Thursday 24 March 2022
The Australasian Veterinary Boards Council (AVBC) today unanimously ratified the Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) with the South African Veterinary Council (SAVC), which was signed on Thursday 18 November 2021.
This MRA acknowledges the ongoing partnership of our organisations in ensuring the standards and quality of the veterinary profession. It is a continuation of the MRA signed in 2013, which formalised the recognition and mutually agreed systems of accreditation and site visits carried out by SAVC in South Africa and AVBC in Australia and New Zealand.
The signing was attended by the AVBC member representatives and their South African counterparts. In attendance from the SAVC were:
- Dr Alfred Tlotlo Kgasi – President and Executive Committee member
- Mr Mongezi Menye – Registrar
- Ms Leonie Westcott – Director Education
- Ms Nolwazi Dhlamini – Communications
After a brief round of introductions from all attendees, Dr Peter Gibbs (AVBC Chair) welcomed the South African delegates and acknowledged the significance of the MRA in recognising of the long-standing relationship between our two organisations.
Dr Kgasi cited the occasion as an important process for South Africa, which provides a quality assurance mechanism for further alignment with international standards.
The discussions that followed reflected on both the similarities and differences between each organisation’s capacity to respond to common challenges, and highlighted areas whereby further collaboration would help mutually strengthen the veterinary profession in South Africa and Australia and New Zealand.
We hope that the agreement will continue to provide the basis for deeper and more meaningful engagement between our nations in the pursuit of veterinary excellence.
