National Biosecurity Week: 25 to 31 August 2025
As National Biosecurity Week highlights the importance of safeguarding our borders, animals and communities, the Australian Veterinary Association (AVA) is calling for attention to the essential yet often overlooked role veterinarians play in protecting Australia's food systems, public health, and environment.
Veterinarians are a critical part of Australia's biosecurity system, protecting the health of our livestock, wildlife, pets and people. Their work underpins $90 billion in agricultural production and exports, supports the wellbeing of more than 28 million pets, and plays a central role in maintaining public trust in animal industries.
"Every day, veterinarians work hard to protect the things that many Australians have come to expect: our food, our animals, our environment and our health. Yet a veterinarian's role often goes unnoticed until there is a crisis," said Dr Gemma Chuck, AVA President. "Vets are critical to ensuring the health and wellbeing of animals and play a pivotal role in the detection and monitoring of infectious diseases. With over 75% of new or emerging diseases in humans originating in animals, vets are more important than ever in the protection of human health and the public. We are at the frontline of animal disease surveillance and emergency response."
Along with their role in the detection and control of zoonotic diseases (that is, diseases which can be passed from animals to humans), veterinarians also support Australia's domestic and international markets across the supply chain. Their expert oversight helps protect our nation's food security and sustainability. Without vets, many Australians would not have access to safe and accessible food.
However, veterinarians are under intense pressure. The compounding impacts of multi-year workforce shortages (especially in rural areas), significant student debt from an unsubsidised 5-year university course, mental health strain, demanding after-hours workloads, and sustained underinvestment in public-good veterinary services threaten the profession's resilience and viability.
"While we're committed to delivering these essential services to ensure biosecurity, food security and public health in Australia, we urgently need dedicated and assured investment, support for our workforce, and a renewed focus on sustainability," Dr Chuck said.
During National Biosecurity Week the AVA calls on policy makers and the public to:
- Recognise and resource veterinarians as a frontline defence for biosecurity and food security
- Invest in mental health support and workforce sustainability initiatives to attract, support and retain veterinary professionals, particularly in regional areas
- Reinforce the importance of veterinarians in providing public-good services, emergency planning, disease surveillance, and reducing the likelihood and impact of zoonotic disease
- Call the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline if they see anything unusual: 1800 675 888.
Dr Chuck said, "It's a misconception that veterinarians "just work with animals". In addition to being doctors of animal health, we are the guardians of biosecurity, the insurers of food safety, the investigators of disease outbreaks, the advisors for zoonoses and public health and the protectors of precious antimicrobials. But above all we are trusted professionals in the communities we live in and proudly serve. During National Biosecurity Week, we ask all Australians to recognise and support the role our essential profession plays."
