The report released this week by Veterinary Schools of Australia and New Zealand (VSANZ) titled ‘Rethinking Veterinary Education’ recognises the challenges facing the profession now and into the future such as biosecurity, disease prevention and wildlife conservation: all which will be exacerbated by climate change.

VfCA commends the report’s findings and recommendations to make position changes to veterinary education and better support entry for students into this critical profession. We recognise the vital role veterinarians (and other veterinary professionals) play within their communities and across industries like farming, which will only grow as new veterinary issues emerge including impacts of climate change and environmental pollution on animal, human and ecosystem health and welfare. 

We congratulate the Review Panel of eminent veterinarians, chaired by VfCA Board Director Dr Helen Scott-Orr AM PSM for their hard work. VfCA Volunteer Dr Janet Berry provided a submission on behalf of VfCA which is available here. 

The full report is available here.