Third Zoetis Foundation grant recognises the success of the AVA’s Cultivating Safe Teams pilot program

The Australian Veterinary Association (AVA) has been awarded a new grant of USD $125,000 from the Zoetis Foundation to expand its flagship wellness program, Cultivating Safe Teams (CST), supporting the mental health and psychological safety of veterinary professionals across Australia. 

The grant marks a significant milestone in the program’s evolution, supporting its transition from a successful national pilot to broader integration across the veterinary sector, driven by overwhelmingly positive feedback from participating teams.  

“This funding is recognition of the AVA’s deep commitment to mental health and wellbeing in the veterinary profession,” said AVA President Dr Gemma Chuck. “Veterinarians are essential to the health of our animals, our communities, and the agricultural systems that feed the nation. Supporting their wellbeing is not just the right thing to do, it’s vital to Australia’s social fabric and economic success.”

“We sincerely thank the Zoetis Foundation for recognising the importance of this program and continuing to invest in the wellbeing of veterinary teams. This grant enables us to reach more clinics, create more positive change, and build a stronger, more resilient veterinary workforce” Dr Chuck said.

Developed under the AVA’s THRIVE Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Framework

The AVA’s Cultivating Safe Teams training equips all members of veterinary workplaces with practical tools to foster psychologically safe environments. It focuses on identifying psychosocial hazards, improving team communication, reducing risk of burnout, and enhancing workplace culture through evidence-based training that prevents psychological harm. 

How to book your session?

The AVA’s Cultivating Safe Teams training is available either online or face to face with veterinary teams.

To book training for your team please share your expression of interest with AVA’s Executive Officer, Rebecca Faris via this form.

The Cultivating Safe Teams pilot

During the AVA’s national pilot, the Cultivating Safe Teams program trained more 735 veterinary professionals across a wide range of practice settings, receiving praise for its practical, team-based approach to psychological health and safety and wellbeing delivered through the lens of the veterinary profession.

Post pilot – the Cultivating Safe Teams AWARE program

Previous participants wishes that the program would access ongoing funding so that it can be rolled out in as many veterinary workplaces as possible have been granted. As one participant said:

“I believe the content is a necessity for all businesses to learn (and) I hope every business gets the chance to participate”

Well now they can! The Zoetis Foundation’s mission is to advance opportunities for veterinarians and farmers, including a focus on mental well-being. Its ongoing support of the AVA’s Cultivating Safe Teams program strengthens AVA’s efforts to build a thriving, sustainable veterinary profession. 

From July 2025 the pilot program will now be known as Cultivating Safe Teams (CST) – AWARE and will be available in a variety of formats to suit the diverse needs of our profession.

Australia is a big country and the pilot program saw lead trainer, Carly Webster, travel almost 52,000km to deliver CST workshops. To ensure as many clinics as possible can experience the training, including those in remote and regional areas, CST AWARE will now be available either online or face to face with your team. To book training for your team please share your expression of interest with AVA’s Executive Officer, Rebecca Faris via this form.

As well as team training, individuals can now participate too. Starting in August, an online version of the 1-hour psychological safety awareness training will be available to book via the AVA’s website. This format will suit sole practitioners, new team members for clinics that participated in the pilot program or team leaders who want to experience the program before hosting a team training.

Cultivating Safe Teams training is available to any individual working in the veterinary profession, not just AVA members.

Cultivating Safe Teams ACTION program

In addition to subsidising the cost of CST AWARE training, the grant funds will also be used to develop the next phase of the Cultivating Safe Teams program, CST ACTION. In response to the 98% of participants who intend to apply what they learned in the pilot; this program is designed to equip wellbeing champions to take action against the psychosocial hazards identified in the awareness training.

Delivered via self-paced online learning, enhanced with group coaching led by organisational psychology experts, this workplace implementation program will allow leaders to deep dive into evidence-based strategies to ensure that working as veterinary professional does not harm your mental health. Expressions of interest for the pilot program will be open later in 2025 to individuals who have completed CST Aware.

AVA’s vision for the Cultivating Safe Teams program

AVA’s Executive Officer for Wellness, Dr Rebecca Faris, said “Our mission for the Cultivating Safe Teams program is to enhance the mental health and well-being of the veterinary industry. This initiative is designed to empower all team members to foster a cultural shift in their workplaces, creating environments that prioritize psychological safety and support”.

"We aim to build a future where psychological health and safety is a core skill for every veterinary professional. Our thanks go to the Zoetis Foundation, along with Provet and Vet’s Choice Pet Insurance, for their continued support and recognition of the vital role this program plays in strengthening the wellbeing of veterinary teams."