Public Affairs and Advocacy Update April – July 2024

16 Aug 2024

From April to July 2024, the AVA’s Public Affairs and Advocacy activities focused on policy development, addressing the IV fluids shortage, and progressing public affairs and advocacy initiatives, including unpaid veterinary services, national workforce concerns, and antimicrobial guidelines.

The AVA's Policy Advisory Council reviewed and progressed multiple policies while extensive stakeholder engagement supported ongoing government relations and election planning.

The AVA responded to the NSW Parliamentary Inquiry into the veterinary workforce shortage while continuing to support veterinary well-being through the THRIVE Wellness Program.

In June, the AVA merged its communications and Advocacy/Policy teams to create a Public Affairs and Advocacy team. This integration will allow the AVA to better leverage and amplify its important work and maintain consistency of voice and positioning.

We welcome any feedback you have about our updates – email publicvetaffairs@ava.com.au.

You can read more about AVA Public Affairs and Advocacy here. As always, we encourage you to get involved and provide input into activities the AVA is commenting on or undertaking. The public affairs, policy, and advocacy work that the AVA undertakes is a team effort, driven by the Public Affairs and Advocacy team and extending to the wider organisation, including the SIG EOs and the communication team.

Overview of activities April – July 2024:

Policy Advisory Council:

  • Reviewed 15 draft policies at the May 27th AVA Conference.
  • Released 12 policies for member comment; 3 referred to working groups.
  • Considered 17 policies for updates, with working groups now progressing 6 of these.
  • Proposed 17 new policy topics from SIGs and Divisions, with working groups now progressing 5 of these.

National Veterinary Technical Input:

  • Provided technical and advocacy input across AUSVETPLAN, Animal Welfare Task Group (AWTG), APVMA, Federal Inquiries and published the feedlot antimicrobial prescribing guidelines.

Public Affairs and Advocacy:

  • Addressed the IV fluids shortage by collaborating with experts, consulting suppliers and regulators, and engaging members on impacts.
  • Focused on unpaid veterinary services, national workforce survey, after-hours service models, AVBC collaboration, antimicrobial prescribing guidelines, student placement poverty, avian influenza, and AVA conference participation.
  • Made 25 submissions from April to July.
  • Engaged in NSW Parliamentary Inquiry follow-up and advocated for the implementation of its recommendations.

Stakeholder Engagement:

  • Conducted 90 external meetings between April and July, advancing AVA’s advocacy.
  • Continued government relations and planning for the upcoming Federal Election.

THRIVE Wellness Program:

  • Continued support for veterinary mental health and wellbeing.
  • Second Cugrant signed of and communicated .
Detail on activities April – July 2024

Policy Advisory Council (PAC) 

The AVA’s Policy Council met on 27 May at the AVA Conference in Melbourne and discussed 15 draft policies.  As a result, 12 policies were put out for member comment and 3 to working groups.

Seventeen further policies were considered for update, and following prioritisation, working groups were formed to progress 6.

Briefs were provided by SIGs and Divisions on issues of concern, resulting in a further 17 new policy topics being proposed, with working groups formed to progress 5 of these at this stage.

You can review the full list and status of AVA policies here.

Technical and Standards - Ensuring veterinary technical input to national processes

Examples of work undertaken in this area in April - July include

  • Technical contribution to two AHA writing groups – the AUSVETPLAN Destruction Manual and the AUSVETPLAN Livestock Welfare and Management Manual. Both are being rewritten.
  • Response to consultation by DAFF on the new AAWS Strategy – submission and 7 member focus groups.
  • Technical input to Animal Welfare Task Group (AWTG) regarding the proposed new Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines development process.
  • Technical input to the AHC policy on sodium nitrite for the destruction of pigs in an EAD response.
  • Consultation with Pharmacy Board on review of Compounding Guidelines.
  • Technical response to APVMA - opposing proposed cancellation of registration of Neomycin products, based on antimicrobial stewardship concerns (loss of intramammary treatment of low ASTAG importance).
  • Response to DAFF review of Australia’s import policy for veterinary immunobiologicals.
  • Response to IV Fluids shortage which has included the AVA:
  • Appearance at the Inquiry into Export Control Amendment (Ending Live Sheep Exports by Sea) Bill 2024, based on AVA live export policy and technical submissions.
  • Antimicrobial Prescribing Guidelines Feedlot Guidelines have been completed and published with Equine prescribing guidelines in progress.
Public Affairs and Advocacy Activities

Election Platforms

  • Development of the ACT & QLD Election Platforms for their October elections are progressing, and the AVA Federal Election platform is being prepared.

