The Veterinary Practitioners Registration Board of Victoria (VetBoard Victoria) is seeking feedback on its draft Guideline 10 – Continuing Professional Development (CPD), which proposes a significant shift towards reflective, outcomes-focused professional development for veterinarians. The draft guideline introduces a structured CPD cycle based on review, planning, learning, reflection and record keeping, and emphasises development across four competency domains: identity, critical reasoning, knowledge and skills, and wellbeing.
The AVA will be making a submission on behalf of the profession – and we want to hear from you.
CPD plays a critical role in maintaining professional competence, supporting animal welfare, and sustaining veterinary careers. The Victorian proposal reflects a broader shift seen across professional regulation towards CPD that is focused on outcomes, reflection and continuous improvement rather than simply counting attendance hours.
Importantly, changes introduced in one jurisdiction can influence approaches adopted elsewhere in Australia. Your feedback will help ensure the AVA’s submission reflects the practical realities of veterinary practice and the diverse needs of our members.
The AVA supports CPD frameworks that:
- Promote national harmonisation wherever possible.
- Are developed with reference to advice from the Australasian Veterinary Boards Council (AVBC).
- Align with the AVBC’s recently published framework for outcomes-based, competency-linked CPD for Australian veterinarians (Hodgson, Lenard & Keane, 2026).
- Move beyond purely hour-based measures of participation and instead focus on meaningful professional development outcomes.
We also believe that CPD frameworks should explicitly recognise the importance of non-technical competencies, including:
- Mental health and wellbeing
- Resilience and stress management
- Communication skills
- Reflective practice
The draft Victorian guideline’s inclusion of wellbeing as one of four competency domains presents an important opportunity to strengthen recognition of these critical professional capabilities.
We would particularly welcome your views on:
- The merit in introducing mandatory wellbeing-focused CPD, particularly for early-career veterinarians.
- There not being a requirement for a minimum number of points/hours.
- Does the draft guideline strike the right balance between flexibility and accountability?
- Is the proposed reflective CPD model practical and achievable?
- Are the four competency domains appropriate?
- How helpful are the provided resources and are more required?
- What lessons can be learned from CPD frameworks operating in other Australian jurisdictions?
Have Your Say
AVA members are invited to provide comments and feedback to Dr Robyn Whitaker, Senior Advocacy Officer, robyn.whitaker@ava.com.au by Monday 20 July 2026
The draft guideline and consultation materials are available on the VPRBV consultation website.
Members may also choose to lodge an individual submission directly with the VPRBV by completing their online survey by 2 August 2026.
Your input is invaluable in helping the AVA advocate for a CPD framework that supports veterinarians, strengthens professional standards and promotes a nationally consistent approach to continuing professional development. We encourage all members to get involved.