Have your say on the WA Veterinary Practice Amendment Draft Regulations

The AVA is calling on all veterinarians to engage with the consultation on the WA Veterinary Practice Amendment draft Regulations. The AVA will enter a submission, and as some of the proposed changes may pose a significant threat to veterinary standards, animal welfare, and public confidence in the profession, we urge members to submit their own responses and ensure their voices are heard.

What could the proposed changes mean?

Changes proposed in the draft Regulations include granting the WA Veterinary Practice Board extended powers to authorise individuals to perform acts of veterinary medicine, and other procedures are proposed to no longer be classified as acts of veterinary medicine. The proposed changes represent a shift in regulatory oversight, with potential far-reaching implications including risks to animal health and welfare, human safety, and the viability of veterinary businesses.

The following have been identified as areas for consideration in the draft Regulations:

Unregulated supervision and deregulation risks

• There is no legislative requirement for a "supervising vet" when individuals are authorised by the Board to perform veterinary procedures, which could lead to non-veterinarians conducting veterinary acts without proper oversight.
• The proposed changes introduce authorised non-veterinarians’ ability to “Giving advice or instruction in relation to the medical or surgical treatment of a particular animal or particular group of animals” in addition to “Diagnosis of diseases or physiological conditions in, or injuries to, animals.”

• While some aspects of veterinary practice are being deregulated, others—such as veterinary clinical records—face highly prescriptive and onerous new requirements, adding unnecessary administrative burdens.

Expanded access to regulated medications

• The amendments would allow "authorised persons" to carry and administer medications which would include anti-inflammatories and local anaesthetics.

Recognition of Advanced Veterinary Nurse

• Advanced Veterinary Nurses are a proposed new category (prescribed class) of veterinary nurse who have the skills, training, experience and competence to carry out more advanced procedures, under prescribed levels of supervision by a veterinarian.
• These procedures would include; performing cat castrations, euthanasia of wildlife, administering a nerve block/local anaesthesia, ultrasound guided cystocentesis.

How you can take action

The AVA is advocating strongly to ensure that veterinary medicine remains in the hands of qualified professionals. However, individual submissions from veterinarians will strengthen our collective voice.

• Submit your response to the consultation before the deadline of 4pm Monday 24 February 2025 to DPIRD.
• Use AVA’s submission guidance found here to help shape your response
• Notify colleagues and encourage them to participate.

The AVA is incorporating these issues into our WA State Election advocacy priorities, reinforcing the importance of protecting veterinary practice and maintaining public confidence in our profession.

Now is the time to take action. Let’s work together to safeguard the veterinary profession and animal welfare in WA.