At the 2026 ANZ Provet and Covetrus Company Conference, industry leaders gathered to examine the forces reshaping veterinary care across Australia and New Zealand.
Hosted by Kathrina Doran, Managing Director APAC at Covetrus, the panel explored workforce realities, economic pressures, technology, and collaboration framing a clear picture of where the profession is heading.
The discussion supported the release of the 2026 Covetrus Veterinary Industry Survey, in which 69% of clinics identified cost-of-living pressures and burnout as their biggest challenges.
Meet the Panel
- Dr Gemma Chuck – President of the Australian Veterinary Association (AVA)
- Amanda McAvoy – Head of Animal Health, Boehringer Ingelheim ANZ
- Sue Crampton – Founder, Crampton Consulting Group and Animal Industry Resource Centre
Together, they unpacked the shifting expectations placed on veterinary teams and the strategies required to build a sustainable future.
A Profession in Transformation
Opening the conversation, Dr Gemma highlighted the shifting demographic landscape of pet ownership. 73% of Australian households now own at least one pet, and with that comes a rising expectation for human-style healthcare, including 24/7 access, specialist support, and high-touch service experiences.
Yet, cost-of-living pressures continue to define decision-making for many owners, with 12% requiring financial assistance for care. Despite these expectations, veterinary services represent only 10% of total pet-keeping costs reinforcing the ongoing challenge of balancing value perception with rising operational pressures.
Workforce strain remains one of the most significant issues. The profession is now nine years into a decade-long shortage, with rural and regional clinics hit hardest: 37% of roles take more than a year to fill, and vacancy rates in some areas reach 44%. Graduates enter the workforce with around $85,000 in debt, and only 60% remain in practice, leaving clinics juggling rising demand with limited capacity.
Sue added that vet nurses and technicians are critical to relieving these pressures, yet only Western Australia currently requires registration. This gap affects recognition, utilisation, and ultimately, the way teams operate day-to-day. The VNCA are working closely with the AVA and Veterinary Surgeons Boards across NZ and Australia to regulate the Veterinary Nursing via compulsory registration. Voluntary registration is in situ with over 1,000 nurses registered.
The Shift from Crisis Management to Sustainable Practice
Sue’s perspective on culture and people highlighted a critical turning point: the need to move away from
short-term, reactive problem-solving and toward long-term investment in learning, development, HR structure, and workflow design.
Mental health continues to be a pressing concern across the profession. Encouragingly, more than 2,000 veterinary professionals have now completed Mental Health First Aid training, and industry initiatives like AVA THRIVE aim to make emotional wellbeing a cornerstone of clinic culture.
Amanda added a leadership lens, drawing from Boehringer Ingelheim’s achievement as Top Employer 2026 for the sixth consecutive year. She emphasised that sustained culture comes from people-first decision making, behaviour-based leadership, and development plans that recognise growth beyond promotion. For many younger team members, career satisfaction is tied less to hierarchy and more to purpose, flexibility, and learning.
Technology as an Enabler, Not a Disruptor
Technology emerged as one of the strongest levers for creating sustainable veterinary practice. Amanda highlighted tools already making a measurable impact, including:
- Dropship models that reduce administrative workload, strengthen compliance, and protect margin
- Autoship programs that support preventive care and improve pet-owner satisfaction
- Advanced diagnostics, such as AI-assisted imaging and lameness detection, delivering up to 90% diagnostic support accuracy
Importantly, these innovations are designed to enhance clinical decision-making, not replace it. They help reduce
cognitive load and enable teams to focus more time on patients and client relationships.
Both Sue and Dr Gemma noted that rapid technological progression has outpaced regulation, leading to uncertainty for clinics. Nationally consistent standards and registration frameworks would help ensure safe and practical adoption.
Collaboration as the Engine for Industry Resilience
A strong theme across the panel was that no single organisation can address the industry’s challenges alone. Greater collaboration is needed between corporates and independents, universities, training providers, suppliers, distributors, technology partners, and government.
Audience questions highlighted the unique pressures on equine and livestock vets. Particularly isolation, heavy afterhours requirements, and limited support access. Amanda noted that Covetrus and Provet’s national networks offer a valuable opportunity to connect practitioners working in remote or solo environments.
What This Means for Clinics Today
The insights from this panel reinforce that clinics across Australia and New Zealand are navigating a period of significant change but also immense opportunity.
The clinics that will thrive are those that:
- Prioritise their people and invest in wellbeing
- Strengthen workflow and operational efficiency
- Embrace technology that reduces pressure and supports care
- Build strong intra-industry partnerships
- Foster a culture of continuous learning and development
- Actively shape community perception and client understanding
The future of veterinary care will be defined by the combination of human expertise, smart technology, and collaborative leadership. Provet remains committed to supporting clinics through this evolution with the tools, solutions, and partnerships needed to help teams—and the pets and communities they serve—thrive.
We extend our sincere thanks to Dr Gemma Chuck, Amanda McAvoy, and Sue Crampton for generously sharing their time, experience, and insight with our industry.