Annual Report 2000 - Australian Veterinary Association

The President’s MessageContinued support from the Petcare Information Service is welcomeand appreciated. We are also pleased to have confirmation of supportfor the program from the Veterinary Nurses Council of Australia(VNCA).Professional affairsOne of our great concerns is the pressure on undergraduate coursesto include vast amounts of information required to preparegraduates for the range of activities offered by our profession. Wehave maintained strong liaison with the faculties as they endeavourto meet the demands of the "veterinary marketplace".Our annual conference in Perth provided another excellentopportunity for further education, thanks to a great effort from theSIGs. Once again our Conference Manager, Doreen Culliver, did atremendous job in putting together an excellent conference withlocal input from Mike Lumsden and Peter Punch of WA Division.Other continuing education opportunities were provided by a rangeof SIG conferences that were well supported by members seeking tokeep abreast of latest techniques and knowledge.The difficulties some members were having with the AHA-managedAccreditation Program for Australian Veterinarians (APAV) wereresolved during the year through input from a number of practitionermembers. It is clear that there will be increasing roles for practitionermembers to carry out tasks on behalf of various governments. APAVprovides the training and certification for this role.The supply of veterinary services in regional areas has particularlyconcerned the AVA during the year. This applies to both governmentand private practitioners. The association has attempted to promoterural opportunities to student groups but much more needs to bedone if regional needs are to be met.The lifestyle survey arranged by Trevor Heath and Geoff Niethethrough the AVJ was extremely useful in identifying the issues eitherencouraging or discouraging rural veterinary careers. SIGs anddivisions now have useful information to address the issue. SIGinitiatives such as the Australian Association of Cattle Veterinarianslinking with student groups will promote rural veterinary activitiesand lifestyles.Following the breakthrough in the ACT where the Parliamentunanimously passed a law banning cosmetic tail docking - a resultachieved largely through the AVA’s active support campaign - we arestrongly committed to taking the anti-tail docking campaign to otherStates and the Northern Territory.Association managementWe are fortunate to have been so well served by retired CEOBarbara Horsfield for the past five years and equally fortunate tohave Bruce Wynn take up the role. I would like to acknowledge theexcellent contribution by our new Finance Manager, Lauretta Stace,and our new Membership Manager, Debbie Dresner, in their firstperiod of service. The new AVA team has done a great job buildingon the solid base created over the last few years.Introduction of the GST provided some difficult administrativehurdles which were well managed by our finance staff.The AVA Board has worked as an excellent team. Each membergenerously contributed time, expertise and enthusiasm to numerousissues, meetings, workshops and teleconferences. AVA membershave been well served by the Board and I am grateful for theirsupport. Geoff Niethe left the Board during the year. However hisenthusiasm for our profession and our association has left anindelible mark. The AVA is indebted to Geoff’s contribution to itsprogress over the past three years.It has been a great privilege for me to serve the AVA as President. Iencourage all members to become involved in the activities of theirbranch, division or SIG. We are a great profession, able to vigorouslydebate a huge range of issues yet work collaboratively for thebenefit of the profession and the community.Ian DenneyPresidentAnimal welfare has had an increased profile this year. Robert Baker,President-elect, has assumed Board management of the issue andSIGs have increased the profile of animal welfare in theirdeliberations. Policy Council has a number of controversial anddifficult welfare issues on its agenda for debate and acceptance atforthcoming meetings (egg production systems, tail docking of dairycattle, induced parturition in dairy cattle, etc).62000 Annual Report - Australian Veterinary Association