are four courses being held in late February and March 2024.

Happy new year everyone. I hope you have all been able to have some quality time with family and friends over the festive season.

The Domestic Animal Regulations 2015 sunset on 23 November 2025. AVA Victorian Division provided a submission to Animal Welfare Victoria to assist in the process of the new regulations be improved and modernised.