Member survey on the Award.

NEWS

Member survey on the Award

R

ecently, we asked AVA members about the current Animal Care and Veterinary Services Award. From the survey, completed by 254 members, we found out what issues are most important to you and what conditions you think need changing in the Award. As might be expected, of the 153 employees who participated, 96% thought the veterinary associate award rates are too low. Interestingly, 68% of the 101 employers also agreed that the rates are too low. Perception of minimum veterinary associate wages as a % of respondents

rate or a day in lieu is adequate. The majority of employees on the other hand (95%) believe there should be some form of penalty rates for working public holidays. The survey also asked what salaries are presently being paid or received based on the Award classification of the employee. While these results show the average salary presently being paid is above the award rates, there are still many practices only paying award rates or close to it. More worryingly, a few respondents reported rates below the award, which is illegal. The table shows the current rates for veterinary associates.

Veterinary wages 68%

29%

3%

Employer 96%

4% 0%

1%

Employee

86%

13%

Too low

About right

All

No answer

Many employees would like to see the introduction of penalty rates (87%), higher rates for overtime worked (80%) and the inclusion of travel time to and from their residence when on-call (85%). Some employers support change in these areas, particularly related to penalty rates (40%), higher rates for overtime worked (22%) and the inclusion of travel time when on-call (36%).

No. responding

Average salary

Range

Level 1A

23

$46,078

$40,500–$52,000

Level 1B

14

$49,799

$47,000–$55,000

Level 2

29

$57,090

$50,000–$70,000

Level 3

40

$67,400

$54,000–$84,000

Level 4

69

$82,853

$64,500–$140,000

*Figures are rounded and highest and lowest salaries were not included to remove any significant outliers.

Thank you to those members who participated in the survey. For more details including member comments, please refer to the complete survey report, which can be downloaded at www.ava.com.au/sites/default/files/Award_Survey_Results.pdf. Debbie Neutze National Strategy Manager

Public holiday provisions within the Award seem to be difficult for some employers to interpret. More than half (58%) of employers believe the current public holiday provision of the standard hourly

Comment on this article at www.ava.com.au/13284

Australian

VETERINARY

JOURNAL

The Australian Veterinary Journal is the official journal of the Australian Veterinary Association (AVA). First published in 1925, it is produced 11 times a year, and distributed to members of the AVA and to subscribers.

EDITORIAL INFORMATION Editor In Chief/Scientific Editor

Editorial Advisory Board continued

Veterinary Assistant Editor

Associate Editors

Anne Jackson [email protected] Tel: +61 2 9431 5003 Kerry Brown

News Editor

Emma Malcolm [email protected] Tel: +61 2 9431 5066

Education Coordinator Liliane Cabral [email protected]

Editorial Officer

Liliane Cabral [email protected]

Editorial Advisory Board

T Faragher: Melbourne, VIC J Hill: Gatton, QLD

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S Page: Berry, NSW J Smith: Sydney, NSW P Thornber: Canberra, ACT

S Bailey: Equine; Melbourne, VIC D Beggs: Cattle and sheep; Warrnambool, VIC C Bellenger: Small animal surgery; Sydney, NSW G Browning: Microbiology and molecular biology; Melbourne, VIC B Carmel: Wildlife, zoos, unusual and exotic pets; Melbourne, VIC R Cutler: Pig medicine and production; Ocean Grove, VIC A Dart: Equine surgery; Sydney, NSW D Kennedy: Epidemiology; Orange, NSW J Larsen: Sheep and parasitology; Melbourne, VIC R Nicoll: Imaging and radiology; Sydney, NSW V Studdert: Small animal medicine; Melbourne, VIC C Wilks: Microbiology and virology; Melbourne, VIC

PRODUCTION Layout and design Joe Hoang [email protected]

Classified advertising

AVA AVA President Julia Nicholls

AVA Board

Kate Jackson [email protected] Tel: +61 2 9431 5000

David Neck, Sue Beetson, Malcolm McLennan, Christopher Reardon, Robert Bonanno, Robert Johnson, James Gilkerson and Ben Gardiner

Advertising

Chief Executive Officer

Emma Malcolm [email protected] Tel: +61 2 9431 5066

Photography Anne Jackson

The Australian Veterinary Journal welcomes original contributions, including articles, short contributions, reviews, case series, diagnostic exercises and letters on all aspects of veterinary science. All articles are peer reviewed and the journal reserves the right to reject any manuscript. For instructions for authors and submission of peer reviewed manuscripts, logon to: http://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/avj. It is published by Blackwell Publishing Asia Pty Ltd. For subscription and all other information visit wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/AVJ.

Graham Catt

AVA National Office

40/6 Herbert Street St Leonards NSW 2065 Tel: +61 2 9431 5000 www.ava.com.au

Cover photo

by Anne Jackson Sue Beetson's gorgeous Ragdoll cat

Australian Veterinary Journal Volume 92, No 10, October 2014

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8/11/14 4:44 PM 17/09/2014 10:55:40 AM

NEWS

How I stayed sane Julia Nicholls, President

The statistics on sanity are that one out of every four people is suffering from a mental illness. Look at your three best friends. If they're ok, then it's you. Rita Mae Brown

I

have been trying to remember my worst day in practice. There were many memorable moments, but most bad days were salvaged by a feel-good episode. When you are working with animals and the people who own them, this is often the case. I remember during a heavy rainstorm watching a wall of water coming down the road towards the practice, only to see it part like the Red Sea as it hit the front wall that was there to keep out traffic noise. Then there was the morning chasing an escapee dog down the main road and leaping out in front of trucks, waving my arms, to save the dog from being run over. Numerous calls from the security company in the dead of night were prompted by the clinic cat who had again evaded confinement at closing time. There were some break-ins and vandalism and the landscaping plants were nicked twice. I have partially suppressed memories of the times the entire computer system crashed, taking with it all the records. And then of course there were the animals – which all have owners. Whatever gave a shy, antisocial 13-year-old the idea that if she became a vet she would not have to deal with people? There were days when I was more exhausted mentally than physically. Demanding clients, too many euthanasias, unexpected deaths, staffing crises, equipment failures, bills to pay, books to balance. Sound familiar? Just doing everyday veterinary activities can be challenging, but add to that being a small business owner and employer and the load can seem too much to bear. And we know that employees are often struggling with isolation, debt, low rewards and working long, antisocial hours. So how did I stay sane or maintain a veneer of normalcy for 30 years? There is not one recipe, and different strategies work for different people. I am not a psychologist or counsellor, and am far from perfect; I have had sleepless nights and moments of selfdoubt. I have driven to the clinic at 2 am to check on a patient that was often sound asleep and doing well. But after all this time, I still love being a vet and look forward to doing the odd consulting session in between AVA commitments.


