Veterinary students support HECS fee forgiveness

The AVA has been advocating for HECS fee forgiveness for new graduate veterinarians who choose to work rurally, similar to the scheme in place for doctors and early career vets in New Zealand.

We have raised this issue when speaking to government and industry and have included it in prebudget submissions and our federal election platform in 2022. This item will once again be included in the prebudget submission for the 2023/2024 budget.

We have recently asked students what they thought. Specifically, we asked them:

“If you are receiving HECS-HELP would you consider taking a regional/rural veterinary role within the first five years of graduation to be eligible to have part of or all of your HECS debt removed?”

Although the sample size was small (~100), 100% of respondents said they would consider utilising this program.

We also asked if students had any comments about the proposal that the AVA is advocating for. All comments were supportive, with acknowledgement that this is only one of the programs that is required to address the rural veterinary shortage. Comments included:

• “This would be an extremely beneficial policy to both relieve the financial burden that many veterinarians face once graduating as well as promoting the need for employment in these areas.”
• “Definitely would make it easier as a vet student myself, graduate award wages for a six year course are so low considering the wages of other uni degrees.”
• “I love this idea. I have also struggled with home loans partially due to my whopping big vet HECS. By reducing this and making purchasing a home a little more attainable, it further contributes to a more satisfying lifestyle for rural vets.”

The AVA continues to advocate to include veterinarians in schemes that incentivise professionals to deliver services rurally as well as a range of other actions that will improve sustainability of the profession.

Thank you to all of the respondents who took time to answer this short survey.