Veterinary scene down under: Australian veterinary school receives massive philan-thropic donation, and other news

Meditation opportunity for veterinary professionals

The VetYogi Collective, an online on-demand yoga and meditation subscription service for individuals, practices and associated businesses, announced it is offering a free opportunity for veterinary professionals to try meditation, in recognition of the unique stressors that veterinary professionals are exposed such as long work hours, emotional fatigue, and the mental health impact of involvement in life-and-death decisions.

The VetYogi Collective’s founder Chloe Hannigan, BVetMed, MRCVS, explained to dvm360® that individual coping strategies like meditation can offer immediate relief and boost long-term resilience to stress.

"Meditation can offer immediate relief to an overwhelmed mind, and boost long-term resilience to stress, anxiety and insomnia. Meditation is not just a wellness trend; it’s a scientifically supported practice that can enhance mental wellbeing, focus, and resolve,” said Hannigan.

“The VetYogi Collective 10 Day Meditation Challenge offers a free opportunity to journey through a variety of meditation and breath work techniques in just 10-minute bursts, providing practical tools that can be applied by busy veterinary professionals in some of our unique day to day stressful scenarios.”

Meditation encompasses various practices aimed at training attention and awareness, fostering mental clarity, and promoting emotional calmness. The VetYogi 10 Day Meditation Challenge has been designed to help participants feel calmer, clearer, and more grounded in just 10 minutes a day.

During each day the event will feature a short 10-minute guided meditation focused on a different theme for each session, with each meditation audio delivered directly into participant’s email inbox. Anyone interested can learn more and register on The VetYogi website.

Biosecurity program exceeds expectations in remoteIndigenous communities

AMRRIC Biosecurity Pilot Project (image courtesy of The Animal Management in Rural and Remote Indigenous Communities)

A 3-year biosecurity pilot project which set out to improve companion animal health surveillance in 25 remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities across Northern Australia, has been a resounding success and achieved all its anticipated project outcomes, and exceeding expectations in key areas, according to a recently released evaluation report.

The Animal Management in Rural and Remote Indigenous Communities (AMRRIC) Biosecurity Pilot Project strengthened collaboration between Indigenous organizations, local governments, and health agencies, whilst also enhancing community animal health and biosecurity surveillance capacity.

“It's clear that this pilot project not only strengthened biosecurity surveillance but also delivered real improvements in animal health and Indigenous employment opportunities,” Bonny Cumming BVSc (Hon I), MVS (Cons Med), AMRRIC’s head of innovation and strategy, said to dvm360.

“It’s particularly pleasing to see our vision reflected back by our partners — who told us the combination of on-the-ground training, biosecurity surveillance and animal health services, all founded on trusted relationships, is what made the model so effective.”

Building on over 20 years of experience delivering culturally appropriate animal health services, AMRRIC’s project was centered on a ‘no survey without service’ model, which combined door-to-door companion animal census surveys with on-the-job training in biosecurity surveillance and animal health.

Working alongside AMRRIC staff, community organization trainees collected data using AMRRIC’s custom app while the AMRRIC’s veterinary staff provided preventative treatments and first aid to companion animals in the remote communities.

“This integrated approach not only delivered tangible animal health benefits and strengthened local biosecurity capacity but also strengthened the trusted relationships that are central to AMRRIC’s work in remote Indigenous communities,” Cumming explained.

AMRRIC Biosecurity Pilot Project on the Tiwi Islands

Extraordinary philanthropic gift to benefit veterinary school

The Murdoch University veterinary school in Perth will undergo a complete redevelopment thanks to an unprecedented AUD$100 million philanthropic gift from Ted Powell, a long-term supporter of the university.

The philanthropic gift will upgrade and expand the aging veterinary school to support next generation world-class teaching and research at Western Australia’s only veterinary school and animal teaching hospital.​

According to a statement on the Murdoch University website, Andrew Deeks, vice chancellor Professor said Powell’s extraordinary act of generosity would help ensure Western Australia continued its role as a leading hub for animal research, teaching and training.

“On behalf of Murdoch University, I cannot thank Ted Powell enough for his generosity, support and foresight. He will leave a legacy for the Western Australian veterinary profession, animal research - and for animals great and small - which will resonate for generations to come,” Deeks expressed.

In the redevelopment, the existing veterinary school will be replaced by a 9,600 square-meter state-of-the-art facility large enough to support a 50% increase in the number of veterinary students who can be trained in Western Australia.