Professionally, what worked best for me was developing an interest or niche – I am a cat person. I learned skills and built on my knowledge base to be able to offer a unique service for cats within a mixed small animal practice. Still passionate about cats, outside of work I breed Burmese cats and I am an international cat judge. This may sound like a busman’s holiday, but it is a different skill and the opportunity to travel is a bonus. I joined the AVA, went to meetings, joined various committees and made some life-long friends. Learning along the way that my problems were generic and not always of my making, we shared solutions outside of the formal meeting. My practice grew and it helped to have several vets on hand to discuss cases with. Solo practice has special challenges. Along with other local practice owners tired of doing after-hours, we opened an after-hours emergency hospital. The most important factor in my survival has been maintaining a sense of humour. You need to be able to laugh at yourself and see the funny side in otherwise dire situations. My advice is always employ and work with vets and nurses who know how to laugh. It is of course important to get outside and to exercise and I enjoy gardening and walking our dogs. I am also a pretty good cook. I have many colleagues who cycle or run or dance and play team sports. Not for me – I have no particular athletic skills and do not have a creative bone in my body. I envy those of you who can play a musical instrument, paint, write or draw. Make time to nurture these skills and interests. Meditation, massage, mindfulness and spiritual exploration are proven stress relievers. Read a good book, get involved in your local community. Opinions differ as to whether it is better to have a partner who is a vet. Mine is not and being forbidden to relive all of the day’s cases over dinner helps me switch off. You must also make time to develop and nurture friendships, spend time with family and sometimes do nothing at all. Take regular holidays and switch off completely – no email, no mobile contact. Everything will be there when you get back. If possible, be so far away that you cannot possibly get back to help out earlier than planned. Recognising the particular stresses on veterinarians and the known significant incidence of stress, depression and mental illness among our colleagues, AVA is developing a national graduate support scheme that builds on schemes already in place in some divisions. This will focus on what we know is a critical time for us when we leave the relatively secure and collegial undergraduate environment and move into the workplace. There are many other times during our careers when we may need help. The AVA has significant wellness resources on the website in the VetHealth section (www.ava.com.au/ veterinarians-0) and we provide a 24-hour telephone counselling Continued on page N6

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News - Oct Vol 92.indd 4

17/09/2014 10:55:40 AM

W o

S b

B o w

M j

C

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T H E

A D V A N T A G E

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NEWS Continued from page N4

service. Guild Insurance is the first stop for insurance advice or to make a claim, while the Business Advice Helpline offers finance, accounting and superannuation advice to help create successful veterinary businesses. The AVA Benevolent Fund helps veterinarians and their families who find themselves in difficult circumstances. The emphasis is on practical support to those who may be affected by illness, accident or otherwise having a tough time. The Benevolent Fund

has also been active in promoting preventive measures to keep veterinarians healthy and well, such as the Bob Taylor Wellness Stand at the AVA Annual Conference. If you believe a colleague is having a bad time, for whatever reason, do not be afraid to ask if they are OK and offer help. They can always refuse, but if you do not offer it you will never know. Something as simple as a shared coffee or some flowers demonstrates that someone else understands and can make a huge difference.

Innovating professional associations Graham Catt, Chief Executive Officer

An iPod, a phone, an internet mobile communicator... these are not three separate devices! We are calling it iPhone. Today Apple is going to reinvent the phone. And here it is... Steve Jobs, June 2007

I

’m asked on a fairly regular basis by AVA members “What does the CEO actually do?” Fair question, and being asked ensures I regularly ask myself the same thing. If I’m doing my job, then I’m adding real value to the AVA. My role is to manage AVA business on your behalf, but even more importantly, it is to provide leadership. I work with a Board that governs on behalf of all members to develop a vision and strategy, allocate our resources and lead our people – both paid and volunteer – to achieve our goals. Like you, I take pride in being a professional and association leadership is something I’m passionate about. I attend a lot of veterinary conferences and meetings, so I was very pleased to recently have an opportunity to attend the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) annual meeting in Nashville, Tennessee. This is a 3-day event that attracts over 5000 delegates from my own profession, leaders of associations and not-for-profit organisations. Some of these US-based associations have more than 500,000 members, so there is a lot to be learned from my peers in leadership roles. The event also showcases the latest thinking in the sector and in leadership more generally. There are three main themes that currently run through the thinking in association leadership. Firstly, the impact of demographic change on both associations and our professions or industries. Associations are going to change, because they are collectives of people and the people that make them up are

N6


changing before our eyes. What will our workforce look like in 10 or 20 years? Where will there be shortages or oversupply, and how will businesses adapt to survive and find opportunities to prosper? The second theme, across all types of businesses and industries, is the need to understand and prepare for disruptive forces. Examples include Uber and the taxi industry, Air B&B and holiday rentals, or digital photography and Kodak. I attended a session hosted by the Country Music Association on the disruptive forces that their industry has had to manage since the advent of digital music and the internet. It was exactly 10 years ago that sales of online song downloads beat CD and vinyl singles for the first time. Since then, the music industry has met massive cycles of disruption with innovation and experimental business models. The third theme follows logically. It is the all-important question of how we respond and manage these challenges. How do we adapt to demographic change and still accommodate the often quite disparate needs of our membership? Innovation might have become something of a management buzz word, but it is a real challenge for associations that, to be frank, still work with models that weren’t built to encourage and support innovation. To succeed into the future, we’ll need to both foster innovative thinking and implement new ideas. Every AVA Board meeting begins with a facilitated discussion dedicated to environmental scanning. We scan across five key areas that we believe need to be monitored closely: demographic change, animal welfare, deregulation, changing models of veterinary practice and corporatisation, and technology. Sometimes these discussions are about understanding the indicators of change that we’ll need to watch for in the future to deal with disruptive forces. And other times, the indicators will identify far more immediate challenges that we need to make part of our strategic and business plans. Most of us know where we have been, some of us know exactly where we are now, but our real challenge, as a profession and association, is to have a clear idea of where we are going next.



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NEWS

Photographs from the winning article

The John (Carl) Peterson Award

T

he John (Carl) Peterson Award for the best use of images in an AVJ paper for 2013 is awarded to authors from Tableland Veterinary Service in Malanda and the University of Sydney.1

Their winning case report describes an unusual case of epidermal naevus in a foal. As well as having eye-catching images of the foal at birth, and then as a 2-month-old filly before and after surgery, the authors show the histology of this lesion. We have had some discussion during the year of the poor quality of some photomicrographs, but this example was clearly lit and in focus. This shows how a well-described report with clear images can really tell the story and is just the sort of case report that AVJ, AEV and AVP are looking for. So make sure that when you see an interesting case like this one, take lots of photos, as they can easily be turned into a case report for publication.

