dvm360's Australian correspondent Phil Tucak, BSc, BVMS, reports on the success of the new membership model at the Australian Veterinary Association and reforms to the veterinary regulatory framework in New South Wales.
After extensive consultation with its members and the broader veterinary profession in Australia, in June the Australian Veterinary Association (AVA) introduced a new membership model that represented the most significant change to membership of the organization in more than a decade.
"The early results are encouraging. By the end of September, membership growth is tracking to 20%, with new members joining from across the profession, including veterinarians, practice teams, students and allied veterinary professionals," said Diana Barker, BVSc, MANZCVS (Surgery), Exec MBA, president of the AVA, exclusively to dvm360.
"Importantly, this is about more than membership growth. It's about making the AVA more accessible and relevant throughout a veterinary professional's career, strengthening engagement and ensuring we represent and support the breadth of the profession."
Barker said the main message that had come from the consultation with members and the profession was for membership to be simpler, more affordable and better aligned with their needs.
"Feedback from members has reinforced the importance of making membership more accessible and delivering greater value. We have heard directly from veterinarians who have returned to the AVA after several years away, including those for whom cost had previously been a barrier. The inclusion of Special Interest Group membership has been particularly well received, providing greater opportunities for professional development, connection and collaboration," Barker said.
"We are seeing encouraging levels of engagement across our Special Interest Groups, Divisions and local branches. Alongside the new membership model, we've invested in improving the member experience through our new website, enhanced self-service capabilities and Member Hub, creating more opportunities for members to connect, share knowledge and engage with their professional community," she said.
Barker said the organization's focus is on building a stronger, more connected veterinary community, "where members see genuine value in belonging and the AVA is better positioned to champion the interests of the profession."
"For a profession as diverse and geographically dispersed as ours, these connections are particularly important," she said.
In Australia, the regulations that govern the veterinary profession differ among the states and territories, and in the state of New South Wales (NSW), the veterinary regulatory framework is being modernized. The NSW state government has introduced a new bill to reform veterinary regulation, including the professional recognition of veterinary nurses and technicians for the first time.
The current regulations are more than two decades old, and the reforms seek to address various veterinary workforce issues. The new framework would also allow veterinary services to be provided through mobile services and telehealth and would strengthen oversight of the profession.
"The introduction of this bill is a welcome and important milestone in modernizing the veterinary regulatory framework for NSW. The strong support within the profession for these changes was highlighted by the overwhelmingly positive response to the consultation on the reforms," Magdoline Awad, BVSc, GradCertMgt, MANZCVS, president of the Veterinary Practitioners Board of NSW, said in a statement.
"The introduction of this bill demonstrates a commitment to action and represents a significant step towards improving access to services and supporting a sustainable veterinary workforce across NSW," Awad said.
In a statement, the Veterinary Nurses Council of Australia (VNCA) said the proposed professional recognition of veterinary nurses and technicians is an important milestone.
"The introduction of registration for veterinary nurses and technologists is a significant step forward for our profession. It recognizes the skills, training and expertise veterinary nurses and technologists bring to animal care every day, while ensuring consistent professional standards across the sector," said Asha Yeoman, RVN, AVN, CertIV VN, DipVN(ECC), GCClinEd, president of the VNCA.
"These reforms are long overdue and represent an important investment in the future of veterinary services in NSW. By recognizing veterinary nurses and technologists as key members of the veterinary workforce, the government is helping build a stronger, more sustainable profession for the future," Yeoman said.
Through the regulatory reforms, the NSW state government is addressing recommendations made by a 2024 parliamentary inquiry into the NSW veterinary workforce, with the aim of attracting new workers, retaining experienced professionals and extending service delivery.
