Foundations, Status, History

17th century importance?

-when ‘veterinarian’ was used in print

Where does the term veterinarian come from?

Veterinarius, a person who takes care of pigs, sheep and cattle.

vet profession in ancient times (4)

-there has been care since the domestication of animals

-the cause of disease was not based on science (natural disaster, witchcraft)

-treatment & prophylaxis was based on empirical practice

-science and doctors came later

Definition:

Empirical practice

-practice based on experience, ideas and observation; not based on theory or science

What was the earliest record of profession?

-3000 BC in China, Mesopotamia, Egypt, India, Greece, and the Romans

When and where was the establishment of the first veterinary Hospital?

– India, between 268 to 232 BC

What was the first animal disease to ever be eliminated in the history of humankind?

-rinderpest (in 2011)

Claude Bourgelat (4)

1712 - 1778

– Noble family, classic, education, lawyer.

-expert horseman (wrote books on horses)

-established first vet school (in Lyon France 1761) (in Alfort 1766)

When did veterinary schools experience global spread?

-19th century

what was Bourgelat’s legacy? (4)

-scientific approach

-economic concern

-comparative pathobiology

-professional ethics

where was the 1st North American school located?

Canada

what was the focus of early veterinary medicine?

-horses and livestock

veterinary science advancement (3)

-advanced with the advance of science - enhanced ability to combat disease

-1800s/1900s increased public interest in animal welfare

-end of 19th century welfare and protection education incorportated into schools

History:

first fleet

1788

brought small companion animals (dogs, cats, rabbits), live stock (goats, pigs, poultry) into Australia

-no vets but some convicts were transported

-free settlers in 1800s were vets (very low, <50 practicing in 1880)

why did Australia experience such a slow start to vet med? (4)

• low incidence of disease, especially compared to the old world

• low population until the 1850s gold rush - extensive vs. intensive grazing and imports increased

• Low livestock values - stock owners seldom called on veterinarians

• There were only advisory rolls for vets in public sector

William Tyson Kendall

-the father of veterinary science in Australia

1873: graduated from RVC

1880: emigrated to Australia, founded Australasian Veterinary Medical Association

1882: co-edited Australasian Veterinary Journal

1884: wrote ‘Diseases of Australian Horses’

1887: drafted vet surgeons’ legislation

1888: opened first veterinary school in Australia

1897: President of Veterinary Board of Victoria (on/off 20 yrs)

When did the first veterinary school in Australia open?

1888 Melbourne veterinary College

what are the veterinary schools in Australia? (in order of earliest to newest) (8)

-Melbourne Veterinary College (1888 - 1909)

-Melbourne University (1909 - )

-U of Syd (1910 - )

-UQ (1936 - )

-Murdoch U in Perth (1976 - )

-Charles Sturt U in Wagga Wagga (2005 - )

-James Cook University in Townsville (2006 - )

-University of Adelaide (2008 - )

Who was the first woman veterinarian to graduate veterinary school in Australia?

-Isabelle (Belle) Bruce Reid, 1906

-she set up practice in Balwyn, Victoria (horse house calls)

How many state veterinary surgeons legislation are there?

5

When were state and territory veterinary boards established?

established in association with legislation

what do the state and territory veterinary boards do?

regulate the practice of vet science

Provide consumer and welfare protection

Registration of veterinarians

regulation of vet premises

deal with complaints against veterinarians

disciplinary powers

what are some of the veterinary boards in Australia? (8)

-Veterinary Practitioners Board of New South Wales

-Veterinary Practice Board of Western Australia

-Veterinary Board of Tasmania

-Veterinary Surgeons Board of Queensland

-Veterinary Surgeons Board of South Australia

-ACT Veterinary Practitioners Board

-The Veterinary Practitioners Registration Board of Victoria

-Veterinary Board of the Northern Territories

The Australian Veterinary Association (AVA) is a national body with state branches. What kind of things does the AVA do and when was it established?

Established in 1921.

-provides advocacy - meets with gov’t & industry stakeholders

-CE/CPD - education

-wellness framework and social and professional connection support

-made up of veterinarians

What was the first journal of veterinary medicine in Australia? when?

