Policy Advisory Council
The Council progressed significant policy work, with seven policies advancing to Board ratification and seven moving to member consultation in January. Ongoing development continues on the Rodeo and Companion Animal Health Certification policies. A major milestone was the ratification and publication of the updated HPAI policy, supported by a refreshed website and new practitioner-focused resources, including an in-practice toolkit and clinic poster.
National Veterinary Technical Input
The team provided high-level technical guidance across multiple areas, including advice to the Animal Health Committee on the use of microencapsulated sodium nitrite (meSN) in emergency responses, and contributions to national discussions on cannabis product regulation and the Petfast legal case.
We completed the ANZCCART Openness Agreement annual report, reinforcing our commitment to transparency in animal research and teaching.
For World AMR Awareness Week, the AVA promoted its antimicrobial prescribing guidelines, supporting veterinarians to “Act Now: Protect Our Present, Secure Our Future.”
Public Affairs and Advocacy
The team advanced several high-impact advocacy initiatives:
Key Projects
- Tasmanian Veterinarian Support Package: A new $400,000 government commitment over four years for childcare access, student placement subsidies, and expansion discussions for the THRIVE Cultivating Safe Teams program.Veterinary Student Travel Subsidy: $1,500 support now available for final-year students undertaking placements in Tasmania.
- QLD Priority EAD Sample Transport Subsidy: Ongoing pilot to assist with costs of EAD exclusion testing.
- WA Firearms Act 2024 Review: Confirmed veterinarians’ eligibility to apply for a professional “Business Licence” and plans for WA Police to engage and communicate with the WA veterinary profession.
Recent Submissions
- QLD Biosecurity Prohibited and Restricted Matter Lists
- WA Suicide Prevention Framework 2026–2031
- SA Veterinary Premises Standards
- QLD implementation of national Poultry Welfare Standards
Get Involved Opportunities
Members were invited to contribute to WOAH draft standards consultations, the Commonwealth 2026–27 Pre-Budget Submission, NSW inquiries (licenses to harm native animals, Cattle Tick Program), and WA Animal Welfare Advisory Committee EOIs.
Stakeholder Engagement
Engagement activity remained strong across jurisdictions and sectors, including participation in:
- WA Committee for Animal Welfare in Emergencies (CAWE)
- FAVA FRASC Rabies Committee
- Animal Health Committee Stakeholder Session
- NSDIP Advisory Committee
- Biosecurity forums and liaison groups across VIC, QLD and nationally
- Domestic and Family Violence Roundtable
- VSBQ, DPIQ and Biosecurity QLD regular meetings
- Veterinary Nurse Training Review Technical Committee
These engagements ensure AVA expertise continues to inform national coordination, regulatory development, and sector-wide collaboration.
THRIVE Wellness Program
The program continued to expand its reach and capability, with major progress including:
- Selecting suppliers and finalising agreements for CST Action, with participant recruitment underway.
- Advancing ethics approvals and survey development for the Community Wellbeing Survey.
- Launching new THRIVE and CST branding and asset updates.
- Strengthening external partnerships with Gardiner Foundation, NZVA, CVMA, EVA and VBG.
- Delivering a CST trainer refresher program, with trainers now preparing for co-delivery in 2026.
- Supporting practices through critical incident response, onboarding new TAC members, and presenting THRIVE initiatives to 65 DAFF veterinarians.
- Promoting CST Aware in Victoria to align with legislative changes, contributing to Vet Practice Magazine stories, and collaborating on wellbeing data to inform advocacy.