Veterinary Scene Down Under: 24/7 telephone mentoring now available, and other news

Telephone mentoring for veterinarians

For veterinarians, especially recent graduates, seeing patients alone out in the field, when in sole charge in the veterinary clinic, or during an after-hours emergency, receiving quick telephone advice and mentoring support from a veterinary colleague can provide a valuable moral boost and greater peace of mind when dealing with a tricky case.

Moss Siddle, BVSc, owner of Dandenong Ranges Veterinary Centre, recognized there was a need for this type of mentoring support for veterinarians, so he created the VetMentor 24/7 service, whereby any veterinarian, anywhere in Australia, can obtain clinical advice and guidance or just have a general chat with another experienced veterinarian.

“No preregistration is required, and veterinarians—whether experienced or inexperienced—can access the service by simply calling 1300 838 999. They might be out in the field with a horse with colic, working in [the] clinic with a critical care patient, or at home and just need some reassurance,” Siddle told dvm360.

The VetMentor 24/7 service is free of charge for the first 4 calls per month for veterinary clinics that use VetCheck 24/7, a triage service that Siddle founded, which veterinary practices can utilize to screen or filter calls from clients after hours, or any time, so that the on-call veterinarian only gets called for true emergencies.

“Other veterinarians are also very welcome to utilize the VetMentor 24/7 service, and [an] invoice is issued, which they can pay later, or they can have the mentoring session billed to the veterinary clinic where they are employed,” Siddle said.

The idea for offering the VetMentor 24/7 service came about after Siddle and his team received a request from one of their veterinary clinics utilizing VetCheck 24/7 to offer support to a recent veterinary graduate if needed while the practice principal was away on holiday.

“Sometimes recent graduates do not want to wake up or bother their boss for advice in the early hours of the morning, so they can call the VetMentor 24/7 veterinarians instead to receive on-the-spot support and advice. Every veterinarian could do with ‘phoning a friend’ at times, and this is the service that provides that in a nonjudgmental and supportive manner,” Siddle said. “Sometimes the stress and constant barrage of cases can have a negative impact on the self-esteem of veterinarians. Our VetMentor 24/7 veterinarians are all experienced practitioners [who] know this firsthand and have often had similar experiences in their own career, so they can provide positive, impartial support with empathy.”

Siddle explained that VetMentor 24/7 is also not just limited to clinical support. “Whilst our experienced veterinarians are not trained counselors, they can refer callers to counseling and psychological support services if that is appropriate. Whilst the Australian Veterinary Association does offer a new and recent graduate mentoring service, the VetMentor 24/7 service offers instant clinical support to any veterinarian, even more experienced veterinarians who just want that quick reassurance and guidance,” he said.

Veterinary innovation

The Australian Veterinary Innovation Council (AVIC) has officially launched, dedicated to fostering a more efficient, sustainable, and forward-looking future for the veterinary profession in Australia.

AVIC brings together innovators from across the animal health ecosystem, including Simone Maher, BVSc (Hons 1), GCEdStudies, FHEA, MANZCVS (Animal Welfare), from PetSure Australia; Megan Auld, MProfComm, BSc, BA, from VetScript Australia; Bronwyn Orr, BVSc, MSc (IAWEL), MANZCVS (Animal Welfare), PhD, GAICD, from Pawl; Claire Jenkins, BVSc (Hons), MANZCVS (Small Animal Medicine), from VetChat; and Shai Jordan from Bova Australia.

“The veterinary sector is at a tipping point. We have access to incredible new technology, including proven advances from international and human health settings, but vets are often forced to operate within a maze of outdated and ambiguous rules. This not only causes frustration and adds to the mental load, but [it also] creates barriers to accessing veterinary care,” Maher said exclusively to dvm360. “That is why we launched the [AVIC]. We're not just here to talk about the future; we are here to help build it.”

The goal of AVIC is to champion smart, scalable innovation and advocate for change that supports the sustainability of the veterinary profession. “By bringing together veterinary innovation leaders, we can advocate more effectively for evidence-based solutions that work for Australian vets and consumers. Ultimately, we aim to foster better access to care for animals and a robust, future-ready profession,” said Maher.

Review of veterinary nursing qualifications

Work is underway to update veterinary nursing qualifications in Australia to better reflect workforce needs and the skills required across a wide range of species and the diversity of veterinary practice. Consultation is now open for the veterinary nursing review led by Skills Insight, with the draft qualifications and units of competency available for public feedback until March 10, 2026. https://skillsinsight.com.au/project/veterinary-nursing-review/