Stakeholder engagement

  • During April - July there were 90 external stakeholder meetings that involved AVA’s advocacy agenda.

National workforce survey

  • An extensive profession wide survey was conducted in 2023 to obtain the current workforce status of the profession.
  • Preliminary data was released during selected sessions at the AVA conference in May with the final report due for release soon.

Workforce data and planning

  • The AVA’s advocacy on the need for increased veterinary workforce data and planning is gaining traction with a number of key stakeholders engaging in the issue.
  • Firstly, Recommendation 12 of the NSW Parliamentary Inquiry (see more details in responsive advocacy below) in to the Veterinary Workforce Shortage was, “That the NSW Government, through the Agricultural Ministers Council, seek national support for a national veterinary workforce database, as proposed by the Australasian Veterinary Boards Council.”
  • Secondly, the Commonwealth CVO is organising a Roundtable next week on the issue of workforce data. The AVA has been working to assist in the organisation of this and will be one of the many stakeholders who are coming together for it.
  • The AVA also attended a Roundtable discussion on the food chain workforce with Jobs and Skills Australia. Both support for the veterinary workforce and the need for a national veterinary workforce plan were key parts of the discussion.

Unpaid Veterinary Services data collection

  • Data collection has been facilitated by the AVA to assist a project aiming to quantify the value of the cost of delivery of public good provided to the community by veterinarians, through their provision of reduced cost or pro-bono services. Analysis of this data will be used to help inform AVA advocacy for the value of veterinarians and their role as essential health workers.

After Hours Services Models project

  • An AVA national advocacy project is underway to gather information from the veterinary profession to inform and guide the development of mechanisms to improve the sustainability and satisfaction of veterinary roles, particularly regarding the impact of providing afterhours services and the implications for veterinary businesses.

Student Prac. Placement Poverty

  • The Federal Government has overlooked the essential nature of veterinary work, leaving veterinary science students out of its promise to provide funds to support teaching, nursing, and social work students on university placements. 
  • The AVA amplified the message around the exclusion of veterinary students from the Commonwealth Prac Payment Scheme. 

Avian Influenza

  • Communications and engagement have been maintained with the relevant authorities in Victoria NSW and the ACT around the outbreak of strains of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in these states/territories. This included an AVA advocacy team member acting as a liaison with NSW DPI.
  • Members are kept updated using approved government information which is provided on the AVA HPAI webpage.

2024 AVA Conference

  • Presentation by Advocacy Team member on “Sustainability of the veterinary profession” which includes work on data collection around unpaid veterinary services and public good (see previous information).
  • The Head of Veterinary Policy and Advocacy also moderated an EAD Panel discussion session.
  • An 'Advocacy Day' was hosted by Advocacy Team members on the AVA stand including an activation with delegates having images of them taken holding placards in support of the AVA and its advocacy work which were shared on social media.

World Vet Day – vets are essential health workers

  • The 2024 World Veterinary Day was celebrated on 27 April with the theme 'Veterinarians are essential health workers'. 
  • The AVA advocated that veterinarians are essential health workers since well before the COVID-19 pandemic. 
  • During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Australian Government formally recognised the essential nature of veterinarians and considered them "essential workers". 
  • All essential health workers provide a substantial public good, and everyone in the community needs access to these services. 
  • The AVA has been working hard to socialise the concept of public good to the veterinary profession, our stakeholders and the community. The inability to recoup the costs associated with delivering veterinary public goods makes the contribution of veterinarians to safeguard the health and welfare of animals and people and the sustainability of the veterinary profession vulnerable. This is a key contributor to the veterinary workforce shortage and negatively impacts veterinary workforce sustainability. 
  • Work the AVA has done in this space can be found here.
Submissions 

In progress

Current consultations with member engagement opportunities can be found on our 'Get Involved' page, where you can contribute to formulating responses and submissions.

Placed

Information on submissions can be found here, including links to the 22 submissions which were placed in April-July.

