Barrier to migration removed for veterinary specialists

All veterinary specialists registered with an Australian veterinary board may now apply for Skills Assessment for the purpose of migration with AVBC even if their primary veterinary degree not listed in the AVBC Qualifications Generally Recognised document (AQGR). Based upon a risk analysis, a new pathway was approved by Council to provide for these specialists.

Skills Assessments are paper-based evaluations of a veterinarian’s qualifications to determine if they meet the standards of an Australian veterinary graduate and are eligible to work as a veterinarian in Australia. Specific visas issued by the Department of Home Affairs require a skills assessment by the. Australasian Veterinary Boards Council (AVBC) as the Australian Government-gazetted Assessing Authority for the occupation “Veterinarian”.

In mid-2022, AVBC Council approved an update to the skills assessment procedure. It was agreed that the aim of retaining highly skilled veterinary specialists who significantly contribute to the veterinary profession in Australia was achievable through a risk-management process. This update allows veterinary specialists trained at the level of an Australian-trained specialist with current registration, but without an AVBC-recognised primary degree, to obtain a skills assessment.

The Council and its member veterinary boards continually review processes and standards to ensure that unreasonable barriers are not in place for overseas veterinarians wishing to migrate to Australia.

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