ACV and NT Division Conference 2023 wrap up

_{Image: delegates celebrate a return to the '70s at the ACV & NT Division Conference Gala Dinner}

 

Recently, the Australian Cattle Veterinarians (ACV) and Northern Territory Division held their combined conference in Darwin, with the theme being ‘Finding New Ways’. This year was particularly special as ACV was celebrating their 50^th birthday!

^{Image: AVA CEO David Andrews chats to delegates at opening night}

The conference focused on forward-thinking, future-proofing innovations and developments, with ACV topics spanning sustainable agriculture, antimicrobial resistance, natural disasters, emergency animal diseases, genomic testing and reproduction. On the NT side, the focus was on imaging and clinical pathology in companion animals, alongside a packed veterinary nurses’ stream.

^{Image: the ACV & NT Division Conference 2023 had an eye towards the future, with the theme being 'Finding New Ways'}

It opened with a Welcome Evening at Crocosaurus Cove, where delegates caught up over drinks while avoiding the jaws of some very sharp-toothed crocodiles!

^{Images above: conference delegates attend the welcome function at Crocosaurus Cove}

One of the highlights of the lecture series was the Panel session, ‘Rural vet diversity: Embracing the future’. Panellists discussed the diverse range of career opportunities for cattle veterinarians. Matt Peterson (Zoetis NSW) said, “A vet degree really is a ticket for so many careers, whether it’s in private practice or otherwise."

^{Image: the panel session, ‘Rural vet diversity: Embracing the future’}

Alison Gunn (Herd Solutions, Victoria) described how taking on a clinical teaching role as a Senior Lecturer in Ruminant Health at the University of Sydney allowed her to stay plugged into the cattle veterinary profession when she was required to relocate temporarily to Sydney.

David Beggs (University of Melbourne) highlighted that the highest predictor of veterinarians being in rural practice five years after graduation was a rural postcode at enrolment. This led to an impassioned discussion around ways to increase the number of both city and rural graduates entering and staying in rural practice.

^{Image: David Beggs speaks at the ‘Rural vet diversity: Embracing the future’ panel}

No forward-thinking, future-proofing discussion would be complete without talking about animal welfare. Trevor Smith (North Australian Veterinary Group, Queensland) was particularly interested in the disbudding and dehorning practices utilised in the dairy industry and sees a significant opportunity to adapt some of these lessons to uplift animal welfare standards in the Northern Australian beef production industry.

^{Image (L - R): Lucy Collins (Fonterra Australia, Victoria), Alison Gunn (Herd Solutions, Victoria) and Trevor Smith (North Australian Veterinary Group, Queensland) reflect on the animal welfare presentations on Friday.}

The awards are always a highlight of any conference, and this year’s award winners are as follows:

Bovine Practitioner of the Year:

• Peter Letchford

^{Image (L - R): ACV President Dr Tracy Sullivan presenting the Bovine Practitioner of the Year award to this year's winner Peter Letchford}

^{Image: This year's Bovine Practitioner of the Year, Peter Letchford (centre, holding trophy) alongside past winners (L - R) John House, Peter Alexander, Alan Guilfoyle and Bob Rheinberger}

QSML George Osborne Memorial Lectures finallists:

• Alex Boileau
• Izzy Moorhead
• Shane Thomson (overall winner)

^{Image (L - R): ACV President Dr Tracy Sullivan presenting the QSML George Osborne Memorial Lectures award to overall winner Shane Thomson} 

Coopers Rural Practice Scholarship winners:

• Tom Kirby
• Charlie Milthorpe
• Sammy Spark

^{Image (L - R): Coopers Rural Practice Scholarship winners Sammy Spark, Charlie Milthorpe and Tom Kirby, pictured with Jane Morrison (Technical Manager - Ruminants at Coopers)}

Norbrook Buiatrician-in-Training Award winners:

• Genevieve Chapman
• Charlotte Duff-Clarke
• Josh Robinson

^{Image (L - R): Norbrook Buiatrician-in-Training winners Genevieve Chapman, Charlotte Duff-Clarke and Josh Robinson, pictured with Mic Dhar, Technical Services Manager at Norbrook.}

Upon presenting the winners of the Norbrook Buiatrician-in-Training awards at the Vets and Industry Connect Evening on Wednesday, Dr Michael (Mic) Dhar (Norbrook Laboratories, Victoria) reflected on his journey from being a city kid to twenty years in dairy practice after falling in love with dairy during student farm placement in Northern Victoria.

^{Image (L - R): David Beggs (University of Melbourne) and Michael (Mic) Dhar (Norbrook Laboratories, Victoria)}

The trade and exhibition hall provided delegates with the opportunity to connect with industry representatives, learning about new innovations – perfect for the forward-thinking focus of the conference.

^{Image (L - R): Britt Zendler and Stacey Rae (Queensland). The highlight of the conference for Britt was talking to the trade exhibitors about innovative products that will be of value to their practice in Monto.} 

 

^{Image (L - R): Conor McMahon (QLD) and Sally Carson (NT). This being Conor’s first AVA event since graduation, he found the presentation on genomics useful to increase his understanding of this technology given the several seedstock clients he services in his practice.}

 

^{Image: Becky Dickinson (Veterinary Support Services, Victoria) tests the Fluromid™ product with trade exhibitor Stacey Southwell from SilverGlide (NSW), which she feels will be a game changer for new graduates refining their skills in bovine surgery.}

^{Images above: delegates catch up over lunch in the trade and exhibition hall.}

And last but not least, the Gala Dinner saw delegates turn back time to the 1970s, with ‘70s fashion, music and of course, the dancing!

^{Images above: attendees let their hair down at the Gala Dinner for a '70s-style party} 

Feedback from the ACV & NT Division Conference was overwhelmingly positive, with Dr Gemma Chuck (ACV Scientific Convenor) saying, “I am absolutely thrilled with the…diversity of the program and quality of the speakers to the conference venue and social events, especially the 1970s themed Gala Dinner. Our inaugural panel discussion on rural vet sustainability was very interactive and well-received. I cannot wait for more of this in the future. It was terrific to see so many familiar and new faces.”

The AVA gives a huge thank you to all the sponsors, speakers, panellists, committee members, volunteers and delegates for bringing this event together.

AVA conferences are a fantastic way to get your CPD in, while also catching up with likeminded veterinary professionals from all across Australia.

To experience more of this collegiate atmosphere and the AVA’s renowned social programs, come to Adelaide for the AVA Annual Conference in May!

Click here for more information, and to register.

For more information about the AVA’s Educational Events, click here.