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Department of Agriculture

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. Biosecurity and trade
  3. Export
  4. Controlled export goods
  5. Exporting live animals
  6. Livestock
  7. Accredited veterinarians (AAVs)
  8. Become an AAV

Sidebar first - Export

  • Accredited veterinarians (AAVs)
    • Current AAVs
    • Become an AAV

Become an accredited veterinarian

Are you a registered veterinarian? If so, you can apply to be an Accredited Veterinarian (AAV).

We use AAVs to ensure the health and welfare of livestock before and during export. If you are interested in doing this work, you must:

  • be registered with the veterinary surgeon's board in the state or territory you work in
  • complete the Accreditation Program for Australian Veterinarians (APAV) course
  • complete the Animal Health Australia (AHA) online AAVet course
  • be an Australian citizen if you are applying to be a shipboard AAV.

Here is more information about these steps.

You must complete the APAV course to take part in government operational programs. You do this before the AAVet course.

This APAV course covers:

  • Australia’s animal health system and disease programs
  • international animal health issues
  • responsibilities of accredited veterinarian, including emergency disease responsibilities
  • livestock welfare issues
  • use of veterinary laboratories.

The course is self-paced and takes about 4 hours to complete.

You can learn more and enrol in the APAV course on the Animal Health Australia (AHA) website.

After you have completed the APAV course, you can complete the AAVet course. This course covers:

  • Australia's legislative framework for the livestock export industry
  • AAV responsibilities
  • the livestock export process
  • the approved export program (AEP), pre-export preparation and onboard management.

The course is self-paced. It takes about 6 hours to complete.

When you complete the course, you must pay a course fee to AHA.

You can learn more and enrol in the program on the Animal Health Australia website.

Once you have done the courses, complete the Application for accreditation as an Accredited Veterinarian for livestock form.

Include in your application:

  • a certified copy of your registration from your veterinary practitioners registration board
  • your AAVet course completion certificate
  • evidence of payment for AAVet course
  • a signed citizenship declaration if you are applying to be a shipboard AAV. 

Email your application to livestockexp@aff.gov.au.

Identification and management of material interests for AAVs

When applying to be an AAV you need to declare all interests under our regulatory framework. This guideline outlines:

  • information on material interests, including how to identify, disclose, and manage them
  • examples of material interests and possible mitigation strategies
  • what we do with a material interest declaration.

Download

Guideline for the identification and management of material interests for AAVs (PDF 319 KB)
Guideline for the identification and management of material interests for AAVs (DOCX 764 KB)

If you have difficulty accessing these files, visit web accessibility for assistance.

You must pay an application fee before we can approve your application.

Once approved, your accreditation lasts up to 5 years from the date of notice. You must also maintain your veterinary registration in the state or territory you practice.

If you have given us permission, we will share your contact details with exporters. This allows them to engage your services. You may also contact exporters.

General enquiries

Call 1800 900 090

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Page last updated: 08 July 2024

We acknowledge the continuous connection of First Nations Traditional Owners and Custodians to the lands, seas and waters of Australia. We recognise their care for and cultivation of Country. We pay respect to Elders past and present, and recognise their knowledge and contribution to the productivity, innovation and sustainability of Australia’s agriculture, fisheries and forestry industries.

Artwork: Protecting our Country, Growing our Future
© Amy Allerton, contemporary Aboriginal Artist of the Gumbaynggirr, Bundjalung and Gamilaroi nations.

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