The Australian Veterinary Association (AVA) has reiterated its call for the Federal Government to wipe the HECS debts of veterinary graduates who live and work in rural and remote areas.
The call follows the Albanese Government’s recent announcement that it will wipe the HECS debts of doctors and nurse practitioners who live and work in the most remote parts of Australia.
“We commend Minister Jason Clare and Minister Mark Butler for their announcement—it’s excellent to see the Government addressing the shortage of medical professionals in the regions,” AVA president Dr Bronwyn Orr said.
“Now it’s time for veterinarians to receive the same kind of support.
“The current skills shortage of vets in the regions is crippling the industry, impacting the agricultural sector and if urgent support is not delivered, we may see the rural veterinary workforce collapse.”
The AVA has called on the Albanese Government to commit $19.23 million over four years which would deliver 80 new graduates each year to the regions.
“The Government’s HECS forgiveness policy for doctors and nurse practitioners will deliver around 850 medical professionals to the regions every year along—so our ask is quite modest in comparison,” Dr Orr said.
“Further, veterinary graduates study for a similar amount of time as doctors, and graduate with a similar HECS debt, often in the six figure range. Affording the same HECS forgiveness to vets as doctors would be warmly welcomed by our profession.”
The skills shortage has plagued the veterinary industry for years. In 2021, AVA conducted a Workforce Survey which revealed that 31 per cent of practices advertising for vets are taking 12 months or longer to fill vacancies.
