NSW parliamentary inquiry wrap up

Public hearings for the NSW parliamentary committee  inquiry into and report on the veterinary workforce shortage in NSW were held on 29 and 30 August 2023.

The AVA was represented by Dr Cristy Secombe, Head of Veterinary and Public Affairs and NSW Division President Dr Zachary Lederhose. The Committee heard from a number of witnesses including veterinary business owners, large and small, veterinary charities, regulators, educators, and organisations representing industry, veterinary nursing, and government departments, as well as members of the public.

_{Dr Cristy Secombe presenting at the inquiry}

The overarching themes that came through witness testimony were those highlighted by the AVA submission.

1. Veterinarians are facing unprecedented challenges. Challenges like workforce shortages, burnout, poor mental health, and financial obstacles that, frankly, would surprise most Australians.

2. Veterinarians are performing a huge amount of public good, the cost of which is often unable to be recouped. This is particularly challenging for the private veterinary sector, and one of the reasons that the veterinary services cannot be effectively delivered in an unsupported free market. The result is twofold. Firstly, many animals go without vet services (just like would happen with human health without Medicare).This is a particular issue for vulnerable community members who own animals and ethically challenging for veterinarians. Secondly, veterinarians are discounting and performing pro bono work to try and cover some of the gap, but in the long-term this cripples the veterinary business model and causes severe overwork.
   
   Veterinary care is an essential service (just like human health care) where services must be provided when 'needed' rather than operate as a free market through supply and demand. If veterinary services are to meet the 'need', rather than just the 'market demand', some government support is needed.

3. The challenges in maintaining a sustainable veterinary workforce are diverse. Financial vulnerabilities have led to chronic underinvestment in the labour component of veterinary practice. There has been continued contraction in public sector veterinary services, and alongside this, our workforce is not immune from current market forces, generational shifts and societal changes. Added to this are the pressures of providing after-hours services, navigating a dated regulatory framework, increasing veterinary standards and providing veterinary care over large geographical areas.

_{Dr Zachary Lederhose presenting at the inquiry}

The public hearings are available for viewing or reading:  

• Day 1 - view or transcript
• Day 2 - view (AVA can be found at 4h 42 minutes) or transcript

The AVA took some questions on notice during the public hearing and were asked post-hearing a supplementary question by the Committee. Click here to see the AVA responses 

The Committee is due to report later in the year.

Background

In early June 2023 the NSW established a parliamentary committee to inquire into and report on the veterinary workforce shortage in NSW. Given the national importance of this issue, the collective advocacy team engaged with the broad membership, SIGS and other stakeholders to inform the AVA’s submission. The AVA briefed the Inquiry Committee Members in late June around the current state of the profession. The consultation process took place over several weeks and generated over 50 000 words of member feedback, with 15 stakeholder meetings undertaken during the process.  We provided an initial summary of the key points in the AVA submission and encouraged the membership to consider using in their individual submissions. To date there are 209 submissions on the NSW Government inquiry website, many from individual veterinarians.

The AVA has provided a comprehensive submission to the inquiry. This submission discusses the complex challenges and suggested strategies by individually addressing each of the inquiry’s terms of reference (TOR), including providing 16 vital recommendations. The AVA believes these recommendations provide the foundation for constructive dialogue and serve as a roadmap for strategic improvements to safeguard and fortify the veterinary workforce. They underscore the urgency of addressing workforce shortages while also illuminating pathways towards long-term solutions and the sustainable growth of the profession.

A media release talking to the submission was released on the 27^th of July and an opinion piece included in the national newsletter.