Medicare for pets? Government urged to consider subsidising vet fees

“Compassion fatigue” is among the factors contributing to poor mental health, burnout and high suicide rates among veterinarians, a NSW parliamentary inquiry has found.

The report on the veterinary industry workforce shortage found that unmanageable workloads, inadequate pay, and poor working conditions were common, and many vets left the profession within five years of graduating.

Released on Friday, the inquiry recommended that the state government consider subsidising veterinary care to low-income earners, pensioners, and animal rescue groups to relieve the burden on vets to cover shortfalls in costs.

Dr Amy Lee said subsidies for pet care for those on low incomes would help alleviate ethical dilemmas vets face.Credit: Rhett Wyman

Australian Veterinary Association NSW division president Dr Amy Lee, who runs the West Blacktown vet clinic, said it was not uncommon for vets to pay from their own pockets to treat animals rather than turn them away.

She adopted her dog, Maple, from a client who was forced to surrender her due to the high cost of her medical care.

“Extra funding would help relieve ethical dilemmas. It’s a horrible feeling to know you can help an animal but can’t afford to, which creates a terrible conflict of values, and mental health wise, has a terrible impact,” she said.

According to the RSPCA, nearly 70 per cent of Australian households have pets, but vet numbers are not keeping up with animal ownership.

Lee has also lost a friend and colleague to suicide.

“The psychological burden of it is huge,” she said.

Debt waiver trial

The inquiry also called on the government to advocate for the federal government to trial waiving the HECS debts of veterinary graduates to address the shortage, which is particularly dire in regional and rural areas.

Students have to undertake 52 weeks of placement in a clinic to graduate but have been excluded from the Commonwealth Prac Payment, which pays eligible nursing, teaching and social work students $319.50 per week during mandatory placements from July next year.

Vets are essential in dealing with the aftermath of natural disasters such as bushfires.Credit: Jason South

Sydney University Doctor of Veterinary Medicine student Becky Chen said the stress of the job was a common conversation among students.

“I have no idea how I’m going to fund placement, but it’s one step at a time,” Chen said.

“Everyone is quite aware that’s a difficult industry. There’s client abuse, compassion fatigue and the idea that you want to help the animals, but sometimes you can’t.”

Veterinary Schools of Australia and New Zealand Executive Officer Scott Williams said addressing the shortage of vets was becoming even more important as climate change fuelled disease and extreme weather events.

“Vets play a role in biosecurity in regional areas, looking out for exotic diseases like foot and mouth disease and aviation influenza. They also do a lot of support work helping wildlife and farm livestock following bushfires and floods. It’s an important social good and one that must be supported,” he said.

The government has three months to respond to the report.