NSW flooding – support for veterinarians
08 Jul 2022
Sadly, significant flooding has again hit NSW. Continue reading for information about response activities, support available, how to provide support, and links to resources for treating flood impacted animals.
Response activities
Agriculture and Animal Services Hotline
Call the Agriculture and Animal Services Hotline on 1800 814 647 to register assistance requests for emergency support including veterinary assistance and fodder for isolated stock. The Hotline is currently operating from 9 am to 5 pm. If you call outside of these times, please leave a message including your contact details and you will receive a return call.
Animal safe places
Locations currently open to accept livestock for anyone who has had to evacuate their animals include:
- Castle Hill Showground - Showground Rd, Castle Hill NSW 2154
- Hunter Regional Livestock Exchange - HRLX Singleton Saleyards - 55 Gresford Rd, Clydesdale
- Maitland Saleyards - 52 Kyle St, Rutherford
- Maitland Showground - Blomfield St, South Maitland
- Cessnock Showground - 111 Mount View Rd, Cessnock
- Dungog Showground *open currently non staffed
- Taree, Saleyards - 7118 The Bucketts Way, Taree South
AVA Liaison Officer
The AVA has been working the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) Agriculture and Animals Services Functional Area (AASFA) to assist in veterinary support to flood impacted animals. The AVA has appointed Dr Peter Carrigan as the AVA Liaison Officer to the Local Floods Operations Centre as a point of contact between AASFA and veterinarians.
If you wish to have any veterinary matters raised with AASFA or the local operations centre, please contact Dr Peter Carrigan at 0430 375 306 or peter.carrigan@sconeequine.com.au
If you have any other concerns or comments regarding the floods please contact Liz Gemes, AVA Senior Advocacy Officer at 02 9431 5050 or liz.gemes@ava.com.au
AASFA funding
Currently the AASFA funding via Task Request Numbers is being issued on a case-by-case basis to private veterinarians to facilitate emergency animal assessment and treatment for a condition that is as a direct result of the flood event.
Supports available from AVA and Government
AVA Veterinary Benevolent Fund
The AVA Veterinary Benevolent Fund exists to help any veterinary professional, AVA member or not, going through financial hardship or a difficult time, including impacts from the recent floods.
No circumstance is insignificant, and no request is too small. Your situation matters to us and we want you to reach out. Contact AVA Member Services (even if you are not a member) for a confidential, understanding discussion around your circumstances. We’ll then put you in touch with one of the Veterinary Benevolent Fund Trustees.
AVA Counselling Service
Recognising the personal impact you may be experiencing, we encourage you to utilise the AVA Telephone Counselling Service. This service is available to AVA members, the vet professionals that work for you (who may not be members) and your family members. It is available all day every day on 1300 687 327. If you’re having trouble dealing with something in either your personal or work lives, the free confidential telephone counselling service is there to help. A qualified counsellor is available to help you and maintains complete confidentiality.
Government support
Financial assistance is available for people and businesses impacted by the June and July 2022 storms and floods, including the:
-
Disaster Recovery Payment for a lump sum payment to help people affected, and
-
Disaster Recovery Allowance for support if you’ve lost income as a direct result of the floods.
-
Disaster relief loans for small business provides low interest loans of up to $130,00 for small businesses that have been directly affected by the floods
- June & July 2022 storm and flood disaster recovery small business grant of up to $50,000 to help pay for the costs of clean-up and reinstatement of a small business
Please note
- Make sure you keep records of what has been lost or damaged – not only is this crucial for insurance matters, it also helps us keep track of the scale of losses industry-wide.
- We would also encourage members to keep track of any services and treatments they have provided pro bono (both time and resources).
Providing support
Below provides ways people can provide assistance and support in response to the floods. If you know of any vet or clinic who has been impacted by the floods please let the AVA know through the Member Hotline - members@ava.com.au or 1300 137 309.
Financial donations
The AVA Veterinary Benevolent Fund helps veterinary professionals and their families affected by disasters, illness, financial hardship, accident or otherwise having a tough time. To help and support veterinarians, financial donations can be made to the Veterinary Benevolent Fund.
Note for donating goods: We understand that many clinics that are not affected by the disaster are keen to reach out to assist in practical ways by offering to donate items, since many of our colleagues would have lost supplies as a result of the floods. Past experience with goods in kind donations indicates that a significant portion of donated materials are disposed of and unused. Logistics and transportation also consumes a large amount of overheads. We appreciate the good intentions of donors and encourage financial contributions which ultimately allow more flexibility for designation where the need is most severe. Where direct relationships exist between clinics and equipment is available for donation or loan, then we encourage clinics to reach out to each other directly.
Volunteer
Vets Beyond Borders' Australian Veterinary Emergency Response Team (AVERT) is on standby to respond to the current flooding crisis. As this is an evolving situation, they are calling on our network of vets and vet nurses to register or update their details via their online AVERT webpage.
Resources
Below provides links to information and advice for the treatment of flood affected animals, as well as resources for businesses.
Equine resources:
- A webinar recording Veterinary Management of Flood Rescue and Flood Injuries in Horses by EVA Member Dr Olivia James.
- A US reference article Flood Injuries In Horses by Dr Rebecca McConnico from Veterinary Clinics.
- A client fact sheet on Managing Horses in Floods from longstanding EVA Member Dr John Kohnke.
- A Client Advice Sheet on Preparing Horses for Severe Wet Weather prepared by longstanding EVA Member Dr Bruce Pott.
- Immersion Foot Syndrome in 6 Equids Exposed to Hurricane Floodwaters - link
Cattle resources:
Sheep, Camelid, and Goat resources:
- Camelid care after floods - Dr Jane Vaughan
- Goats and floods factsheet - Dr Sandra Baxendell
NSW Business Disaster Recovery and Preparedness:
- Get Back to Business: Guide to recovering from disaster
- Guide to making insurance claims
- Get Ready Business: Five step guide to preparing for disasters
- Build a Business Continuity Plan
Useful contacts