Australian Veterinary Journal, March 1925

-has annual general meetings associated with annual conferences

When was the code of ethics adopted in Australia?

1928

When were special interest groups (SIGs) formed in Australia?

-1960s/1970s

When was the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists established and what do they do?

1971 -

-provides professional qualifications to vets with superior competence in the form of memberships and fellowships

-discipline chapters: a.k.a. small animal, surgery, medicine, oncology, etc.

-examinations held annually in the form of written papers and oral practical exams

-College Science Week

Australasian Veterinary Boards Council

1999 -

-represents the state and NZ boards, the AVA, and New Zealand Veterinary Association (NZVA)

(aka sits above AVA)

what does the AVBC do?

-provide a forum for discussion, advice, and cooperation among the vet boards in Australia and New Zealand (standardization)

-encouraging the standardization and quality assurance of veterinary services to the community

Accreditation of vet schools

Australasian vet exam

Assessment of veterinary qualifications for migration

assessment of specialist qualifications

1950-2000 trends:

changes in the profession (3)

--since the end of World War II, there was an increase in numbers of active veterinary schools from 1 to 7

-increase in the number of graduates from a handful to several hundred each year

-increase in the percentage of female graduates

1950-2000 trends:

changes in society (4)

-population doubled in Australia

-urbanization

-changes in human animal relationships and farm animal management

-greater community awareness and public interest in animal wellness

When did they start using the term ‘fur baby’?

1950

Graduate demographics and employment patterns (1950–2000)

-increase in female graduates: 3% 1950, 65% 2000, 86% 2023

-decline of new grads in govt, rise of private practice

working conditions (1950-2000) (3)

-shift from working alone to multi vet practices

-improved work hours, decreased after hour duties

-increase perceptions of work and personal life balance

nature of work (1950-2000) (3)

-decline and cattle work, rise in companion animal work

-fall in trauma work, rise in preventative medicine (vaccinations) plus skin conditions

-conditions: distemper versus parvovirus, etc.

veterinary nursing (UK)

-younger than DVM profession

-VNs date back to the early 1800s and 1900s

-vets focus on curing diseases, VNs in patient care

-late 1950s: vets recognized advantages of employing assistants with education and formal training (Turner, 1984)

what is the biggest difference between vets and vet techs?

vets: curing diseases

vet nurses: patient care

When did the North American Veterinary Technician Association form?

1981

what are the qualifications of a licensed vet tech (usa)

Associates or Bachelor’s degrees

Veterinary Nursing (Australia) (10 dates)

1969: first training course for VN auxillaries in Aus established by the AVA based on the 3-yr UK syllabus

1995: VN Council of Australia launched

1996: VN National Industry Advisory Group (NIAG)

1998: first vocational National Training Package (certificate IV in VN)

2001: VN recognized in the Health (drugs & poisons) Regulation 1996 (Qld)

2002: radiation license for VN under Radiation Safety Act 1999 (Qld)

2009: microchip implanter authorization for VN in Animal Management (cats & dogs) Act 2009 (Qld)

2014: associate degree in VN, Melbourne Polytechnic, Victoria

2018: B. VN, Melbourne Polytechnic/Latrobe University, Victoria.

2019: voluntary registration of the VN in Australia

vet tech (australia, NZ) 8 dates

AUS:

2001:B. Applied science (Vet tech), UQ - B Veterinary tech name change 2016

2007: radiation license under Radiation Safety Act 1999 (qld)

2010: microchip implantar authorization in Animal Management (Cats & Dogs) Act 2009 (qld)

2015: B. Veterinary Tech, Charles Sturt University, NSW

2020: B. Veterinary Tech, U of Adelaide, SA

2021: Medicine & Poisons (Medicines) Regulation 2021 (Qld)

2025: B Vet Tech, Southern Cross Uni

NZ:

2009: B. Veterinary Tech, Massey U

Veterinary Nurses Council of Australia (VNCA) (3)

May 1995

-professional Association for VNs and VTs

-Promotes and represents nurses/technicians in Australia

How does the VNCA promote the interests of nurses and technicians? (7)

