AVA Seeks To Dismantle Archaic Registration System

The restrictive and time consuming system where veterinarians have to register in every state they practise in may be coming to an end, according to the President of the Australian Veterinary Association (AVA), Dr Kersti Seksel. “Under the present system, someone from NSW who takes their dog with them to the Gold Coast may not be able to seek advice or have medicine prescribed by their home veterinarian, unless that veterinarian is also registered in Queensland,” said Dr Seksel. “We have been lobbying state and federal ministers about developing a new national system of registration and receiving much positive feedback, because it simply makes good sense,” Dr Seksel said. “However we have to achieve agreement about it in all states and territories, so it has been a long process. “On a day to day level, national registration would remove unnecessary expense and form filling for veterinarians working in border areas, and make it easier for veterinary specialists to travel interstate. National registration will have significant benefits by increasing the mobility of vets in the event of cross border emergencies as well as improving mobility of veterinarians in rural areas. In the case of a large disease outbreak, national registration would remove the red tape when veterinarians are needed interstate.” Dr Seksel said that the new system being suggested by the AVA will not have any impact on the professional standards of veterinarians. “There will be no diminishing of state or territory rights in terms of the consumer responsibilities of individual Veterinary Surgeons Boards.”

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