Struggles with mental health and suicide in the veterinary profession are a hot topic, alongside workforce shortage and these have been noticed by our state politicians with One Nation Senator Sarah Game initiating and chairing, with support from Liberal Representative Nicola Centofanti, a Joint Committee Into Veterinarian Mental Health And Wellbeing.

This indirectly looks to address workforce shortages as well, as the consideration is that many leave the industry due to mental health and wellbeing and that if some of these issues can be addressed then retention would improve and hence workforce shortages would improve.  The committee has a broad scope of reference which includes:

• Quantifying the significant benefits that the veterinary industry brings to society.

• Working conditions.

• The role of veterinary teams in caring for wildlife and strays.

• Regulation of veterinary practices.

This is not an exhaustive list, yet you can see that they are seeking a broad range of information and are hoping for submissions that provide diverse views and suggestions.   

Dr Game said findings of the Joint Committee would inform recommendations aimed at the government, industry stakeholders, and educational institutions.

“I anticipate these recommendations will require genuine government investment in improving the lives of veterinarians,” Dr Game said. “This may include policy changes, funding initiatives and educational programs tailored to address veterinarian health and wellbeing, plus the repercussions of the current situation.

“This investigation will be crucial to understanding the current state of the veterinarian workforce in South Australia and charting a course towards a more sustainable industry.”

As a profession, this is a great opportunity to help build awareness in the community and improve understanding of the challenges faced, while also driving some meaningful change around attitudes and awareness of what daily life as a veterinary team involves. A brief idea of some of the challenges involve:

• The regular compromise between optimal care and cost of veterinary care carries an emotional toll for the owner and the veterinary team.

• Workload demands in a workforce shortage.

• Emotional pet owners with outbursts at the team.

• Business owners with limited leadership skill and experience.

It is not all doom and gloom; much has already been started in the profession to address these challenges and work towards positive change.  The Australian Veterinary Association initiated a program called THRIVE which is specifically focussing on delivering content to assist our veterinary teams to lead satisfying, prosperous and healthy careers. 

The main achievement since starting has been the delivery of psychological safety training into 100 workplaces in the past 12 months, with the plan to expand this through teaching additional trainers into 2025.   

There are many other resources available and include; the GoWell program, awareness and advocacy by Sophie’s Legacy, Zoetis Foundation and Betterinary Series to name a few. 

The discussions are happening, resources are available and with a continued push from the profession and the intent from our politicians to acknowledge and support positive change in this area, we can hope for a future celebrating the wonders of the veterinary profession and less of its challenges. 

Full terms of reference for the inquiry are available on the SA Parliament Website and a report will be available later in the year.