Welcome to 2026! It’s a big year for THRIVE with our flagship Cultivating Safe Teams program expanding to pilot the next tier to the program, CST Action, and the return of the AVA | THRIVE Community Wellbeing Survey to deliver updated data on the state of mental health and wellbeing of the veterinary sector.
Wellbeing Support Programs
The end of 2025 and start of 2026 have been particularly difficult for many in our veterinary community, with terror attacks in Bondi, bushfires in Victoria and floods in Queensland. These traumatic events can strain even the most resilient of our team and debriefing early can prevent longer term consequences. Remember, the AVA’s telephone counselling service is available to prevent harm as well as protect us after tragedy. You can access a range of services here. If your clinic has been particularly affected by natural disaster you can book a critical incident response to debrief the whole team – this can be arranged by calling the same number.
If you are in an area prone to extreme weather events, the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) has a range of resources available. You can access, download and share these with your team.
If you want to feel confident to support your colleagues and clients during tough times, then becoming an accredited Mental Health First Aider (MHFA) could be for you. The AVA is offering 3 standard courses and 2 refreshers in 2026 with the first one starting next month! Sign up now to avoid disappointment. MHFA officers are equipped to help people experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, mental illness including suicide attempts. Like physical first aid, they are not expected to make a diagnosis or cure the illness but rather identify and support others to seek additional support to get better. Delivered by veterinary professionals, for veterinary professionals, this is an opportunity to learn alongside like minded peers who truly understand your experiences.
Testimonials
“I found the course more relevant than I expected, and feel confident in being able to approach and aid someone that may need help. A great insight into mental health and breaking down the stigmas. Wonderful presenters. Thank you.”
Book standard MHFA course here
Book refresher MHFA course here
THRIVE Veterinary Community Wellbeing Survey
In exciting news for THRIVE, we are officially opening our Veterinary Community Wellbeing Survey. Following the success of the 2021 survey that directly led to the creation of THRIVE, the Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Framework, and the Cultivating Safe Teams program, the 2026 survey will provide critical insights into the Australian veterinary profession’s mental health and wellbeing and will be influential in shaping THRIVE’s wellbeing initiatives, informing future research, and advocating for meaningful reform and investment on behalf of the profession.
Importantly, the survey’s findings will enhance understanding of the current state of mental health and wellbeing, supporting the development of effective industry response. These insights will also serve as a valuable resource for individuals, the profession, governments, Veterinary Boards, institutions, and other relevant bodies when assessing trends and addressing future challenges in this space.
Data from the 2021 Veterinary Stakeholder Wellness Survey is used extensively by the AVA in our policy and advocacy work. In recent years, this work has been gaining traction, but we need to continue to push for the support the sector needs. Part of this is ensuring that we keep updating our data on the state of mental health in the profession and that’s where you come in.
We encourage every member of our veterinary community to complete the survey – including registered veterinarians, vet nurses, practice managers, clinic administration staff, students and other relevant stakeholders. You could be working in clinical practice, other industries, retired, or not currently working – we are eager to hear from the entire veterinary community. A high response rate will ensure that the AVA can build effective wellbeing initiatives that are fit for purpose. Your contribution will be critical in building a thriving veterinary profession and we thank you for your support.
The survey is anonymous and much of the data gathered is not collected anywhere else – meaning it fills a critical gap in our understanding of the workplace stressors pertaining to the veterinary profession.
The summary findings will be made publicly available to the profession and will be comparatively assessed against previous survey results
Only individuals who currently permanently reside in Australia should complete this survey.
The survey will take approximately 20 minutes to complete – please click the link below.
Cultivating Safe Teams
Following the success of the Cultivating Safe Teams pilot program in 2023/24, we are excited to move to the next stage – CST Action. This workplace implementation program will be delivered over 6 months (Feb – July 2026) and will help you take your team beyond awareness to making meaningful changes to psychosocial hazards in your workplace. Using a facilitated workplace survey, online learning and live group webinars supported by 1 on 1 coaching for participants to implement a workplace project, we expect participants to leave feeling inspired and confident to implement changes to make their workplaces both SAFE and GREAT. If you participated in the CST pilot or CST AWARE session between 2023 and 2025 and are ready to take further action – express your interest in the next phase of your cultivating safe teams’ journey here. But hurry, bookings close 31 January and limited to just 15 spots
So, if your New Year’s resolution is to focus on the mental health and wellbeing of you and your team – THRIVE has plenty to offer. And if you haven’t set any goals yet, then have a look at the latest issue of flourish for tips and tricks for setting goals that stick. This magazine is part of the AVA’s EAP service and you can register to receive it by accessing the webpage. This issue discusses the importance of pausing for productivity and preparing and recovering from extreme weather events.
Did you know that you can access the AVA’s EAP for coaching support? If you are setting career goals or resolutions this year, think about using the EAP for professional support to keep you accountable and help you reach those goals. You don’t have to wait for a crisis to call the EAP – prevention is better than cure after all.
For more information on how the AVA is supporting a thriving veterinary profession head to www.ava.com.au/thrive or email us at thrive@ava.com.au.