Melbourne – 28 July 2022
The Australasian Veterinary Boards Council (AVBC) today signed a mutual recognition agreement (MRA) with the Veterinary Council of Ireland (VCI). This MRA formalises the current arrangements allowing veterinarians qualifying in Australasia and Ireland to move freely between each other’s jurisdictions.
At its meeting in May 2022, AVBC’s Council resolved that the Mutual Recognition Agreement with the Veterinary Council of Ireland should be signed. The MRA means that AVBC member boards can recognise the veterinary degree from University College Dublin for the purpose of registration. Graduates from all eight Australasian veterinary schools are eligible to be registered by the VCI.
Peter Gibbs, AVBC Chair, said, “We value the expertise of UCD graduates greatly and look forward to strengthening our bonds with the Veterinary Council of Ireland and the wider Irish veterinary profession in the years ahead.” Vivienne Duggan, VCI President and UCD Associate Professor said, “I am delighted to sign this Mutual Recognition Agreement with our AVBC Colleagues on behalf of the Veterinary Council of Ireland, enabling eligibility of veterinary medicine graduates from Australasia to come and work here In Ireland and creating routes of eligibility and access for our UCD veterinary medicine graduates to practise in Australasia.”
The agreement provides the opportunity for the AVBC and VCI to take part in regular accreditation visitations to each other’s veterinary schools to ensure that they meet their respective accreditation criteria for veterinary education. Current practice will continue whereby the AVBC sends a representative to the University College Dublin. These visitations may be carried out in conjunction with other international accreditation bodies such as the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA).
Julie Strous, AVBC Executive Director, acknowledged that AVBC has learned a great deal from the development of mutual recognition agreements with the UK, South Africa and now Ireland, which bodes well for future MRAs that support the international mobility of our profession. She also expressed gratitude towards the VCI, saying, “I have enjoyed getting to know VCI staff and growing our understanding of VCI during the negotiations.” Registrar and CEO of the Veterinary Council of Ireland, Niamh Muldoon, said, “The Veterinary Council of Ireland are pleased to have our long-standing relationship with the AVBC advanced in the formal recognition of the strong standards of accredited programmes of veterinary medicine here in Ireland and Australasia, supporting the continued mobility for veterinary medicine graduates internationally.”
The AVBC would like to extend its thanks to all those involved in developing the MRA. In celebration of this agreement, AVBC will invite VCI representatives to participate in a brief ceremony later in 2022.
NOTES:
The Australasian Veterinary Boards Council (AVBC) ensures the quality of the Australian and New Zealand veterinary profession.
The Veterinary Council of Ireland (VCI) is the statutory body responsible for the regulation of the practise of veterinary medicine and veterinary nursing in Ireland.