Veterinarians are an essential part of Australia's biosecurity, public health, animal welfare, and food security. The Australian Veterinary Association (AVA), the nation's peak veterinary body, has 5 key priorities for investment and support to ensure the sustainability, resilience, and growth of Australia's veterinary sector.
In their essential role safeguarding animal health , veterinarians support a robust food supply, protect animals and communities from emergency animal diseases and help foster deep human-animal bonds that enrich communities. However, mounting pressures on the profession mean targeted action is urgently needed to address workforce shortages, mental health challenges, and provide funding for expected public good services.
"Veterinarians are essential to the fabric of Australian communities," said Dr Sally Colgan, President of the AVA. "We support the health of 28 million pets and Australia's iconic wildlife; we ensure food security and biosecurity, and we underpin the nation's multi-billion dollar livestock industries. To continue providing these critical services, our profession needs urgent, targeted support."
AVA's 5 Critical Priorities for the 2025 Federal Election
The AVA's 5 election priorities help tackle the profession's immediate challenges and lay the groundwork for a thriving, future-ready veterinary sector. They include:
- Robust Workforce - $5.76 million/year
Australia faces a critical shortage of veterinarians, especially in regional areas. The AVA calls for a $5.76 million annual Commitment to Rural Practice Scheme to forgive HECS-HELP debt for veterinarians, along with expanded rural subsidy schemes to attract and retain professionals where they are needed most.
- Mental Health for Vets - $2.1 million/year
Veterinarians face some of the highest rates of mental health issues across professions, with limited industry-specific support. A $2.1 million annual investment in mental health and wellness programs tailored to veterinary professionals will help vets build the resilience they need to continue serving their communities.
- Funding for Public Good Services - $7.5 million/year
Vets contribute to wildlife care, biosecurity surveillance, and natural disaster response with minimal government support. The AVA seeks $7.5 million annually to establish a national wildlife treatment fund and expand surveillance programs, offsetting the financial strain on veterinary practices that deliver public benefit at no cost.
- Training Tomorrow's Vets - $9.5 million/year
Meeting community needs means investing in the future. The AVA seeks $9.5 million/year to include veterinary students in the Commonwealth Prac Payment scheme and an increase in university funding by at least 30% per-student, ensuring the veterinary workforce is equipped to support Australia's food safety and biosecurity demands.
- Upholding Animal Health and Welfare - $5 million/year
To protect Australia's world-class animal health and welfare, a $5 million annual investment in a national veterinary antibiotic usage and resistance surveillance system. Incentives for livestock producers to engage veterinarians will further bolster biosecurity and welfare standards, securing Australia's social licence in local and global markets.
"The AVA's 5 Federal Election priorities underscore the essential role veterinarians play across our communities and in our industries," said Dr Colgan. "By investing in these initiatives, we can strengthen the profession's ability to meet Australia's growing demands for animal care, public health, and food security, and support our veterinarians so that they can continue to support us."
