Veterinarians wanting to take greater roles in clinic leadership are looking to courses from the AVA Chartered Veterinary Practitioner (AVA CVP) accreditation for building long-term career sustainability, as well as clinical confidence.
Feedback from employers who support their team members through the AVA CVP program highlights just how impactful these courses can be – not only for the individual vet, but also for the practice as a whole.
Enrolments are now open to study The Veterinarian’s Role in Society commencing Monday 25 August 2025. Find out more here.
Dr Richard Hackwill, Senior Veterinarian and owner at Stawell Veterinary Clinic in western Victoria, has seen the benefits of the AVA CVP program firsthand. When his colleague Dr Morgan Clugston expressed interest in further professional development, they identified the AVA CVP as a strong fit. As a generalist-focused course that combines clinical excellence with leadership and wellbeing content, the program is providing the ideal foundation for Morgan.
According to Dr Hackwill, “The content has been excellent for Morgan in her senior role at our clinic and the elective content allowed her to follow her interests.”
One of the strengths of the AVA CVP program is its real-world relevance, with Dr Hackwill highlighting the practical outcomes and collaborative impact the course fosters within their team. “Morgan has used her learnings to educate our staff and many changes to our day-to-day running of the veterinary clinic have been implemented from Morgan’s learnings,” he says.
Dr Morgan Clugston, AVA CVP student
Morgan’s involvement in the CVP has contributed to tangible changes in the clinic’s operations, including improvements in antimicrobial stewardship and the implementation of evidence-based protocols tailored to the clinic’s specific caseload and resources.
The culture at Stawell Veterinary Clinic strongly supports continuing education, with all staff encouraged to pursue further training early in their careers. Daily team meetings include mindfulness exercises and shared learning moments – practices that align well with the CVP’s broad approach to veterinary development.
While cost considerations are always important in a business setting, employers who have supported their staff through the program consistently report that the return on investment is significant. “The per-hour cost of the CPD is exceptional,” Dr Hackwill notes.
As Morgan develops her leadership skills at the clinic, the AVA CVP has played a key role in helping her grow into a confident, well-rounded clinician and mentor. This not only strengthens the internal culture at Stawell Veterinary Clinic but also contributes to workforce sustainability in a rural, mixed-practice setting.
From an employer’s perspective, the AVA CVP program represents more than a professional development opportunity – it’s an investment in the future of the profession, helping to foster capable, resilient, and collaborative veterinary leaders.
To learn more about how the AVA Chartered Veterinary Practitioner program can support your team, visit www.ava.com.au/cvp. Enrolments are now open for The Veterinarian’s Role in Society, commencing 25 August 2025.