The NSW Parliament Legislative Council Portfolio Committee launched an inquiry into the workforce shortage in June, with the Australian Veterinary Association (AVA) calling on vets to make individual submissions to the inquiry by Friday, July 21.
According to the AVA, a combination of “long hours, low wages and a high stress environment” has led to the shortage of vets across Australia.
Auburn Veterinary Hospital Vet Brian Lou says the cost of living pressures are making the situation much worse.
“There’s a vet shortage because there are so many leaving the industry,” he said.
“It’s very stressful because many people do not have the money to pay for services and they can become abusive.”
Dr Lou believes introducing a government rebate service for pet care would greatly help with staff retention.
“A Medicare system for pets would greatly assist owners and cause so many less arguments,” he said.
AVA board member Bronwyn Orr said without government support, the industry would continue to struggle to attract workers.
“What we are seeing is a culmination of over a decade of under investment in the profession,” she said.
“It is just assumed that the free market will look after things and we will have vets wherever we need them but that is not the case.”