-representing and serving

-protecting professionalism

-promoting value in quality veterinary care

-advocating for increased recognition

-providing CPD and networking opportunities

-strengthening positions of nurses and techs

-engaging with all nurses and techs

what is the AVNAT registration scheme? (5)

-in Melbourne

-provides registration for vocationally trained nurses and techs and bachelors of VN eligible, plus some international qualifications

Code of professional conduct

-membership approaching 1000

• policies: CPD, return to practice, complaints and disciplinary policy, code of professional conduct an ethical policy

  • 2022: AVBC agreed to work with the VNCA & AVNAT regulatory council towards mandatory registration and regulation

summary:

vet techs/nurses

• relatively recent foundations and development, in the last 50 years

  • Diversity of training options, and qualifications

• Standardization of credentials across jurisdiction, registration and regulation

what was pet ownership in 2019?

62%

what impact did COVID have on pet ownership?

-increased

what are the key players in australian veterinary practice? (5)

-AVA

-VNCA

-AVBC

-Veterinary Surgeons Board of Queensland

-Au Govt Department of Ag, Fish, Forestry

what are some more broad key players in vetmed? (9)

– Animal owners, and general public

– Government and professional bodies

– Privately owned vet clinics

– Not for profit services

– Wildlife organizations and zoos

– Allied veterinary businesses

– Pharmaceutical, wholesale, and pet food companies

– Range of peak bodies, and organizations

– Animal welfare, and animal advocacy groups

What are three key international bodies for vets?

– World organization for animal health (WOAH)

– World veterinary Association

– WSAVA, global veterinary community

What are 4 key international bodies for vet nurses?

– International veterinary nurses and technicians association

– British veterinary nursing Association

– National Association of veterinary technicians in America

– New Zealand veterinary nursing Association

What are some employment areas for vets and vet techs? (12)

– Critical veterinary practice

– Government

– Academia

– Allied Industry

– Public health, one health

– Lab and diagnostics

– Consultancy

– Ancillary veterinary services

– Education

– Research

– Welfare

– Wildlife and conservation

Clinical practice focus (8)

Management

Leadership

– General, specialist

– Mixed small or large animals

-Exotics, Wildlife, Avian

– Emergency

– Aquaculture

– Shelter

Specialty practice focus

Medicine (large animal and small animal)

-surgery (large animal and small animal)

– Emergency, critical care

– Oncology

– Dentistry

– Imaging

– Theriogenology (repro)

-Dermatology

– Ophthalmology

– Cardiology

– Behavior

-Welfare

– Forensic

Government focus (12)

– Policy, legislation, review

– Compliance and regulation

– Surveillance

– Emergency disease response

– Bio security, quarantine

– Public health and food security

– Trade and market

– One health

– Research

– Diagnostic labs

– Armed forces

– Fieldwork

Research focus (7)

– Higher degrees

– Post doc

– Academia

– Research assistant

– Research facility management, consultation

– Research and development

– Clinical versus social research

Allied industries focus

– Animal health

- pharmaceutical

- nutrition

– Insurance

– Software and supporting tech

– Wholesale companies

– Training, and continued education

Consultancy focus (8)

– Animal industries, herd health

– Epidemiology

– Diagnostics

– Education

– Practice manage

– Workplace and safety health

– Research and data analysis

– Vet team wellbeing

What are some GP small animal services? (10)

– Preventative med like vaccines and parasite prophylaxis

– Routine healthcare

– Consultations

– Diagnostics like labs and imaging

- Surgeries like neuter/spay, orthopedic, soft tissue

–emergency

– Behavior

– Micro chipping

– Grooming

– Euthanasia

Where are some GP livestock/farm animal services? (16)

– Mobile, on farm

– Herd health

– General diagnostics and treatment

– Preventative healthcare

– Routine husbandry, nutrition

– Disease testing, surveillance, accreditation

– lameness investigations

– Biosecurity advice

– Pregnancy testing and AI

– Bull soundness examinations, semen testing

– Investigation of reproductive failure

– calving and calf health programs

– Surgery like C/S, castration

– Mastitis

– Postmortem

– Fish and atypical species

What are some GP equine services? (8)