3D effect to clearly demonstrate the constituents of the normal sinuses. The other finalist was a paper from the Australian Brumby Research Unit at the University of Queensland, which looked at the effect of travel patterns and ground conditions on the conformation and measurements of disarticulated feet in feral horses.3 Their clearly labelled images were essential for getting an appreciation of all the different measurements on both the X-rays and the well-lit and high-quality images of the different parts of the feet. Congratulations to the winner and finalists. Anne Jackson Editor in Chief

There were two other finalists in this year's close competition. The paper from Susan Hemsley and coworkers was a preliminary atlas of the skull of a koala.2 Although this did not fit our usual criteria for publication, it was a study comparing gross anatomical sections through the head with computed tomographic (CT) images. The aim was that it could be used as a basis for future studies on diseases of the koala skull. The gross anatomy photographs were clearly labelled, and next to similarly-labelled CT images taken at the same slice. Another perpendicular cross section of a skull showed the level of the slice and this gave a

Comment on this article at www.ava.com.au/13287 Reference 1. Ruppin MP, Dennis MM, Smith CL et al. Extensive epidermal naevus in a foal. Aust Vet J 2013;91:407-410. 2. Hemsley S, Palmer H, Canfield RB et al. Computed tomographic anatomy of the nasal cavity, paranasal sinuses and tympanic cavity of the koala. Aust Vet J 2013;91: 353-366. 3. Hampson BA, de Laat MA, Mills PC et al. The feral horse foot. Part A: observational study of the effect of environment on the morphometrics of the feet of 100 Australian feral horses. Aust Vet J 2013;91:14-22.

Tri-Solfen article apology and retraction

T

he September 2014 issue of the Australian Veterinary Journal and the website of the Australian Veterinary Association (AVA) included an article regarding the product Tri-Solfen. The article contained inaccuracies for which the AVA; its President, Dr Julia Nicholls; and its Media & Campaigns Manager, Ms Rena Richmond, would like to apologise and retract. The AVA is now in receipt of a scientific report from Professor Peter Windsor that concludes that the risk of residues in food producing animals is extremely low, and a scientific report from Professor Jock McLean that concludes that the risk of residues harmful to humans is non-existent following use of Tri-Solfen. Further, Professor McLean concludes “the risk is known and is essentially zero”.

N8

The AVA acknowledges that it is unaware of any published data contradictory to the comments of Professor Windsor and Professor McLean set out above and that, based on those comments, the conclusions in the article regarding residues were erroneous. Tri-Solfen is a critical and important animal welfare advance that has been widely used to reduce suffering and improve wound healing in Australian sheep. The AVA acknowledges that it has the potential to provide important animal welfare advances in other species. The AVA, Dr Nicholls and Ms Richmond sincerely apologise to Bayer Australia Limited, Animal Ethics Pty Limited and Provet Pty Limited for the inaccuracies contained within the article. For more information about Tri-Solfen and its current registration, please contact Bayer Animal Health on 1800 678 368.



17/09/2014 10:55:43 AM

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17/09/2014 10:55:45 AM

NEWS

Shedding light on animal hoarding

I

n this month’s peer review section of the AVJ, University of Sydney researchers report on their collaboration with RSPCA New South Wales to shed light on animal hoarding.1

“Essentially, animal hoarding refers to the practice of keeping ‘more than the usual number of animals’ at less than the expected standard of care,” said co-author, Sydney University lecturer and veterinarian Anne Fawcett.

“The more we learn about animal hoarding, the better we are able to manage the animals whose behavioural, social and psychological welfare is compromised, albeit unintentionally, at the hands of animal hoarders,” RSPCA NSW Chief Inspector O’Shannessy said. The above image was taken by RSPCA NSW inspectors. The owner eventually pleaded guilty to animal cruelty to 18 cats, all of which were found to be suffering from numerous conditions, including conjunctivitis, severe matting, malnutrition, flea infestation, dermatophytosis and periodontal disease. The 58-year-old owner was issued with a 12-month good behaviour bond with the conditions that she take medication and attend counselling. In addition, she was prohibited from buying, acquiring or taking custody of any cat for 5 years.

“In the popular press, the classic animal-hoarder is the so-called ‘crazy cat lady’ although, while women are over-represented, studies have borne out time and again that men are just as capable of hoarding animals,” she said. Honours student Michelle Joffe collected and reviewed data about convicted animal hoarders and their animals from RSPCAprosecuted cases over a 6-year period. The majority (over 70%) were female, most were middle-aged and a large proportion claimed to be pensioners or unemployed. “Animal hoarding cases are challenging and costly for agencies to investigate and prosecute,” Michelle said. “The more we can find out about potential risk factors for hoarding, the more agencies will be able to intervene earlier,” she said.

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RSPCA NSW Chief Inspector, David O’Shannessy, said that the research was also important in enabling inspectors to appreciate the effect of hoarding on animal victims, of which hundreds may be involved in any one case. The number of animals on the properties of hoarders ranged from 6 to 500. Alarmingly, animals were in need of veterinary care in every single case – with deceased animals found on the premises in 40% of cases. “The more we learn about animal hoarding, the better we are able to manage the animals whose behavioural, social and psychological welfare is compromised, albeit unintentionally, at the hands of animal hoarders,” Inspector O’Shannessy said. Co-author and PhD candidate Mark Westman said that the study revealed some differences between animal hoarders in Australia and those in overseas studies. “Hoarders in Australia were more likely to live in rural or semi-rural areas and they were more likely to hoard large animals,” he said. “That is something we need to look into further.” Emma Malcolm Communication and Marketing Manager

Use promo code: AVJ for $10 off your next order of $50 or more.* Reference

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1. Joffe M, O’Shannessy D, Dhand N et al. Characteristics of persons convicted for offences relating to animal hoarding in New South Wales. Aust Vet J 2014;92:369–375.

17/09/2014 10:55:46 AM

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NEWS

Recent graduate dinner

ASAVA Annual Conference 2014

T

his year’s ASAVA Annual Conference program was a huge success. It focused on endocrinology, ophthalmology and clinical pathology, and featured breakout sessions, hot topic forums and a question and answer session with our committee. We were given excellent feedback on what direction our members would like to see ASAVA take in the future. The conference was attended by over 360 veterinarians, 21 nurses, as well as industry guests and speakers.

