EXTREME burnout is reported to be plaguing veterinarian clinics across regional Australia, as workforce shortages push the sector to its limits.

When the pandemic first started in 2020 and people were asked to stay home for long periods, families and animal lovers took the opportunity to obtain a pet.

However, with a pet comes responsibility, including visits to veterinarian clinics, planned and unplanned, which has increased the burden on the profession to keep up with demand.

Long wait times for appointments have contributed to growing concerns in the agricultural sector, with regional farmers and pet owners concerned the shortages will impact animal welfare.

An Australian Veterinary Workforce Survey (2018) showed vets were leaving the profession at a rate that resulted in critical gaps in the workforce even pre-pandemic, with added COVID-19 pressures now driving vets to the brink.

Hamilton Vetcare’s Dr Scott Shrive said the shortage of vets and any difficulty in recruiting to rural and regional areas was a problem not unique to the veterinary profession.

“It’s a multi-faceted problem with many aspects,” he said.

Dr Shrive said that what was needed was practical support and reassurance for new and recent graduates and that this was crucial to foster ongoing career satisfaction and longevity in the profession.

“The combination of increasing pet ownership, client expectations and a smaller pool of available vets is already affecting access to vets and waiting times and may lead to a reduction in other veterinary services such as after hours,” he said.

The Australian veterinary Association (AVA) 2022-23 Federal Budget Submission recommended a program of $1.5 million over three years to address the high rate of mental health issues and suicide in the profession.

In its submission, the AVA called for whole of career mentoring for vets as well as a public campaign to educate the community on the vital role vets play in important areas like food security and companion animal care.

Veterinarians also frequently provide pro bono emergency care to wildlife, livestock and pets that have been harmed due to natural disasters like bushfires and floods.

The AVA also stressed the importance of treating veterinarians with respect and recommended a campaign similar to the one run during the pandemic asking people to show respect to health professionals.