  • National - Renewing the Australian Animal Welfare Strategy
  • National - Review of the biosecurity risks associated with veterinary immunobiologicals
  • National - Australian Skills Classification user survey
  • National - Draft Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL)
  • National - APVMA Neomycin reconsideration
  • ACT - Territory Plan Amendment - Definition of a Veterinary Clinic
  • ACT - Review Veterinary Practice Act
  • ACT - Feedback on ACT Code of Practice for the welfare of Poultry (Non-commercial)
  • ACT - Feedback on ACT Codes of Practice for Animal Welfare - Cattle
  • ACT - Feedback on ACT Codes of Practice for Animal Welfare - Sheep
  • NSW - Response to Government Bill Two commitments 3: banning puppy farming
  • NSW - Response to Government Bill One commitments 1 and 2: ACO transparency and fit and proper person
  • NSW - AVA Response to Hearing questions and comments - Inquiry into charitable organisations under POCTA
  • NSW - AVA Proposed Options for Section 11 of draft Medicines Poisons and Therapeutic Goods Regulation
  • SA - Animal Welfare Bill 2024
  • SA - Dog and Cat Management (Breeder Reforms) Amendment Bill 2024
  • SA - Pet food regulation private members Bill
  • TAS - City of Hobart Dog Management Policy Review
  • VIC - Agriculture Victoria 2024 Biosecurity Roundtable program
  • VIC - Wildlife (Game) Regulations 2024 and Regulatory Impact Statement
  • VIC - Victorian Cat Management Strategy
  • VIC - Proposal to criminalise the possession, publication and distribution of animal abuse material in Victoria

Submission responses and follow up

NSW Parliamentary Inquiry into the Veterinary Workforce Shortage

  • The Inquiry committee released its report on 28 June with the AVA making an initial response that welcomed the report and following member input a full response has been released
  • The AVA indicated support for all the recommendations in the Inquiry Report and highlighted 20 recommendations for strong support.
  • If implemented, the Inquiry recommendations will see significant mental health support to the profession, financial support to students and production animal veterinarians, and an overhaul of the state’s veterinary legislation.
  • The AVA is particularly pleased to see acknowledgement of the significant amount of unpaid work that veterinarians do in the community. The Inquiry called for financial support to assist in covering these costs that are currently borne by veterinarians and veterinary businesses.
  • The AVA is now working with key stakeholders to encourage the NSW Government to accept and act on the report.

Victorian Pig Welfare

  • The Legislative Council Economy and Infrastructure Committee has tabled its report into the welfare and protection of farmed pigs in Victoria which can be found here.  
  • In January 2024 the AVA Policy team put together a muti-stakeholder submission to an inquiry into farmed pig welfare in Victoria, undertaken by the Victorian Legislative Council.
  • We thank our subject matter experts from the Australian Pig Veterinarians (APV), the Australian Veterinarians in Animal Welfare and Ethics (AVAWE), and the Victorian Division, for their input.  AVA also appeared at the Inquiry and spoke to our submission.
  • The submission can be found here

QLD Stronger Dog Laws legislation 

  • The QLD Agriculture and Fisheries and Other Legislation Amendment Bill was recently passed through QLD State Parliament.
  • The AVA provided submissions to this legislation amendment, the related consultation on stronger dog lawsin QLD and Dr Isabelle Resch, President of the Australian Veterinary Behaviour Group, also appeared as a witness for the AVA at a Parliamentary Committee Inquiry.
  • At all opportunities through this consultation, the AVA’s position on breed specific legislation including “Deed not breed” was well articulated, as well as the importance of being proactive rather than reactive when it comes to addressing dog behaviour issues.
  • Other stakeholders giving evidence at the Inquiry were strongly aligned with the AVA’s position on not banning specific breeds of dogs. The inability to reliably identify individual dogs as being of a breed to subject to a ban was also highlighted.
  • In passing of the legislation, positions and concerns aligned with those of the AVA around breed specific legislation continued to be discussed.
  • The AVA is continuing its advocacy work in this area by engaging and participating with the QLD Government as the new legislation is being implemented.

THRIVE 

Additional work undertaken by the AVA across wellness includes:

  • Secured ongoing grant funding from the Zoetis Foundation to continue THRIVE Cultivating Safe Teams pilot program
  • Continued delivery of the THRIVE Cultivating Safe Teams pilot program – bespoke in clinic psychosocial safety and mental health awareness training sessions to 35 of 50 participating veterinary workplaces across Australia, Sep23-Jul24.
  • THRIVE Cultivating Safe Teams online stakeholder session April 2024 – 46 delegates
  • THRIVE Veterinary Wellness Symposium 27 May 2024 - 115 delegates
  • Veterinary Wellness Steering Group meetings x 4
  • Graduate Mentoring Program planning and matching for new cohort which begins 1 September
  • Mental Health First Aid online training April and June - 24 delegates
  • THRIVE Mental Health Framework and Prevent-Promote-Protect resources shared via AVA Newsletter.
  • 30 July THRIVE webinar Beat the burnout masterclass- 35 delegates