The AVA continues to advocate on behalf of the veterinary profession in relation to the Victorian Government’s Silver Review reforms, which propose the amalgamation of the Veterinary Practitioners Registration Board of Victoria (VPRBV) with both the Architects Registration Board of Victoria and the Surveyors Registration Board of Victoria (SRBV). Since early this year, we have engaged constructively with government, including writing to the Minister for Agriculture and other departmental representatives, as well as proactively seeking further clarification from both the Department of Treasury and Finance and the Department of Government Services on consultation processes and timelines for the reforms. While responses to date have provided limited detail, this appears to be an experience shared by the architects and surveyors. In parallel, the VPRBV, with AVA involvement, has led a strategic, sector-wide effort to develop a position paper that reframes the reforms as an opportunity to modernise the Veterinary Practice Act 1997 while maintaining appropriate, profession-specific oversight.
In this broader context, AVA members may wish to note that other impacted professions are also engaging on the issue. The Australian Institute of Architects’ Victorian Chapter has lodged a parliamentary petition outlining concerns about proposed changes to regulatory arrangements, particularly in relation to consumer protection and independent oversight. The AVA is sharing this one behalf of the Architects Registration Board of Victoria so that interested members have the opportunity to sign the petition in support of their efforts. You can access the petition at: https://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/get-involved/petitions/opposition-to-abolishment-of-the-architects-registration-board-of-victoria/.