President Adrian Choi and some of the delegates

Thank you to everyone who attended and special thanks to our speakers, sponsors and exhibitors for making this event possible. Monika Cole ASAVA Executive Officer Comment on this article at www.ava.com.au/13289

Dr Mary Porter Practitioner of the year and Adrian Choi

ASAVA committee

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ASAVA 2014 Exhibition



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17/09/2014 10:55:50 AM

IDEX21

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IDEX2111 Authur avj FA FIN.indd 1 News - Oct Vol 92.indd 15

18/07/12 3:45 PM 17/09/2014 10:55:51 AM

NEWS

[Far right, back row] Richard Rubira (Australian Department of Agriculture) with workshop participants.

ERADICATE pays off in PNG

A

ustralian expertise can assist neighbouring countries in improving their response to emergency animal diseases (EAD), while at the same time protecting our livestock industries by controlling important diseases offshore, and so reducing the likelihood of them entering Australia. A number of diseases not presently found in Papua New Guinea (PNG), such as highly pathogenic avian influenza and classical swine fever, are present in nearby countries. To counter the risk of these diseases spreading to PNG, from 2010 to 2012, the Australian Government Department of Agriculture worked with the PNG National Agriculture Quarantine and Inspection Authority (NAQIA), PNG industry and government representatives to bolster their EAD preparedness and capacity for effective outbreak response. This AusAID-funded Public Sector Linkages project included an EAD preparedness workshop held in PNG. Participants drafted and reviewed a new national emergency animal disease response plan, ERADICATE. Drafts based on existing AUSVETPLAN documents and standard operating procedures from Australian jurisdictions were tailored for the PNG context. These were discussed with NAQIA staff in rural environments to ensure they met local conditions and NAQIA staff were trained in their implementation. Disease-specific technical guidelines were also developed for highly pathogenic avian influenza and Newcastle disease of poultry, classical swine fever in pigs and foot-and-mouth disease.

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These plans were supported by the development of standard operating procedures. PNG’s improved capacity to respond effectively to an EAD was demonstrated when the country successfully contained an outbreak of Newcastle disease in poultry that was detected in Sandaun Province in March 2013. The ERADICATE plan was used to effectively contain and eradicate the outbreak, thus limiting the social and economic effects of the disease. Dr Nime Kapo, PNG’s Chief Veterinary Officer at the time, stated “... the roles and responsibilities are better laid out in a simplified draft enabling agencies to work better. This is evident in the rapid response to disease confirmation (4 days, compared to more than 3 months for [an outbreak in] Rabaul in 2006). Certainly, the concrete foundations for further and continual improvement have been laid.” NAQIA is now reviewing the plan to improve administrative and financial arrangements, together with aspects of occupational health and safety. The Australian Government Department of Agriculture is also collaborating with animal health authorities in Indonesia and Timor-Leste to strengthen their capacity to detect, prevent and respond to animal diseases. Rhyll Vallis Animal Health Policy Branch Australian Department of Agriculture Comment on this article at www.ava.com.au/13290



17/09/2014 10:55:53 AM


17/09/2014 10:55:55 AM

NEWS

Dr Guilfoyle, his wife Carlie and the 13 JCU students that passed through his practice in 2012.

Alan Guilfoyle wins ACV Bovine Practitioner Award

A

fter 43 years in practice, Dr Alan Guilfoyle (aka Guillie) has more than a tale or two to share about his life as a rural veterinarian in the agricultural town of Clermont, central Queensland. “I could talk for hours about the innumerable delights of practice. People often ask what I enjoy the most and without a doubt, I’d have to say it’s delivering a live calf from a heifer, then standing back and watching the magical innate maternal instincts take over as she accepts and mothers the calf,” he said. As a youngster in Beaudesert he rode trackwork for a local trainer and spent time at the local saleyards. With the goal of one day working for the Department of Primary Industries, he attended Queensland Agricultural College and then enrolled in veterinary science at the University of Queensland. After graduating in 1971, he worked in a Beaudesert practice doing mostly dairy work. “I remember soon after I started at the practice, my employer, the late Alex Bremner, told me ‘just because you are a veterinary surgeon with a university degree, don’t think of yourself as any better or more important to the community than the mechanic who keeps your car on the road enabling you to do your job’,” Dr Guilfoyle said.

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“I think in the modern era, as everyone becomes a specialist, this is something we are losing. It makes it difficult for kids out there who haven’t tapped into particular areas of interest. “This is the beauty of being a rural vet. We get to do everything and I enjoy sharing our way of life with vet students. I give them hands-on experience and the opportunity to appreciate country life and in return they keep me young and up-to-date with knowledge,” Dr Guilfoyle said. “Being part of the Clermont community with our children growing up here has been a very special experience; at times it is hard to define the line between profession and community involvement. It’s an incredible feeling to be truly part of a community. People started asking me if I could do funerals and then marriages, so I became a marriage celebrant and that’s something I enjoy doing for people. Getting to do my youngest daughter’s wedding is a personal highlight,” Dr Guilfoyle said. He has been heavily involved with Queensland country racing, served as office bearer of his local AVA branch and has been an exceptional mentor, teacher and friend to countless undergraduate veterinary students, often putting them up at his home.

Four years later, he moved to Clermont where he established his own veterinary practice, which he continues to manage after 38 successful years.

Many ACV members have had the opportunity to get to know ‘Guillie’ and over the years he has become a cherished member of the cattle community.

“I settled on Clermont in January 1976, starting a new practice from scratch, putting faith in the long-established stability of the town. At the time, the beef industry had not recovered from the mighty crash of 1973, but work soon picked up with the Brucellosis and Tuberculosis Eradication Scheme. This proved to be lifeblood for the practice and allowed an expanded service to clients who otherwise would have been hard-pressed to have a vet on the property,” he said.

When thinking about what it is to be a cattle veterinarian, Dr Guilfoyle says that he can best explain by recounting a conversation he had with the late Bruce Adams of Bega who said, "You go to a conference and you can pick them a mile off. There's the small animal vets in one corner skiting about their latest kidney transplant, and there's the equine vets in another corner – well, they think they are pretty good. But there's the cattle vets, all with a stubby in their hands talking about their latest [stuff ]-up".

“In a country vet practice, there are no average days and no typical days; life is met as it comes, warts and all. If there is work there a vet can do, then it is done.

In winning the 2014 ACV Bovine Practitioner Award, Alan joins an inspiring group of cattle veterinarians including Ian Braithwaite and the iconic Jakob Malmo.



17/09/2014 10:55:55 AM

NEWS

"Everything you need to know in veterinary science you can learn at the back end of a dairy cow," Dr Alan Guilfoyle said.

