Registrations are now open for the full suite of 2026 AVA Chartered Veterinary Practitioner courses, offering veterinarians the opportunity to advance their general practice training and skills, and build long-term career sustainability.
Kicking off the year in January is ‘Evidence Based Veterinary Medicine in Clinical Practice’ and ‘Wellbeing Science for Veterinarians’, with both courses providing flexible learning opportunities tailored to the realities of modern veterinary practice.
All courses may be studied as stand-alone CPD offerings, or contribute towards professional accreditation as part of the AVA Chartered Veterinary Practitioner.
January 2026 courses
Evidence-Based Veterinary Medicine in Clinical Practice:
This course provides advanced training tailored for veterinary professionals seeking to integrate Evidence-Based Veterinary Medicine (EBVM) to make informed judgements in veterinary care, incorporating the needs of the animal, the client, and the veterinarian using an evidence-based approach.
Facilitated by Emeritus Professor Cathy McGowan, it’s especially suited to small animal practitioners keen to build confidence in critically evaluating scientific literature and data.
Wellbeing Science for Veterinarians:
Designed for all veterinarians, this course provides opportunities to identify, reflect critically and apply the personal and professional skills required to maintain individual wellbeing and positive engagement with others within a veterinary workplace. Participants will explore strategies to improve wellbeing, culminating in the development of a personal wellbeing plan.
According to Dr Cheryl Fry, AVA CVP Academic Program Director and facilitator of Wellbeing Science for Veterinarians, all the courses are designed with flexibility and ease of access in mind.
“Being 100% online, all courses are suitable for veterinarians in remote locations looking to enhance their skills,” she said. “The courses also provide opportunities for regional and rural practitioners to connect with colleagues and build a support network.”
Each course requires approximately 6 to 8 hours of study per week, featuring short video lectures of around 15 minutes, readings, practical learning activities, and interactive online discussions.
“The lectures are kept short to enable people to fit them in during breaks in their day. All the required content is available in one place, with a module checklist for people to work through.”
Dr Richard Hackwill, senior veterinarian and owner of Stawell Veterinary Clinic in Western Victoria, has seen the impact of the CVP program within his own clinic, after one of his employees Dr Morgan Clugston signed up for a course earlier this year.
“The content has been excellent for Morgan in her senior role at our clinic and the elective content allowed her to follow her interests,” he said. “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 as a result.”
Explore the 2026 courses on the AVA CVP website or contact education@ava.com.au to discuss enrolment options.