Bushfire preparation - register as a volunteer
15 Dec 2021
As a partner of the Victorian Emergency Animal Welfare Plan (VEAWP), the AVA is responsible for maintaining a database of volunteer veterinarians and veterinary nurses that may be able to assist in the unfortunate incident of a serious bushfire or other animal emergencies. The VEAWP was formed as a result of the Royal Commission into the 2009 Black Saturday Bushfires, where it was found there was insufficient planning in place for animal welfare.
During emergency incidents, Agriculture Victoria coordinate the response for companion animals, livestock and equine. The Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) coordinate the response for wildlife. Please note that registration for assisting with wildlife response will be communicated to members once DELWP have finalised their arrangements.
Details supplied by you, via registration will be shared with Agriculture Victoria for the purposes of coordinating any necessary training required and resourcing emergency response incidents.
If you are interested in volunteering, please complete the survey below – which should take approximately 10 minutes. As we need to keep the database up-to-date every year, you are required to complete the survey again if you have registered in previous years.
Thank you in advance.
Register your interest here.
Preparing for bushfires
Summer is just around the corner: it's time to assess the bushfire plans for your clinic and remind your clients to check their own plans.
Natural disasters are occurring more frequently in Australia and are becoming increasingly severe when they happen. Animals are often victims in floods, fires, cyclones, and storms and suffer alongside people when disaster strikes.
For pets, horses, and livestock, it's the owner's responsibility to do everything they can to ensure their animals are safe during an emergency. Fortunately, it's not too difficult to include animals in household emergency plans. Here are some tips and checklists to consider as you decide how you will respond to a disaster in your neighbourhood.