Zoetis Foundation commits $180,000 to help deliver the THRIVE Cultivating Safe Teams pilot program

The AVA has received a US$120,000 (AUD$180,000) grant from the Zoetis Foundation to help deliver the THRIVE Cultivating Safe Teams psychological health and safety program to veterinary clinics around the country.

“We would like to thank The Zoetis Foundation, for their generous support funding the first year of the pilot program and our long-standing industry partners who have pledged their commitment to cultivating safe teams in their workplaces,” said Dr Diana Barker, AVA President. 

The Zoetis Foundation is committed to its goal of $35 million in grants distributed by the end of 2025 to provide opportunities for veterinarians and farmers across the Foundation’s three grant-making priorities: Education, Well-being and Livelihoods. The AVA received a US$120,000 (AUD$180,000) grant from the Foundation.

The THRIVE Cultivating Safe Teams program was launched in May this year and over 120 veterinary clinics from rural, regional, and metropolitan areas across Australia expressed interest in participating in the pilot program. Fifty workplaces were selected to take part in the pilot. Data from the 2023 IBISWorld “Veterinary Services in Australia” Industry Report and multiple state veterinary boards were used to identify the distribution of veterinary workplaces and employees, respectively, forming the basis for the selection criteria. Diversity of practice type was also an important consideration when choosing the pilot group, as was the mixture of regional, rural, and metropolitan workplaces.

The training will be delivered by Aspect Group, a leading provider of workplace psychological health and safety solutions, between September 2023 and December 2024.

“It is really encouraging to see such a strong interest in the program from the sector and I want those that were not selected as part of the pilot to know that it’s our goal to extend the program to as many workplaces as possible,” Dr Barker said.

An industry specific Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Framework will form part of a suite of resources available to participants of the pilot program and for all members of the veterinary community.

It aims to support individuals, workplaces, and organisations to implement mental health and

wellbeing strategies that positively impact mental health outcomes for all veterinary team members. It highlights the importance of an integrated approach to wellness - Preventing harm from psychosocial hazards in the industry, Promoting strengths, capabilities and the rewards of work, and Protecting us when we experience stress and mental ill-health.

The AVA is proud to champion this on behalf of the veterinary industry, and we wish to acknowledge and thank all those involved in bringing this mental health and suicide prevention framework to life.

About the Zoetis Foundation

The Zoetis Foundation supports communities and the people who care for animals, with a specific focus on advancing opportunities for veterinarians and farmers around the world. The Foundation’s grantmaking and strategic efforts provide access to education and mental wellness resources, expand veterinary debt relief, support diversity and inclusion efforts, and enable thriving livelihoods by funding programs that help veterinary practices and farmers adopt sustainable business practices. To learn more about the Foundation, please visit: www.zoetisfoundation.org.