October is Mental Health Month – a time to reflect on our wellbeing, support one another, and take action to build healthy workplace cultures. The Australian Veterinary Association (AVA) offers a range of professional learning opportunities designed to strengthen both mental health awareness and professional development for veterinary professionals. They offer a great opportunity for a lunch and learn with your team, or your own personal and professional development.
Upcoming Live Webinar:
THRIVE | CST AWARE: Webinar for Individual Participants
Date: 6 November 2025
Time: 7pm AEDT
Presenter: Carly Webster
This webinar is a one-hour, evidence-based training program designed specifically for veterinary professionals. It explores psychological health and safety in the workplace, helping participants understand what makes a “safe team” and how to build one. Attendees will learn to:
- Define psychological health, safety, and workplace culture in veterinary settings
- Identify elements of effective, mentally safe teams
- Use strengths-based strategies to promote positive, equitable environments
- Commit to personal and professional responsibility in cultivating workplace wellbeing
This session is ideal for any member of a veterinary team. Registration includes a participant workbook, the opportunity to sign an industry-wide pledge affirming your commitment to a mentally healthy workplace, and access to additional resources and videos in our learning management system.
Presenter Carly Webster is a health and wellbeing professional with expertise in creating psychologically safe workplaces. She holds qualifications in health science and sports therapy and is accredited in Applied Suicide Intervention Skills (ASIST). Carly’s work has been recognised by WorkSafe Victoria for excellence in mental health, and her international publications influence best practices in workplace wellbeing. Carly has led our Cultivating Safe Teams pilot, delivering training to over 800 veterinary professionals across Australia. This is your chance to try the content before you book a live session with your team OR access the training as an individual – perfect for sole traders and new staff in clinics who have already participated.
Explore More: On-Demand Webinars
For those who prefer to learn at their own pace, the AVA currently has 4 on-demand webinars exploring a range of veterinary wellbeing topics. Thanks to our sponsor Westpac, these webinars are available free to all in the veterinary community.
- Inclusive Design and Accessibility in Vet Clinics: Simple Changes, Big Impact: This webinar explores the business case for accessibility, grounded in data and lived experience. With 1 in 4 clients living with disability or neurodivergence — often invisible — we’re missing critical opportunities for connection, care, and retention: Available until 17 June 2026
- Giving Back to Gain More: How does volunteering help both the individual and the team thrive? Hear firsthand from Drs Bill and Alison Taylor from The Canberra Vet Mob, and Dr Rebecca Faris, AVA EO for Wellbeing, about how giving back enriches our personal and professional lives: Available until 5 August 2026
- Welcome Back: Creating a Culture of Care and Connection after Workplace Absence: Learn how to appropriately stay connected with absent team members, and how to welcome returning team members with empathy and needs-based communication – a respectful, non-judgmental style that centres on human needs such as safety, belonging, contribution, and autonomy: Available until 22 September 2026
- THRIVE Cultivating Safe Teams: Pilot Program Final Review: After a successful Pilot Program between September 2023 and December 2024, this is your opportunity to follow the AVA’s Cultivating Safe Team’s journey and discover the outcomes and future initiatives of the THRIVE Cultivating Safe Teams Program: Available until 26 June 2026
These sessions make it easy to earn CPD points while supporting your own growth — anytime, anywhere.
Looking Ahead to 2026
The AVA’s THRIVE initiative continues to evolve, with new learning opportunities and wellbeing-focused events in development for 2026. All THRIVE initiatives fall under our mental health and suicide prevention framework guiding pillars, Prevent, Protect and Promote. If you have ideas or topics you’d like to see covered, reach out to Dr Rebecca Faris, AVA’s Executive Officer for Wellbeing and see your topics come to life in 2026.