“Winning this award is probably the pinnacle of my professional career. There are many unsung vets, mostly solo country GPs, who would have easily met the criteria of this award; vets who chose their patch of Australia and served their community with quiet distinction. To be afforded this award by your peers is truly a humbling experience,” Dr Guilfoyle said. When asked about his experiences working with cattle, Alan jokes, “It would take a few bottles of red for the reminiscing. Cattle are great to work with, are forgiving and survive despite our ministrations. As I tell students, ’Everything you need to know in veterinary science you can learn at the back end of a dairy cow’.” Melanie Berenger Communication Officer Comment on this article at www.ava.com.au/13291

Right: Alan receiving his award from Scott Parry

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17/09/2014 10:55:57 AM

NEWS

Join the AVA online community and be heard

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een something interesting in a patient? Have a question or need some advice? Want to continue and broaden a discussion you had at an event?

STEP 4 To post in a forum, click on the conversation stream you would like to contribute to.

Join the AVA’s online community through its member-only discussion forums. The discussion forums give all members the opportunity to ask questions, provide answers and generally learn from others. AVA members, staff and the Board all have access to these forums and there are plenty of us ready to contribute and participate in meaningful discussions. Here’s a quick step-by-step guide showing how to create or join a discussion. STEP 1

Log in to the AVA website: ava.com.au.

Click on ‘Forum’ in the quick links on the left of the AVA home page. STEP 2

Antibiotic Awareness Week collaboration by ajones1234 >> 2 September 2014

STEP 5 To create a new forum topic, choose the forum group which best reflects where the topic should sit. Then click on and enter an informative subject and your question or comment. Once you have completed your post press the Save button and it will be distributed to those that have subscribed to that forum topic.

STEP 3 Click 'subscribe' next to the forums that interest you and you will receive email notifications of any comments made in these forums. If you have subscribed some time ago, please do so again as a large system upgrade at the beginning of the year was good for the website but bad for discussion forum subscriptions.

The discussion forums are designed to help you to help each other, so take the time to get involved. Emma Malcolm Communication and Marketing Manager Comment on this article at www.ava.com.au/13292

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Stroking your cat improves its immunity

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recent Australian study reports the results of a controlled experiment in which cats admitted to a shelter were gentled (i.e. stroked gently on the head and neck area with gentle vocalisation) four times daily for 10 minutes by the same experimenter for 10 days.1 Cats that were too aggressive to handle were gentled with the aid of an extendable stick with a round, rubber tip. Researchers evaluated the effect of the gentling sessions over time in cats that had been assessed as anxious on admission to the shelter. The parameters evaluated included: daily emotional state, level of secretory IgA in faeces, pathogen shedding rate and incidence of clinical upper respiratory disease. Overall, non-gentled cats were more likely to be assigned an emotional rating of anxious or frustrated than gentled cats. Within the gentled group, cats were more likely to respond positively to gentling on the days they were rated as content compared with when they were rated as anxious or frustrated. Gentling had a positive effect on mucosal immunity, with a greater increase in secretory IgA in gentled than non-gentled cats, particularly in those that responded positively to gentling (stood, walked, rubbed on experimenter or walked to the food bowl and ate). Anxious or frustrated cats had lower levels of secretory IgA.

Shedding of Mycoplasma felis, feline calicivirus, feline herpesvirus-1 and Bordetella bronchiseptica increased significantly over time in non-gentled cats. These cats were also more than twice as likely to develop clinical upper respiratory disease, with the onset of clinical signs occurring sooner compared with gentled cats. The authors highlight that disease management practices in shelters should include management of animals' mental health and address emotional stress as it may help to reduce susceptibility to upper respiratory disease and prevent the return of subclinical infections. As gentling was provided by the same experimenter throughout the study, further research is needed to evaluate if the effect of familiarity could also play a role in this. Liliane Cabral Editorial Officer Reference


1. Gourkow N, Hamon SC, Phillips CJC. Effect of gentle stroking and vocalization on behaviour, mucosal immunity and upper respiratory disease in anxious shelter cats. Prev Vet Med 2014 doi: 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2014.06.005 [Epub ahead of print].


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Developing your managerial and people skills – new online resources

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any veterinarians experience a change in their career direction at least once in their lifetime. It is, therefore, important to accumulate skills and experience and seek opportunities that will enhance your employability in the future.

So, start your learning experience now by accessing these and many more resources by logging into the AVA website and navigating to the HR Resource Centre as follows:

If you are going to be successful in your veterinary career, whatever direction it might take, you need to be a well-rounded professional who focuses on developing both hard and soft skills over your working career. Hard skills will develop and consolidate your veterinary clinical skills whereas soft skills focus on expanding your managerial and people skills. Some veterinarians focus solely on developing their veterinary clinical skills, while ignoring their softer skills. The importance of learning how to empathise with others, to build trusting and respectful relationships and to communicate well, cannot be under-estimated. When responding to veterinarians' queries through the AVA’s HR Advisory Service, we often hear employees comment on their manager’s technical brilliance but then go on to say that they have no idea how to treat people. This comment is typical of many studies that indicate many employment failures are attributable to a lack of good interpersonal competencies. Such competencies can deliver leadership skills to motivate teams within the work environment, retain staff and build trust. A lack of interpersonal skills can often be a reason that prevents you from progressing your career, or being overlooked for promotions. The message is simple – to be a leader, it’s an advantage to be skilled in both technical and people skills. In recognising the need for more formalised resources to assist AVA members expand their managerial and people skills, the AVA, together with its HR Advisory Service, has developed a Career Development Program, which incorporates a series of new introductory online lectures, as well as a range of information papers and fact sheets aimed at developing both your hard and soft skills. Some topics covered in the program include: Introductory online short-lectures

Information papers and fact sheets

» » » » »

» Coping with a nightmare boss » Coping with job burnout » Dealing with bullying or harassment » Getting the pay rise you deserve » Maintaining a healthy work-life balance

How to speak with confidence Conducting successful meetings Making decisive decisions Understanding team dynamics Dealing with demotivated people

To access the AVA career development program, you will need to scroll down and click on the link above Start Learning Now button pictured below.

No matter how effective a communicator you think you are, if your colleagues, employer or manager do not feel the same, then you are not optimising your leadership potential. The new AVA Career Development resources can assist you to improve your skills and become more marketable, especially if you are looking for a promotion or a new job. Michelle Eamer AVA HR Advisory Service Comment on this article at www.ava.com.au/13294 The material contained in this article is general comment and is not intended as advice on any particular matter. No reader should act or fail to act on the basis of any material contained herein. The material contained in this publication should not be relied on as a substitute for legal or professional advice on any particular matter.

