The Australian Veterinary Association (AVA) has released its seventh Veterinary Workforce Survey report. This comprehensive report provides an in-depth look at the current landscape of the veterinary profession, offering valuable insights into workforce trends, including graduate debt, employment patterns, and the evolving demands of veterinary services across Australia.
The 2023/24 survey highlights some significant findings:
- Prolonged recruitment vacancies: The survey revealed that 36.8% of veterinary recruitment vacancies took 12 months or longer to fill. This issue is particularly pronounced in regional areas, where 44% of positions remained vacant for extended periods, highlighting the challenges in attracting and retaining veterinarians in these communities.
- Rising graduate debt: The median student debt for recent veterinary graduates has surged to $84,640, a substantial increase from the $5,000 median debt reported by those graduating in the 1980s and 1990s, and more than 3 times the average HECS debt of $26,494. This growth has outpaced the Consumer Price Index (CPI), underscoring the financial pressures faced by new veterinarians.
- Caring responsibilities: 41% of respondents indicated that they undertook caring responsibilities, the majority of which are for young children. This highlights the importance of childcare support to assist veterinarians participating in the workforce.
Dr. Diana Barker, Acting President of the AVA, emphasised the importance of these findings in shaping the future of the veterinary profession. “The Australian veterinary profession lacks consistent data collection and integration, making it difficult for policymakers to comprehensively understand workforce needs. The AVA survey data is an excellent contribution to understanding the veterinary workforce in Australia,” Dr Barker said.
Australia is in its eighth year of a veterinary workforce shortage, with impacts felt more acutely in rural and regional areas. Veterinarians are essential to their communities, supporting families, farmers, and businesses while also safeguarding public health, biosecurity and food safety. “Veterinary expertise helps maintain the health and sustainability of both animals and the people who interact with them”, Dr Barker said.
“This latest survey sheds light on some of the pressing issues Australia’s veterinarians face. From a shortage of veterinarians, to rising debt levels among new graduates, imbalances in skills distribution and geographical location and prolonged vacancies in regional areas, these insights are invaluable for understanding the challenges in our profession,” Dr Barker said.
The AVA will use these insights to inform future workforce planning, and advocate for change and support for the veterinary profession as it navigates ongoing and emerging challenges. “The findings in this survey report indicate there is much that needs to be done,” Dr Barker said.
