Annual Report 2000 - Australian Veterinary Association

AVA Divisions - New South WalesNSW DivisionReview of Veterinary Surgeons ActThis Act has been under review since 1996 and was the subject of anextensive submission by NSW Division in 1997. This year severalmeetings have taken place between representatives of the Board ofVeterinary Surgeons (NSW), the Veterinary Surgeons InvestigatingCommittee and NSW Division to present a new model for investigatingcomplaints to the Minister for Agriculture and NSW Agriculture legalrepresentatives.Analysis and review of current procedures for complaint handling andthe development of alternative options has required a large inputfrom divisional representatives. It is expected that new legislation willbe drafted in 2001.Companion Animals ActNSW Division continues its input to the Companion Animals AdvisoryBoard (CAAB) on microchipping. An after-hours phone line (Petline)was set up this year by the NSW Department of Local Government(DLG) to contact owners when their pet is identified at a veterinaryclinic. But the microchip registry and the recording systems continue tocreate problems and the Division will keep working on a resolutionwith the Minister.NSW Division has made a submission to the CAAB Legislation ReviewCommittee. We remain firmly committed to the policy that a fullyintegrated national database, accessible at all times to authorisedpersons, is essential for effective operation of a microchip-basedidentification and recovery system.The division continues to voice its concern over lack of communicationfrom both the register and the DLG to authorised implanters. Access tothe register and the downtime of the internet register are other issuesbeing discussed with DLG.NSW Division remains committed to supporting the animal welfareand urban animal management aims of the Companion Animals Act.It is to be hoped that the next 18 months of implementation will seethe achievement of its aims and an acknowledgment of its success bystakeholders and the community.MembershipThe membership sub-committee continues to implement the strategicplan on membership. The involvement of a student AVA representativefrom the University of Sydney has contributed to an increase instudent membership of the AVA.Membership promotion banners were developed for use at theuniversity and AVA functions. Divisional representatives met with finalyearstudents at the university’s Camden campus. A phone poll ofmembers failing to renew subscriptions was also conducted.APAVNSW veterinarians raised concerns about the indemnity clausesrequired to be involved in this program. NSW Division, National AVAand Australian Animal Health Council representatives met to resolvesome of these issues. Extensions to the time for veterinarians requiringAPAV approval were granted and changes to the indemnity clauses arebeing addressed.Branch liaisonNSW Division met with Orana branch in Dubbo in August. Thepresident attended five branches during the year and many otherbranch meetings were attended by divisional representatives.Government liaisonThe division continues to lobby NSW politicians and their departments.Divisional representatives met with the Minister for Agriculture todiscuss animal welfare and the Veterinary Surgeons Act (NSW). As wellas preparing submissions to DLG, NSW Division was represented at alaunch of Petline by the Minister for Local Government.NSW Division AGM and conferenceThis was held at Dooralong Valley Resort on April 29. The scientificsession consisted of opthalmology, surgery, veterinary acupunctureand chiropractic. NSW Division agreed to make a significant financialcommitment to the conference in 2001 and to raise the profile of thisevent. The conference will be held in the Blue Mountains in 2001.Ethics and complaintsThe Ethics and Complaints Sub-committee continues to use its peerreview and advisory panel function to mediate in disputes betweenveterinarians and complaints from the public against veterinarians.NSW members are becoming more aware of this service and using itwith increasing confidence. More than 40 complaints are dealt witheach year, the majority resulting in satisfactory resolutions for bothparties.This year has seen a more developed dialogue with the VeterinarySurgeons Investigating Committee (VSIC) as NSW Division hascontributed to a proposed change to VSIC's mechanism for handlingstatutory complaints.Veterinary science students are now made aware of the complaintsmanagement services available to the profession and NSW Divisionpresented an interactive seminar to first-year students on complaintsmanagement.2000 Annual Report - Australian Veterinary Association 41