ACT Acting President's Report May 2024

A successful new grad, and new to Canberra, event was held in April 2024 at Gungahlin Veterinary Hospital. Veterinarians and students learned from speakers Dr Julie Boyle and Dr Frazer Boneham from CVES with attendees having many questions.

Divisional representatives hosting the event were encouraged by the notion that the new veterinarians felt well supported in their practices in Canberra and surrounds. Many thanks to  April Fletcher from Covetrus and Elise Ahling from Zoetis, who were unable to make it but sponsored the event. 

The Division is busy planning the next event which will be held during the Canberra winter with a theme of good food, details are to be confirmed, however those interested are more than welcome to reach out to the Division. 

The ACT Division has had discussions with the Chief Pharmacist with resulting advice that Chlorsig, and other Chloramphenicol containing eye medications, as a Pharmacist Only Medicine (S3) can only be supplied for human use and cannot be supplied for use in pets. Requests from pet owners unfortunately put the Pharmacist in a very difficult situation, as people do not always understand why they can buy it for themselves but not their pet, and yet, if sold, the Pharmacist is breaking the law.

The Division has been working on an election platform for the upcoming ACT election. Themes of workforce sustainability, support for mental health, and support for those in the community experiencing vulnerabilities were among those decided to be focused on. The Division looks forward to hearing responses of those running in the election. 

We would like to thank Michael Hayward for his splendid presidentship for the past 3 years. The ACT division is lucky to have his calm influence, expertise and dedication to the AVA in our ranks. In May 2024, Anna Julia Gabrielson will be attending the Councils of Presidents meetings on behalf of the Division.