The Australian Veterinary Association (AVA) has welcomed the release of the Jobs and Skills Australia report ‘An Essential Ingredient: The Food Supply Chain Workforce’ which highlights the critical role of veterinarians in Australia’s food supply chain.
“Veterinarians are essential to the health and welfare of production animals, food security, biosecurity, trade access, and productivity of animal industries,” AVA president Dr Sally Colgan said.
The 266-page report makes 41 recommendations, five of which directly relate to the veterinary workforce.
The AVA’s 2025 federal election priorities align with the report’s recommendations, emphasising the urgency of addressing veterinary workforce shortages and supporting veterinary students. Key recommendations in the report include:
- Including veterinary students in the Commonwealth Prac Payment scheme
- Developing a national veterinary workforce strategy
- Reviewing veterinary nursing skills standards for potential mandatory registration
- Reassessing funding for veterinary science courses to reduce reliance on cross-subsidisation
- Supporting a national biosecurity workforce strategy
“This report offers a roadmap to help strengthen the veterinary profession and its vital role in Australia’s food supply chain,” Dr Colgan said.
