Awards & Support For You

Your Associations & Unions

No matter what your role is in the veterinary industry, there is a range of associations and unions to support you including:

The Australian Veterinary Association (AVA)

The Veterinary Nurses Council of Australia (VNCA)

Professionals Australia – The Union for Veterinarians

The Australian Veterinary Association (AVA)

Championing and empowering the veterinary profession to thrive by providing a voice, education, community and support.

The AVA has a division in every State and territory in Australia, representing the association to state and local governments. 

On the AVA website you’ll find:

• Programs & awards that make a valuable contribution to the community and help veterinarians to maintain a high level of patient care
• Trusts & foundations dedicated to the health and welfare of animals and veterinarians
• Policy & advocacy involves representing AVA members across a number of matters within veterinary science and the profession
• Code of Professional Conduct provides a framework for applying the core values, principles and standards of the Australian Veterinary Association and guides members in their conduct with animals, clients, colleagues and the community.

AVA Groups include:

Acupuncture  |  Animal Welfare & Ethics  |  Behaviour  |  Business  |  Cattle  |  Conservation Biology  |  Dental  |   Education, Research & Academia  |  Equine  |  Greyhound  |  Industry  |  Integrative  |  Pig  |  Poultry  |  Public Health  |  Reproduction  |  Sheep, Camelif & Goat  |  Small Animal  |  Student  |  Unusual Pet & Avian 

Click HERE to visit the AVA website

The Veterinary Nurses Council of Australia (VNCA)

The Veterinary Nurses Council of Australia Inc (VNCA) is a not-for-profit professional association that promotes the interests of Veterinary Nursing across Australia.

AVNAT Registration Scheme

The Veterinary Nurses Council of Australia (VNCA) launched the Australian Veterinary Nurse and Technician (AVNAT) Registration Scheme on 1 April 2019. AVNAT is the national registration scheme for veterinary nurses and veterinary technicians involved in clinical, management or academic areas. Click HERE to find out more.

The VNCA website is packed with information and resources including:

• Membership information – Code of  Professional Conduct, the HR Helpline, exclusive benefits, CPD tracker
• AVNAT information – online register, framework & policies, etc.
• My career – awards, job board, training providers, etc.

Click HERE to visit the VCNCA website

• Member advantage – members receive significant discounts on groceries, fuel and consumer goods.

Click HERE to visit the Professionals Australia website

Professionals Australia – The Union for Veterinarians

Professionals Australia is a contemporary and innovative union representing over 20,000 professionals across Australia – including veterinarians.

“Veterinarians play a critical role in protecting pet and community health and maintaining Australia’s biosecurity. Despite this important role, veterinarians face long working hours, high workloads, low pay and client aggression.

These factors are eroding the mental health of our veterinarians. Join the union committed to improving working conditions and pay for veterinarians to make the industry a more sustainable one.”

Why join? 

As a Professionals Australi member, you’ll benefit from:

• Industrial and legal representation and advice – expert information, advice and representation on your rights at work
• A voice in negotiations – PA is a union run by members and is a voice for you, your profession and your industry with government and key industry players
• Career services – members can access a range of services, resources and guidance from career experts
• Member advantage – members receive significant discounts on groceries, fuel and consumer goods.

Click HERE to visit the Professionals Australia website

Fair Work Ombudsman Resources & Support

The Fair Work Ombudsman is an independent statutory agency of the Australian Government that serves as the central point of contact for free advice and information on the Australian national workplace relations system. The Office of the Fair Work Ombudsman also investigates workplace complaints and enforces compliance with national workplace laws.

On their website you’ll find links to information about:

• Pay & wages – pay obligations (including being paid for training, team meetings, etc.), minimum wages, payslips, and rules regarding unpaid work.
• Leave – minimum leave entitlements, and different types including annual, sick and compassionate leave.
• Starting employment – types of employees, before starting work, probation and hiring.
• Employment conditions – working hours, awards, agreements, National Employment Standards and employment contracts.
• Workplace problems – preventing workplace problems, common workplace problems and how to fix them.

Click HERE to vis the Fairwork Ombudsman website.

Fair Work Commission Resources & Support

The Fair Work Commission is Australia’s workplace tribunal. It creates awards, approves enterprise agreements and helps resolve issues at work.

The issues they can help with include:

• Common issues in the workplace including unfair dismissal, bullying, redundancy
• Discrimination
• Casual to permanent status
• Dispute about an award or agreement
• Disputes about general protections
• Industrial actions

Click HERE to visit the Fair Work Commission website.