17 June 2025
Adelaide, South Australia, June 2025 – PetSure, Australia’s leading pet insurer, presented a series of recommendations to the Parliament of South Australia’s Joint Committee for the inquiry on the mental health and wellbeing of the state’s veterinarians.
Appointed in December 2024, the Joint Committee seeks to quantify the societal benefits of the veterinary industry, determine the best ways to improve vet working conditions and retention rates, and develop strategies to improve access to veterinary care.
In its submission to the Joint Committee earlier this year, PetSure advocated a collaborative approach in the delivery of state-level actions to improve access to veterinary care and enhance the sustainability of the industry, thus providing a higher standard of animal welfare in communities across South Australia.
Transparency and education around costs
PetSure recommends a public education campaign to raise awareness of the true costs – and benefits – of veterinary care and pet insurance. The development and delivery of such an initiative would involve collaboration between stakeholders, including PetSure and local and state governments.
By leveraging PetSure’s existing assets and extensive database, the campaign could promote responsible pet ownership by highlighting financial planning, including pet insurance, which better prepares pet owners and reduces the confrontations vets face over unexpected costs.
Potential outcomes include improved sustainability of the veterinary workforce as well as improved health outcomes for veterinarians and their patients.
Community care expansion
PetSure highlighted an opportunity to expand the availability of SafetyNet PetAssist™ and integrate One Health principles of community care through state and federal government partnerships.
Innovative models like SafetyNet PetAssist™ and GapOnly®, backed by PetSure, can improve equitable access to veterinary care in regional and rural South Australia, particularly to vulnerable and disadvantaged pet parents.
These remote areas would benefit greatly from telehealth, which improves service access and effectively manages veterinarian workloads.
PetSure advocates a One Health approach to better understand how to develop a financially sustainable model that keeps companion animals healthy and happy through veterinary care.
Regulatory change for online VCPR
PetSure has called for clearer and more effective state-level regulatory guidelines that allow online Veterinary-Client-Patient Relationships (VCPR). Such changes have been successfully implemented in a number of jurisdictions internationally.
Veterinary telehealth is a particularly effective VCPR service, reducing after-hours workloads and offering alternative careers to veterinary staff while ensuring pet parents receive accurate, welfare-centric advice whenever they need it.
With adequate guardrails in place to prioritise patient welfare and address safety concerns, online VCPR could help fill current gaps in service provision and alleviate stressors on vets.
PetSure is committed to continued collaboration with government bodies, veterinary associations and consumer groups to further enhance the role pet insurance plays in supporting veterinarian wellbeing.
With ongoing industry improvements, there is a valuable partnership opportunity in veterinary healthcare, and the adoption of these recommendations by the Joint Committee would be a significant first step.
A sustainable veterinary workforce means a higher quality of animal welfare. Together, we can ensure every pet receives the care they deserve from a stronger and more resilient veterinary industry.
For additional information, visit petsure.com.au