June has been a busy month both personally and for your ACV Executive Committee. Seasonal pregnancy testing is now well underway across Central Queensland, and I suspect many of our members around the country are experiencing similar seasonal demands as we move through winter. Alongside the day-to-day work of cattle practice, the Executive has been actively engaged in a number of important issues affecting our profession.
Meetings have occurred across our subcommittees, with PREGCHECK™ , BULLCHECK™ and Education Committee meetings held throughout the month. The BULLCHECK™ app is now very close to completion, representing a significant milestone. Meanwhile, the Education Committee has commenced planning for our 2027 ACV Conference in Hobart this coming March. Work is already underway on the program, and we look forward to sharing further details with members as we move towards the end of the year.
We have been actively engaged in discussions surrounding proposed changes to veterinary legislation in New South Wales. Through the Australian Veterinary Association’s advocacy processes, ACV has been providing input to ensure that the perspectives of rural and production animal veterinarians are considered.
Alongside these advocacy activities, there has been some excellent discussion amongst members regarding the new AVA membership model, which comes into effect at the end of June. Change inevitably generates questions and differing viewpoints, and it has been encouraging to see members engaging constructively and sharing their perspectives.
Members will also be aware that the ACV List, which has served our community well for many years, will soon cease operating in its current format. Importantly, the ACV List is not disappearing—it is simply moving to a new platform. The transition to the Circle app represents an exciting opportunity to modernise how we communicate and collaborate as a special interest group.
While any change in platform can take some adjustment, the Circle app offers a more structured environment where discussions are easier to follow, information is easier to locate, and resources can be organised in a way that better serves members. The new platform will also allow us to develop dedicated communities and discussion spaces that cater to different interests and career stages within the cattle veterinary profession.
If you have not yet joined the Circle app, I encourage you to do so and explore the platform. If you are experiencing any difficulties with registration or access, please contact the ACV Office, who will be more than happy to assist you through the process.
Members may also have noticed the launch of the newly redesigned AVA website. Considerable work has gone into redeveloping the site to improve the member experience and make resources easier to locate and navigate. The ACV Special Interest Group page has been structured with multiple levels of access. Public-facing content is available to anyone visiting the site and provides information about cattle veterinarians and the work we do.
Once logged in, members and allied professionals can access additional member-only resources and information relevant to their interests. There is also a dedicated veterinarian-only section that contains resources intended specifically for registered veterinarians.
The Executive has worked closely with the AVA throughout this process to ensure a clear distinction between content available to allied professionals and content intended exclusively for veterinarians. This approach allows us to provide valuable resources to all members of our cattle veterinary community while maintaining appropriate professional boundaries around veterinary-specific information.
Thank you to all members who continue to contribute feedback, participate in discussions, and support the work of the ACV. Your input strengthens our advocacy efforts and helps ensure cattle veterinarians have a strong and respected voice.
Feel free to reach out to me – 0427341080
Kind Regards,
Brendan Brieffies
President
Australian Cattle Veterinarians