AVA Submission on the Review of Australia’s Higher Education System

The AVA thanks the Department of Education for the opportunity to comment on the review of Australia’s Higher Education System. Our comments are focused around maintaining the high standards Australia requires of veterinary practitioners in the context of investment and affordability in veterinary education. The contribution veterinarians make to the community is highly valued, and significantly contributes to, and protects, the social license of animal industries to operate.

The critical thinking and problem-solving skills developed and honed in an animal health context coupled with their subject matter expertise, makes veterinarians essential to maximising animal health and protecting animal welfare. This value also extends beyond animal health given the interconnectedness of animal, human and environmental health. Animal-related industries are valued at around $67 billion to the Australian economy.

There are 13,993 veterinarians to look after Australia’s animals including our wildlife and unowned animals, split across multiple sectors (e.g. government, private, industry).

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