Aust Vet J Vol 81, No 7, July 2003 387

News

By Jane Bindloss, Chairperson, NIAG

This is the second quarterly reportof NIAG, the National IndustryAdvisory Group for Veterinary

Nursing. At its recent meeting on June 7NIAG got through a wide range ofbusiness, which is summarised as follows.Review of Veterinary Nurse TrainingPackage: Following on from issues raisedby the Australian National TrainingAuthority regarding the assessmentprocess, Shannon Brown submitted newlyworked modules for examination. Theconsensus was that they had beenimproved and would make the assessmentmore meaningful. The alterations were tothe evidence guide, with considerationgiven to critical aspects of evidence forcompetency, specific resourceimplications, considerations forconsistency in performance andconsiderations for the context ofassessment.Updated Animal Care and ManagementPackage: The Veterinary NursingTraining Package is a part of this package.It is anticipated that the package will beendorsed in September or October.New approach to Industry AdvisoryArrangements: ANTA has confirmed itsdecision to create a new composition for

national industry training advisory boards(ITAB) arrangements. There are twofeatures: introduction of a high levelnational industry skills forum led byANTA; and creation of 10 industry skillscouncils with new roles to replace thecurrent 29 ITABs. ANTA has decidedthat there will be an upper limit on thenumber of bodies it will fund. How thisreorganisation will impact on the positionand role of NIAG is impossible to predict.Dialogue is continuing.Accredited Veterinary Nurses Scheme:There were three successful applicationsunder the scheme and there are now 13accredited veterinary nurses. There wasdiscussion of ongoing maintenance of thislevel and conditions to be fulfilled.Veterinary Nurse Training Survey: Adraft revision of the survey results wastabled. NIAG had some concerns with thepresentation. Some interesting findingsincluded:• A high level of support for training and

competency assessment from bothemployers and employees

• Different perceptions of requiredveterinary nursing skills by employersand employees

• Nurses spend an average of 12 hoursper month on continuing professionaldevelopment.

Can you eat it if you treat it?

Should a veterinarian be a vegetarian?More than 200 AVA members,veterinary students and staff from the

Faculty of Veterinary Science at theUniversity of Sydney gathered on June 6 towatch the experts debate light heartedlythis serious issue.Professor Paul Canfield, master ofceremonies, set the tone in a white wig anddashing silver hat. The “meat-eaters” wererepresented by fourth year vet studentPatrick Cass, Chief Veterinarian forRSPCA New South Wales, Mark Lawrie,and Professor Gareth Evans (University ofSydney). Their angle was simple: humanswere meant to eat meat and vets deservedtheir fair slice for their hard work withproduction animals.The “vegetarian/non-meat eaters” wererepresented by Anne Quain, President ofVeterinary Students for Animal Welfare(ASAW), Katrina Sharman, Chairperson ofYoung Lawyers for Animal Rights, andMichael Archinal of Canberra VeterinaryHospital. Despite the crowd, excited by the smell of

the barbecue heating up outside, beingclearly in favour of including meat in theirdiet, the non-meat eaters argued that beingeaten is not conducive to one’s welfare andthat vets should be advocates for animalwelfare.The audience was kept entertained formore than an hour (most of which wastaken up by Evans) as the meat-eatersdevoured the vegetarians. The debate was

sponsored by the AVA NSW Division andVeterinary Science for Animal Welfare andsupported by the Veterinary ScienceFoundation. VetSoc entertained guestswith a “back to school” keg, whichcontinued into the wee hours of the nextday.

- Anne Quain and Amy Aspley-Davis,debate co-ordinators

Three carnivororous debaters get stuck into their opposite numbers: (L to R) AssociateProfessor Gareth Evans, University of Sydney; Dr Mark Lawrie, Chief Veterinarian,RSPCA NSW; and Patrick Cass, 4th year veterinary student, University of Sydney.

AVA revamps property inQueensland

The AVA Board undertook areview of capital assets in2002, commencing with the

property in Queensland. Forsome years Queensland Divisionhas been enthusiastic about theidea of moving to moreappropriate premises so inMarch, following considerableconsultation and discussion, 70Station Road in Brisbane wassold and land was purchased atGarden City for development ofa new AVA House.The new site is 20 minutes from

the airport, 10 minutes from thecity and easily accessible frommost areas in Brisbane.Development has justcommenced at the Garden Citysite and it is anticipated thatoccupancy will begin inOctober/November 2003.Meantime, as part of the saleagreement, AVA has rent-freetenancy of 70 Station Road. Thesale and purchase achieved thetwin aims of enhancing facilitiesfor members and staff andimproving the AVA’s liquidity.

National Industry Advisory Group for Veterinary Nursing