AVA Member Updates

In follow up to an initial discussion held last year with the SBCQ, a meeting was held with SBCQ Commissioner, Dominique Lamb.

The AVA QLD Division undertook a project with the aim to investigate the impact that private veterinary employers providing Q fever vaccinations to veterinary nursing staff is having on the ability of veterinary nurses/technicians to receive their vaccinations, and the finances of the veterinary practice. This was undertaken to identify opportunities for the AVA to advocate for financial or other publicly supported methods to ensure all veterinary nursing staff have access to, and are protected through, Q fever vaccinations.

QLD Division Committee members and AVA Staff attended what while become an annual meeting between UQ and the AVA at UQ's Gatton campus. Key topics discussed included the AVA’s interaction with the UQ Vet School, students and staff.

The AVA QLD Division President, Dr Regan Lynch and AVA Senior Advocacy Officer, Dr Robyn Whitaker, held an in-person meeting with BQ at their BSL facility in Coopers Plains. BQ Director, Dr Fiona Thompson, and BQ Senior Principal Scientist, Dr Dave Thomson, provided an update on the communications project that AVA are involved with which is aimed at improving the transport of lab samples and enhancing communication with the veterinary profession.

The WA Division Committee held its annual in-person meeting in August, kindly hosted at the offices of Xsights Digital in Fremantle.

Last month we said goodbye to Kristen Steele as Vic Division’s advocacy officer and support person. Kristen has worked tirelessly for the AVA for many years, and for most of my time on the Victorian Division Executive Committee she has kept us informed, on track and organised. I will miss our regular touch-base meetings and her passionate support of the AVA, the Victorian Division and the veterinary profession. Although she is no longer on staff with the AVA, she is an AVA member and a friend who I am sure we will continue to see and hear from as she continues her research into veterinary workforce issues. Best of luck in your endeavours, Kristen!

As the weather warms up, so too do the discussions around the Report released by the Inquiry Committee into the Veterinary Workforce Shortage in NSW. The AVA has been working hard to determine alignment and prioritisation of the report’s recommendations, and we are holding meetings with stakeholders, such as the DPI, to press the issues that are important to our profession.

The SA committee is working to bring an event before the end of the year, focusing on an opportunity for Q and A with the VSBSA registrar and the AVA to reflect on 12 months of change, where there is still scope for improvement and get answers about the tricky things we encounter in business.

The AVA has liaised with the relevant state Vet Board to provide timely and accurate advice to members, in response to an issue raised by multiple SIGs and Divisions. 

The Advocacy Forum meets quarterly to discuss emerging issues and provide feedback on the AVA's advocacy work, and includes representatives of all AVA Divisions and Special Interest Groups.