Policy Advisory Council Work Update

The AVA’s Policy Advisory Council (PAC) develops policies on behalf of members on issues of concern to the profession. These policies form the basis of AVA advocacy submissions and public statements, and provide technical and professional guidance to members.

RATIFIED POLICIES

In the 2024-2025 cycle, the following policies were considered at the May 2024 PAC meeting.  They underwent Member Consultation in July 2024, and then were voted by PAC in November 2024 to progress to ratification.  They were ratified by the AVA Board at their December 2024 and January 2025 meetings:

• Biosecurity and quarantine (update - rewrite)
• Dentistry in non-traditional companion animals (update - rewrite)
• Farming of native fauna (update - rewrite)
• Humane slaughter of animals (update - rewrite)
• Infection prevention and control in veterinary workplaces (update - rewrite)
• Puppy and kitten socialisation and habituation (update - rewrite)
• Sustainability: implications for animal production, companion animals and veterinary practice (new)
• The role of veterinarians in emergency animal management (major update)
• The veterinarian’s role in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community dog and cat health and management programs (update - rewrite)
• Use of projectile syringe equipment and other remote delivery devices (major update)

FINAL DRAFTS

The following 4 drafts were voted by PAC in November 2024 to progress to Member Comment, which occurred in January and February 2025. The drafts were updated in response to feedback, discussed at the recent May 2025 PAC meeting, and voted to go to the Board for ratification:

• Exotic pet and wildlife trade (new)
• Forced Swim Test and Forced Smoke Inhalation Experiments (new)
• Medication of dogs and cats for air transport (update)
• Post-racing transition and retraining: Ensuring effective aftercare for retired horses (new)

The Board will be considering them at their July 2025 meeting, and we will update you on the outcome.

PRE-FINAL DRAFTS – NOW AVAILABLE FOR MEMBER COMMENT

At the May 2025 PAC meeting, the following 7 policies were voted to progress to Member Comment:

• Branding of cattle – use of analgesia (update)
• Contextualised veterinary care (new)
• Cyberbullying (new)
• Enhancing veterinary care through veterinary social services (new)
• Use of anthelmintics in equine practice (new)
• Use of electroimmobilisation on animals (update)
• Use of female cattle in training programs for trans-rectal pregnancy testing and artificial insemination (update)

Please use your AVA member log-in details to access the above policies, and provide your feedback in the comment boxes.  Please contact policy@ava.com.au if any difficulties accessing the forum. Member comment is open until Thursday 31 July, 2025.

We have another 13 working groups progressing the following updates and new policies:

• Animal welfare policy (new)
• Enrichment for commercially raised pigs (new)
• Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (update)
• Fish Welfare (update)
• Health certification for the transport of companion animals (new)
• HPAI in pet birds and private veterinary practice (new)
• Mass depopulation of livestock in emergencies (new)
• Pig housing to enhance the health and welfare of all classes of pigs (new)
• Safe and humane on-farm euthanasia of pigs (new)
• Surgical Mulesing (update)
• Use of horses in entertainment (update)
• Veterinary student extramural practical work (clinical placements) (new)
• Welfare of animals in rodeos (update)

Policy Webpage

The policy webpage has been refreshed to have more intuitive categories and indicate date of policy and/or status of review. Professional policies, including those on regulation of veterinarians, current professional issues, and those relating to the AVA’s wellness strategy, are grouped together as “Professional topics.”  Other broad categories include “Animal welfare,” “Use of veterinary medicines” and other policies by species or group.

Thankyou 

Sincere thanks to Policy Councillors and all AVA members who contribute to this work – we couldn’t do it without you!