Veterinary workforce
Georgie PURCELL (Northern Victoria) (13:49): (586) My question is for the minister representing the Minister for Agriculture in the other place. In the last term of Parliament the Animal Justice Party moved a motion for accessible vet care in Victoria. The government supported it and at the time said during debate:
We are undertaking significant work in this space.
And:
We know there is a shortage of vets across Victoria. We know that vets are suffering through mental health conditions. We know that the suicide rate among veterinarians as a profession is something that is just not acceptable.
Since then, the cost of appointments continues to soar, training and retention of veterinarians continue to plummet and clinics, particularly in regional areas, continue to close. Can the minister provide more detail on the work the government says they have done to improve vet care access in Victoria?
Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Attorney-General, Minister for Emergency Services) (13:50): I thank Ms Purcell for her question. It is a really important question. I am sure the Minister for Agriculture would be delighted to take you through any of the initiatives that she has in this regard, because it is an important matter that we have identified and you continue to advocate for. So we will get you an update.
Georgie PURCELL (Northern Victoria) (13:51): Thank you, Attorney, for referring that on. Veterinarians in Victoria are overworked and struggling. One proposal that has been put forward is the upskilling of vet nurses into the vet nurse practitioner model, just as has been done in human medicine to relieve the demands on doctors and paramedics. This would allow vet nurses to undertake tasks such as teeth cleans, surgery preparations and dispensing medications, freeing up more specialist vet appointments and space for emergencies. Will the minister consider implementing this proposal, which would drastically relieve the veterinarian workforce, improve work satisfaction for vet nurses and improve animal welfare outcomes?
Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Attorney-General, Minister for Emergency Services) (13:51): I thank Ms Purcell for her supplementary question. I wish I knew the answer, because it is an important question that you have asked. I am sure that the minister will provide you with an update.