International veterinary, biomedical and business journals at your fingertips Vet Ed library: www.ava.com.au/library AVA members and student members have access to the world’s most comprehensive full text veterinary databases free of charge 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Funded by Hills Pet Nutrition Pty Ltd, AVA members can access the databases N22 through Australianthe Veterinary Journal Volume 92, No 10, October 2014 Vet Ed Library.


17/09/2014 10:56:01 AM

NEWS

EVA and the World Equestrian Games

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he World Equestrian Games are held every 4 years, with this year’s event drawing about half a million visitors to Normandy, France. It is the largest event on the equestrian calendar and attracts athletes and their horses from around the world to compete in the Olympic disciplines of jumping, dressage and eventing, as well as para-dressage and other international disciplines: driving, reining, vaulting and endurance. A number of EVA members have been involved in an official veterinary capacity at the Games, including Robin Bell (show jumping), Kirsten Neil (para-equestrian), Denis Goulding (driving, vaulting, reining) and EVA President Nathan Anthony (eventing). Congratulations to all of the Australian teams, with special mentions going to four-in-hand driving competitor Boyd Excel who secured yet another World Champion Gold Medal and to the eventing team for their very respectable fifth placing overall (with the top six placing nations in eventing automatically qualifying for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio). C’mon Aussie!

Jeffrey Wilkinson EVA Executive Officer

Boyd Exell on track to claiming gold in the individual driving competition at the 2014 FEI World Equestrian Games Photo Credit: John Lechner


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17/09/2014 10:56:02 AM

NEWS LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Comment on claims of misuse of Tri-Solfen

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he recent comment published in the September AVJ1 contains a statement on the risks of Tri-Solfen to the export industry that is not supported by scientific evidence. I believe that it is misleading, and potentially damaging to efforts to have this innovative product more widely available for improved welfare in the global livestock industries. The following are my comments that I believe reflect the efforts of our livestock welfare research team that has conducted numerous studies since 2005 (many published) on pain management using topical anaesthesia (TA) and Tri-Solfen in particular, providing advice on issues ranging from efficacy for pain relief, potential for toxicity, and concerns of 'off-label' use.2–8 Tri-Solfen® Topical Anaesthetic and Antiseptic Solution for Pain Relief for Sheep is registered for farmer use to provide TA for lambs during mulesing. It contains lignocaine (40.6 g/L), bupivacaine (4.5 g/L), cetrimide 5 g/L) and adrenalin in a gel base, compounds that have been used extensively in human and animal medicine for many decades with considerable safety and, to our knowledge, no residue violations. Although there is minimal published information on the pharmacodynamics of these compounds in cattle (a knowledge gap currently being addressed), there is considerable comparative information indicating the risks of a residue violation from using Tri-Solfen in cattle and sheep for procedures other than mulesing is very low. There is no information, to our knowledge, indicating that Tri-Solfen-treated animals are unsafe for human consumption and that this use 'threatens' Australia's export markets. Although some commentators have suggested that Tri-Solfen presents a ‘significant threat’ to our export markets, the evidence would suggest this is best considered a hypothetical concern. Lignocaine (listed there as lidocaine) is on the WHO's model list of essential medications needed in basic human healthcare. It is distributed widely and quickly throughout the body following administration and rapidly metabolised by the liver, with 97% of the dose excreted in urine within 48 hours in guinea pigs.9 Half-lives have been calculated for non-pregnant (42 min) and pregnant sheep (62 min),10 and for fetal (33 min) and neonatal lambs (51 min).11 Bupivacaine is similarly distributed rapidly then metabolised in the liver and excreted in urine, with half-lives in pregnant and non-pregnant sheep of 102 ± 8 and 118 ± 10 min respectively.12–14 The rapid metabolism and complete elimination from the body of both compounds strongly suggests that significant residues are unlikely to occur in lambs or, by crossspecies comparison, in calves following topical application of TriSolfen. Cetrimide has been extensively used in cattle and sheep, both topically and in injectable formulations, at a concentration of 0.25 mg/mL (equating to a dose of approximately 0.01 mg/kg). The European Agency for the Evaluation of Medicinal Products has concluded that as cetrimide is poorly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract, rapidly excreted, not significantly absorbed after percutaneous administration, and has a long history of safe use in human medicine, its use in food producing species should not result in residues in food of animal origin at concentrations that are toxicologically relevant for the safety of consumer.

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This information indicates that Tri-Solfen is very unlikely to lead to significant residues in lambs treated at mulesing (or for other wounds, or by species comparison, wounds in calves). As maximum residue limits (MRL’s) were unavailable, presumably caution prevailed and the product was registered with an APVMA Table 5 entry with a conservative withholding period (WHP) of 90 days. In my address at the World Buiatrics Congress (WBC) in Cairns this year, I presented the emerging importance of TA for improved livestock husbandry welfare.15 I argued that TA has been largely ignored in animal welfare science until recently, with the power of halting nociception (blockage of pain receptor function) to provide prolonged pain relief well after the TA actives have been eliminated, finally being recognised as an important first and crucial step in wound pain management. In my opinion TA should be a priority for management of all wounds in all species under our care.15 For a multimodal approach to pain management, the addition of other drugs (e.g. non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) that modify the pain sensitisation phase is considered preferable to the use of drugs that diminish central pain cognition or awareness, particularly in ruminants that need to be immediately functional post-operatively. That TA for mulesing has been so well adopted by many wool producers indicates they recognise the clinical efficacy of TA and I believe that this innovation is promoting a revolution in attitudes to animal welfare on farms.15 At the WBC we heard that Tri-Solfen has been used on some beef farms to provide pain relief for beef cattle at dehorning and castration, despite 'off-label' use not being permitted in most Australian states (WA is an exception). Although it is unlikely that these animals would enter the food chain prior to 12 months after treatment, we initiated a precautionary reminder via the Australian Cattle Veterinarians e-lists to advise producers that meat animals should be retained for 12 months prior to slaughter after being treated with Tri-Solfen until a claim for registration of the product for cattle has been considered by AVPMA. If this is achieved, then with-holding periods must be adhered to (it is presumed the claim would result in similar WHP for slaughter as applied to sheep for mulesing, i.e. 90 days). Despite the lack of MRL’s for Tri-Solfen, there appears to be minimal risk of residue violation because of the rapid metabolism of the actives, except perhaps in a very recently treated animal sent for emergency slaughter. For this reason, a description of when a procedure occurred that involved treatment with Tri-Solfen, needs to be included on the National Vendor Declaration of animals at sale. There is clearly an emerging interest by producers in using TriSolfen for improved animal welfare during husbandry procedures other than mulesing. The duties of veterinarians in provision of therapeutics to food animals is a balance between different regulatory acts, with many of the opinion that the ‘duty of care’ to relieve suffering of animals should prevail and that the right to prescribe unregistered TA products ‘off-label’ is an important expectation of veterinarians. I believe that it would be far preferable to have Tri-Solfen® registered as soon as possible



