AVA ACT Pre-Budget Submission

31 Jan 2025

The AVA has provided an ACT 2025/26 Pre-Budget submission on the key priorities facing the veterinary profession. Read the full submission here.

The ACT Government invited the AVA to contribute to the ACT 2025-26 budget process by providing a submission. The AVA welcome the opportunity to highlight the key priorities for the veterinary sector and animal welfare. Additionally, we requested to participate in the Chief Minister, Treasury, and Economic Development Directorate roundtables with peak body organisations in February.

The AVA is committed to working with the ACT Government to address critical issues outlined in this submission, to ensure the long-term sustainability of the veterinary profession and the continued health and welfare of the ACT’s animals and communities.

This AVA submission focuses on the critical challenges facing veterinarians in the ACT and provides 9 recommendations across 5 key topics to address these issues effectively.

AVA Recommendations to the ACT Government are:

  1. Sustainability of the veterinary workforce
    • The AVA recommends that the ACT Government provide targeted funding to support veterinary students undertaking clinical placements in the ACT. Specifically, the Government should introduce allowances to cover accommodation and travel costs for students, addressing the financial barriers associated with “placement poverty.”
    • The AVA recommends that the ACT Government implement an incentive scheme that provides a financial payment to recent graduates who begin their veterinary careers in the ACT region. The incentive would be in two parts, firstly an initial payment that is aimed at supporting the relocation costs incurred by the recent graduate. A second payment would be available once a recent graduate had completed at least five years veterinary practice in the ACT. 
  1. Mental health support for the veterinary profession
  • The AVA recommends that the ACT Government commit to funding ($165,000 over 4 years) to support THRIVE, the AVA’s wellness initiative, which supports ACT veterinarians and veterinary staff to lead satisfying, prosperous and healthy careers. This includes the expansion of a range of existing programs being undertaken by the AVA for the veterinary profession and implementing new programs under the areas of prevent, promote and protect. These bespoke programs, include:
    • Expand the 24/7 AVA Counselling Service
    • Cultivating Safe Teams program –Psychological health and safety awareness training sessions for all individuals working in the veterinary profession in the ACT.
    • Mental health first aid for veterinary teams
  1. Support for veterinary public good activities
    • The AVA recommends that the ACT Government assumes responsibility for and financially supports the costs incurred by veterinary practices when treating or caring for Crown-owned wildlife and also unowned animals, such as strays.
    • The AVA recommends that the ACT Government, as part of its biosecurity funding, commit to increased and targeted investment in veterinary services. This should include enhanced support for surveillance and response activities, as well as the delivery of veterinary services that provide significant public good.
    • The AVA recommends that the ACT Government establish a disaster response and recovery fund to support the provision of veterinary care to animals impacted in natural disasters.
  1. Increased support for ACT government veterinarians
  • The AVA recommends that the ACT Government conducts a comprehensive review and develop a proactive strategy to support the critical work of our ACT Government veterinarians, who ensure the health of all animals, and maintain our ability to respond effectively to biosecurity threats and animal welfare issues.
  1. Support for veterinary care for persons experiencing vulnerabilities.
  • The AVA recommends that the ACT Government investigate providing subsidies for veterinary care of low-income earners.
  • The AVA recommends that the ACT Government provides facilities that are suitable and allow ACT residents experiencing vulnerability, such as fleeing Domestic and Family Violence situations, to take animals in their care with them.