-preventative medicine like vaccinations and parasite prophylaxis

– Routine healthcare

– Consultations

– Diagnostics like labs and imaging

– lameness workups and care

– Surgery like castrations, orthopedics, colic

– Dental and field with a power float

– Reproduction like pregnancy scans, embryo transfer, stallion services

What are some avian and exotic services? (12)

–wholistic approach like a diet husbandry and environmental critical advice

-preventative healthcare

– Animal consult, diagnostics, and animal care

– Healthy, new pet exams

– Disease testing

– Micro chipping

– Emergencies and accidents

– Anesthesia surgery

– Sex for birds, reptiles, and small mammals

– Behavioral management

– Training consults

– Specific products

What is the vet business landscape in Australia?

-small businesses like general practices, emergency after hours, specialists, and other

-not for profit organizations and charities

What are some examples of not for profit veterinary services?

-RSPCA

– Lort Smith animal Hospital

– Hobart community veterinary Hospital

– Regional community vet clinic

– Vets beyond borders

– AWL

What are some things to note about veterinary premises and facilities?

– Will vary based in services provided, patient needs, client needs

– Physical and online presence

– Must facilitate workflow

– Facility design is important: patient care, comfort, staff communication

Who are part of the veterinary healthcare team? (8)

-veterinarian

-vet nurses

– Vet tech

– Animal attendants, kennel staff

– Receptionist/customer care

– Practice manager

– External people like referrals specialists labs

– Other ancillary

Broad:

Vets (4)

BVsc, DVM, BVMS, BVM BVS, BVet Med, etc

-lead vets team in clinical tasks

– acts of Veterinary science: diagnosis, treatment, decisions, surgery, etc.

-have to adhere to legislative requirements, guidelines

– Bona fide vet clinic relationship like informed, consent, and vet client contractual relationship

Broad:

Veterinary nurses

Australia: vocational qualification (learning on the jobs), nationally recognize certificate IV diplomas in veterinary nursing and specialties, the professional body is the VNCA and registration is voluntary

United Kingdom: vocational and higher education, training, available diploma in veterinary nursing nationally recognized, the VNs must be registered, nurse consultations are more routine

Broad:

Vet techs

Australasia: three-year bachelors degree, higher education, can be associate member of AVA, UC offers dual qualification with IV CERT

North America: associate degree, community colleges

Technologists: bachelor degree four years, higher education

Broad:

Animal assistance and kennel staff

– Vocational training options: certificate two in animal studies, certificate three in animal studies, certificate three in companion animal services, grooming, services, etc.

– many trend on the job

Broad:

Reception staff (5)

– Certificates and training offered for medical/health related receptionist

– in Vet field, client care and reception courses are available from private providers/drug companies

– On the job training

– Nursing/technical staff

– Larger practices have dedicated to client care, customer service, staff, or a client on tech

Broad: practice managers (4)

– Day-to-day operations and planning

– Have a variety of backgrounds like senior vet, tech, nurse, administration staff

– Certificate or diploma in practice management, or MBA

– Can be associate members of AVA

Broad:

Additional staff

– Accountant, bookkeeper, admin, support, maintenance

– Especially found in large practices; like bill chasers

– Adding virtual, consult assistance, dictation

Veterinary service provision in Australia, what is happening in the space? (9)

– Societal changes like the human animal relationship

– Mobility, globalization

– One health

– Access to care

– Corporation in private practice

– Greater specialization

– Changing professional demographics

– Changing employment patterns

– Greater utilization of staff skills

Why is there a shortage of veterinary staff? (8)

– Growth in sector

– Career mobility

– Changing demographics

– Changing work life priorities

– nuanced challenges for staff

– More pets

– Border closures, lockdowns, Covid

– Higher stress, loss of staff

Why is wellness important in vetmed? (4)

-compassion fatigue

– At high risk of stress and burnout

– That profession can be interesting, fulfilling, and challenging

– Opportunities for skill development across different studies