18/09/2014 5:17:16 PM

NEWS for use in cattle for dehorning and castration and it is likely that this will occur. However, in the meantime, perhaps the livestock industry agencies and the AVA should not only be urging caution to veterinarians in promoting the use of TA ‘off-label’, but declare that the residue, safety and export risk of Tri-Solfen is based more on a hypothetical concern than a ‘significant risk’. Further, they could encourage the companies responsible for manufacturing, distributing and marketing the product, to urgently progress a claim for APMVA registration for use in cattle and sheep for surgical husbandry procedures other than mulesing as importantly, this will advance animal welfare in Australia and potentially beyond, and diminish the risk to the meat industries of activist-led campaigns against painful interventions performed routinely in livestock husbandry. Peter A Windsor Veterinary specialist (Pathobiology; Small Ruminant Health Management) Sydney Reference


1. Richmond R. Misuse of Tri-solfen in cattle is a concern for export industry. Aust Vet J 2014;92(9):N8. 2. Espinoza C, Lomax S, Windsor P. Topical anaesthesia provides pain management for dehorning of calves. J Dairy Sci 2013;96:2894-2902. 3. Lomax S, Shiel M, Windsor P. Impact of topical anaesthesia on pain alleviation and wound healing in lambs following mulesing. Aust Vet J 2008;86:159-169. 4. Lomax S, Sheil M, Windsor P. Use of local anaesthesia for pain management during husbandry procedures in Australian sheep flocks. Small Rum Res 2009;86:56–58. 5. Lomax S, Dickson H, Shiel M et al. Topical anaesthesia alleviates the pain of castration and tail docking in lambs. Aust Vet J 2010;88:67-74. 6. Lomax S, Sheil M, Windsor P. Duration of action of a topical anaesthetic formulation for pain management of mulesing in sheep. Aust Vet J 2013;91:160-167. 7. Lomax S, Windsor P. Topical anaesthesia mitigates the pain of castration in beef calves. J Animal Sci 2013;91:1-8. 8. Windsor P, Lomax S. Addressing welfare concerns regarding control of cutaneous myiosis in Australia. Small Rum Res 2013;110:165-169. 9. Keenaghan JB and Boyes RN. The tissue distribution, metabolism and excretion of lidocaine in rats, guinea pigs, dogs and man. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 1972;180:454-463. 10. Bloedow DC, Ralston DH, Hargrove JC. Lidocaine pharmacokinetics in pregnant and nonpregnant sheep. J Pharm Sci 1980;69:32-37. 11. Morishima HO, Finster M, Pederson H et al. Pharmacokinetics of lidocaine in fetal and neonatal lambs and adult sheep. Anestesiol 1979;50:431-436. 12. Kennedy RL, Miller RP, Bell JU, et al. Uptake and distribution of bupivacaine in fetal lambs. Anesthesiology. 1986;65:247-253. 13. Mather LE. Disposition of mepivacaine and bupivacaine enantiomers in sheep. Br J Anaesthesia 1991;67:239-246. 14. Santos AC, Arthur GR, Lehnig EJ et al. Comparative pharmacokinetics of ropivacaine and bupivacaine in nonpregnant and pregnant sheep. Anesth Analg 1997;85:87-93. 15. Windsor PA. Pain management for improved livestock welfare during aversive husbandry procedures. Keynote presentation. World Buiatrics Congress, Cairns, July 2014-August 2104.

Editor in Chief's note In relation to the matters raised by Professor Windsor, a scientific report from Professor Jock McLean will be published in a subsequent issue of the journal.

The true value of a veterinarian

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read the article 'What do pet owners think about vets',1 and pondered over some of the sentiments from within that article, and about our true worth.

I thought that we, and our representatives, do need to state our case to the public and its media more effectively, as well as to ourselves. It was a significant survey, but I found it a bit subjective, with a hint of negativity. Some significant lines for me included, "cost is a concern," "The cost of vet services is definitely seen as a barrier to visiting the vet," "Vet fees were most likely to be compared with fees charged by medical specialists or GPs." and "We see community perceptions of vet fees as a strategic priority." So, if I tell the story of a small animal practice, because that's the one I know after 35 years in private practice, but I think is relevant across the board, perhaps our true worth will be clearer. A veterinary practice is a classic small business, within an industry of compassion. It might have a gross turnover of $1 million, employs 8 full time equivalent staff, has a drug bill of $250,000, and after a myriad of other costs returns a profit of between 5–15%. Associate veterinarians earn between $50–100k, and practice owners, perhaps twice that. The next time you are at a dinner party, and the banker next to you states that "vets are so expensive", just mention that salary range and see how quiet they become (for fear that you might ask them how much they make). Our worth as part of a community is unprecedented. The public are comfortable to telephone about all manner of things, and not always about health or behavioural issues. For example, when a cockatoo is swinging gaily off the local bicentennial flag in a high wind, 50 metres up, who else do you call? And when you tell them not to worry that it will eventually let go, they ring the armed forces and the fire brigade who attend the situation, at which point it flies away! True story. We offer free advice regarding all aspects of preventative care, only to have those people then shop online. What a scourge online is. A dedicated group of well-meaning people nab every unsuspecting small fluffy dog and deposit them at their local vets as a 'stray'. We smile, take the animal and usually find its owner within the hour. We become the first port of call for injured wildlife, often two or three times daily, for no cost. We make decisions about their care and future. It's what we do. Can you get these types of value services at your solicitor, accountant or medical practitioner? Can you ring them and just chat about stuff? Continued on page N26 Australian Veterinary Journal Volume 92, No 10, October 2014


