NSW Farmers Association are welcoming an initiative from the NSW Government to address acute shortages of vets and veterinary workers in rural NSW.

Titled ‘The Welcome Experience program’, vets, vet nurses, vet technicians and their families are now eligible to receive assistance sourcing housing, childcare and other services when moving to rural NSW.

According to NSW Farmers’ Member Dr Robyn Alders AO this new initiative will be warmly received amongst farming communities struggling with shortages in vet workers and services.

“Farmers know that healthy animals are productive animals and it’s in their best interests to care for their livestock – but the reality is they need to have access to vets if they are to successfully protect animal health on-farm.

“Effective surveillance, detection and response to animal disease is also reliant on a strong veterinary sector, and this has been proven time and time again during recent outbreaks of exotic animal disease in southern Australia, and detections of notifiable animal disease in NSW.

“We need our vets, and it’s great to see our government recognise this.”

While this is a good start, Dr Alders feels that further actions need to be taken such as mentoring, training and incentive programs, all of which were proposed by NSW Farmers in a recent inquiry into vet shortages in 2024.

Dr Robyn Alders AO - image courtesy ANU

“If we want to build a sustainable veterinary workforce here in rural NSW, then we need a range of solutions that address the complex challenges that have caused this shortage in the first place,” Dr Alders said.

“Incentives such as waiving student debt for graduate vets who take up work in rural NSW would make a real difference in attracting vets to rural communities, as would more partnerships between the public and private vet sectors in support of rapid exotic animal disease detection and control in NSW.

“Around the world governments are supporting a range of initiatives to ensure the availability of appropriate, affordable veterinary services to livestock producers, and it’s critical our government does the same.”

Soon to be completed Vet - Jorja Griffiths of Nyngan - Image supplied

Jorja Griffiths of Nyngan is soon to complete her degree and will be heading out to work in a rural area. She said while thd Welcome Experience is a start, more can be done.

“As a veterinary science student graduating this year, I believe the NSW Government Welcome experience may help to attract vets to rural NSW," she said.

“Whilst it is a step in the right direction, more solutions need to be employed to combat the complexities that have resulted in the vet shortage.

“This should include placement incentives/payments/scholarships to support students undertaking unpaid placement and allowing them to travel to rural NSW and experience the veterinary industry in these areas.

“Waiving student debt or contributing to payments may be another solution in bolstering the retention of vets in rural NSW."

Image Angie White

One Western area farmer told Western Plains App the program was a great idea.

“Farmers care for their stock and make it a priority to have their stock in top condition. Having a vet close at hand is so helpful in times of need, or just as a sounding board to make sure we are up to date with the latest care procedures.

“Unfortunately, many rural and remote areas do not have enough vets or access to veterinary services without travelling hundreds of kilometres, so if we can provide incentive to get vets to us, that would be such an asset to not only us but to keeping our stock safe and healthy,” he said.