Policies

Complementary and alternative veterinary medicine

Position statement The Australian Veterinary Association (AVA) recommends that veterinarians make informed and judicious decisions regarding the use of complementary and alternative veterinary medicine (CAVM) modalities. The AVA recognises the […]

Government veterinary services

Policy Government veterinary services must be maintained at sufficient capacity to meet the needs of Australia’s animal health environment now and into the future, as well as ensuring capacity to […]

Private veterinary engagement with Government veterinary services

Policy Schemes which seek to enhance collaboration between private and government veterinary services should be adequately resourced by government to optimize Australia’s emergency animal disease preparedness and response capabilities. Recruitment […]

Provision of Animal Health (Veterinary) Laboratories

Policy Governments must ensure that veterinary laboratory capacity meets Australia’s needs, including those of regional and remote locations. This is essential to maintain Australia’s favourable animal health status. To achieve […]

Regulation of animal health service providers

Policy All animal health service providers, including veterinarians, paraprofessionals and non-veterinary animal health providers should be appropriately regulated to ensure adequate animal welfare and consumer protection. Definitions: Veterinary paraprofessional: A […]

Veterinary nursing

Policy All persons using the title ‘Veterinary Nurse’ must possess veterinary nurse qualifications and conform to standards appropriate to professional veterinary practice. The standards should be subject to regular review […]

Animal abuse

Policy Veterinarians should report suspected animal abuse to the relevant authorities. Veterinarians should not be required by law to report instances of suspected animal abuse as this may discourage owners […]

Philosophy on animal welfare and the veterinarian

Policy Veterinarians by virtue of their training, skill and knowledge promote animal welfare at all levels of activity and interactions with humans or animals. Background When humans make use of […]

AVA Statement of principles – animal welfare and ethics

Many AVA policies have animal welfare as their basis. Animal welfare science includes empirical and behavioural assessments, but at the same time it is widely accepted that assessments of animal welfare […]

Beef and sheep feedlots

Policy Beef cattle and sheep/lamb feedlots must be operated in compliance with the Australian Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines for Cattle and the Australian Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines for […]