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NEWS Continued from page N25 PUBLISHER Australian Veterinary Journal is published by Wiley Publishing Asia Pty Ltd, 155 Cremorne Street, Richmond Vic. 3121, Australia. TEL +61 (0)3 9274 3100. FAX +61 (0)3 9274 3101. Corporate Citizenship Wiley’s Corporate Citizenship initiative seeks to address the environmental, social, economic, and ethical challenges faced in our business and which are important to our diverse stakeholder groups. We have made a long-term commitment to standardize and improve our efforts around the world to reduce our carbon footprint. Follow our progress at www. wiley.com/go/citizenship Journal customer services For ordering information, claims and any enquiry concerning your journal subscription please go to www.wileycustomerhelp.com/ask or contact your nearest office. Americas: Email: [email protected]; Tel: +1 781 388 8598 or +1 800 835 6770 (toll free in the USA & Canada). Europe, Middle East and Africa: Email: [email protected]; Tel: +44 (0) 1865 778315. Asia Pacific: Email: [email protected]; Tel: +65 6511 8000. Japan: For Japanese speaking support, Email: [email protected]; Tel: +65 6511 8010 or Tel (toll free): 005 316 50 480. Visit our Online Customer Get-Help available in 7 languages at www.wileycustomerhelp.com. Production Editor Sylvia Cheong. Email: [email protected] INFORMATION FOR SUBSCRIBERS Australian Veterinary Journal is published in 11 issues per year. Institutional subscription prices for 2014 are: Print & Online: US$646 (Australia & New Zealand), US$788 (US), €554 (Europe), £436 (UK), US$855 (Rest of World). Prices are exclusive of tax. Asia-Pacific GST, Canadian GST and European VAT will be applied at the appropriate rates. For more information on current tax rates, please go to www.wileyonlinelibrary.com/tax-vat. The price includes online access to the current content and all online back files to January 1st 2009, where available. For other pricing options, including access information and terms and conditions, please visit www.wileyonlinelibrary.com/access. ONLINE OPEN Australian Veterinary Journal accepts articles for Open Access publication. Please visit http://olabout.wiley.com/WileyCDA/Section/id-406241. html for further information about Online Open. DELIVERY TERMS AND LEGAL TITLE Prices include delivery of print journals to the recipient’s address. Delivery terms are Delivered at Place (DAP); the recipient is responsible for paying any import duty or taxes. Title to all issues transfers FOB our shipping point, freight prepaid. We will endeavour to fulfil claims for missing or damaged copies within six months of publication, within our reasonable discretion and subject to availability.

Remember – we are a non-subsidised profession. There is no comparison at all with the human medical profession, which maintains its elite status partly because of massive subsidisation. Realise that around 27.5% of your taxation supports health. So, I have been to the GP once in the last 3 years. I paid a gap of $31 for that visit, and having paid about $100k tax in that 3 years, means my fee for that visit was $27,531. If I ever get a new joint I expect 24K gold with diamond inserts! Our actual job of the health and care of pets is diverse. We vaccinate, desex, catheterise, remove foreign bodies and treat a vast array of dermatological conditions. We advise, educate, accept a broad spectrum of work experience students and, somewhere amongst all that, assist in protecting the country from exotic disease. We do our job with such compassion, decency and efficiency, that I sometimes think of us as paid volunteer workers. At other times it just wears you out. My point is that we do not need to be defensive about our position in society. In fact society loves us. We are always in the top 10 of most trusted professions and we remain closely linked to our local community in a time when that is fading. We do so much good and we should be positive about that, both to ourselves and to the general public. Our representatives, the AVA and Board, when questioned by the media, must never be negative about us, as is hinted at in the article. We don't charge too much. We are better than the medicos and all the others, and our commitment is unquestionable. What's more, people like us! These are our strategic priorities.

Reference

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1. Balzer M. What do pet owners think about vets? We now have the data! Aust Vet J 2014;92(8):N16-18.

PRINTING AND DESPATCH Printed in Australia by Ligare Pty Ltd. All journals are normally despatched direct from the country in which they are printed by surface air-lifted delivery. COPYRIGHT AND PHOTOCOPYING Copyright © 2014 Australian Veterinary Association. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior permission in writing from the copyright holder. This consent does not extend to other kinds of copying such as copying for general distribution, for advertising or promotional purposes, for creating new collective works or for resale. Authorisation to photocopy items for internal and personal use is granted by the copyright holder for libraries and other users registered with their local Reproduction Rights Organisation (RRO), eg. Copyright Clearance Center (CCC), 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923, USA (www.copyright.com), provided the appropriate fee is paid directly to the RRO. This consent does not extend to other kinds of copying such as copying for general distribution, for advertising or promotional purposes, for creating new collective works or for resale. Special requests should be addressed to [email protected]

Stephen Abrahams West Pennant Hills Veterinary Hospital

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Winner of the Cattle Quilt ongratulations to Nico Qin, winner of the Cattle Practice in Australia Quilt. The quilt, which is a collective creative work of members from across Australia, was raffled at the World Buiatrics Congress in July.

The proceeds from the raffle were donated to the James Herriot Legacy Fund, which provides bursary support for young people who wish to become vets and other animal care-related vocations. Congratulations also to the other prize winners, Kim Miller, who won a James Herriot Memorial Teapot and Emily Carroll who won a signed copy of a James Herriot book and DVD. Anne Cover ACV Executive Officer Comment on this article at www.ava.com.au/13298

DISCLAIMER The publisher, The Australian Veterinary Association and editors cannot be held responsible for errors or any consequences arising from the use of information contained in this journal; the views and opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher, the Australian Veterinary Association and editors, neither does the publication of advertisements constitute any endorsement by the publisher, the Australian Veterinary Association and editors of the products advertised. Submission of photographs for publication will be held to imply that permission for publication has been obtained from the photographer and from the subject(s) of the image. AVJ.PI.Feb13 TRADEMARKS AVA and the AVA logo are registered trademarks of the Australian Veterinary Association Limited.

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American Thoracic Society member survey on climate change and health.

American Academy of Gold Foil Operators' 2014 Distinguished Member of the Year Award.

The Kaiser Permanente Northern California Adult Member Health Survey.

Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics 2011 survey on member research activities, needs, and perceptions.

Perceived benefits and challenges of interprofessional education based on a multidisciplinary faculty member survey.

How accurately does the VIVO Harvester reflect actual Clinical and Translational Sciences Award-affiliated faculty member publications?

Heterogeneity at work: implications of the 2012 Clinical Translational Science Award evaluators survey.

THE MARY ALLEN ENGLE AWARD.

PJF: A Report on Variation of Select SRS Member Practice Patterns, Treatment Indications, and Opinions on Classification Development.

The 2014 FUN Achievement Award.

The Nick Norgan Award 2014.

The William Allan Memorial Award.

Announcing the 2014 andrology award.

THE MARY ALLEN ENGLE AWARD.

Acceptance of the Howland Award.

The Mary Allen Engle Award.

THE THEODORE E. WOODWARD AWARD.

THE THEODORE E. WOODWARD AWARD.

[The MEmbeR Multicenter Study on medical-occupational rehabilitation].

Award Lecture.

Brightness award.

A faculty member on Match Day.

Survey on the series.

Award: 2014 JFMS Resident Best Paper Award winner.