Skills Insight has opened consultation on proposed updates to Australia’s veterinary nursing training products, including the Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing and the Diploma of Veterinary Nursing. These changes will shape how veterinary nurses are trained, supported and recognised into the future — and AVA members are encouraged to have their say.
What is being reviewed?
Skills Insight is working with the veterinary sector to update veterinary nursing qualifications, so they better reflect:
- Current skills required across a wide range of species
- The diversity of modern veterinary practice environments
- National training package requirements and workforce needs
The draft model:
- Retains Certificate IV as the entry point to veterinary nursing
- Reorients the Diploma from a practice-management focus to a more clinically focused role
- Strengthens career progression pathways while maintaining accessibility
- Improves clarity of units, integrates foundational skills, and allows flexible delivery (without mandating delivery modes)
- Emphasises performance-based assessment, including workplace demonstration and appropriate simulation
- Introduces a new skill set addressing proposed entry requirements for the revised Certificate IV
Skills Insight considered extensive feedback on whether the entry-level qualification should be raised to Diploma level. While this proposal offers potential benefits for professional recognition, it also carries risks relating to access, enrolments and workforce supply. The draft model seeks to balance both priorities by retaining a dual-qualification pathway.
Why your input matters
Veterinarians work closely with veterinary nurses and are directly impacted by:
- Scope of practice and competency expectations
- Workforce supply and accessibility
- Supervision, delegation and clinical standards
- Career pathways and future registration considerations
Your practical experience is critical to ensuring the final qualifications are fit for purpose and support high-quality patient care across all practice types.
How to contribute
The AVA will be making a submission, and we invite members to share their views to help inform this work.
- Email your feedback to: robyn.whitaker@ava.com.au by Monday 16 February 2026
Members may also choose to lodge individual submissions directly to Skills Insight by the consultation closing date of 10 March 2026.
Learn more
The draft qualifications, units of competency, a detailed Summary of Changes, and registration links for online and in-person information sessions being held across Australia are available on the Skills Insight website:
https://skillsinsight.com.au/project/veterinary-nursing-review/
This is an important opportunity to influence the future of veterinary nursing education and the veterinary workforce more broadly. We encourage all members to get involved.