Veterinary Services Regulatory Board of South Australia

The Veterinary Services Regulatory Board of South Australia is a statutory authority established under the Veterinary Services Act 2023 (the Act), to maintain high professional standards of veterinary treatment in SA.

To report a concern relating to a veterinary surgeon or specialist, contact VSRBSA.

The board is within the portfolio of the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development. Recruitment of board members is managed by the Department of Primary Industries and Regions (PIRSA).

Functions of the board

The functions of the board include:

• to determine applications for registration for the purposes of this Act; and
• to recognise courses of education or training that provide qualifications for registration on the general register or the specialist register; and
• to determine the requirements necessary for registration on the general register or the specialist register; and
• to determine the specialties in which a person may be registered on the specialist register; and
• to prepare or endorse codes of conduct, professional standards and guidelines for the purposes of this Act; and
• to prepare or endorse standards relating to minimum requirements for registered premises; and
• to receive and deal with complaints made about the conduct of veterinarians; and
• to provide advice to the Minister as may be appropriate or requested by the Minister; and
• to provide information and advice to veterinarians and the public about relevant legislation, codes of conduct, professional standards and other standards and guidelines prepared or endorsed by the Board; and
• to confer and collaborate with other veterinary regulatory authorities to ensure effective national exchange of information and promote uniformity and consistency in the regulation of veterinarians within Australia; and
• to carry out other functions assigned to the Board by or under this Act or by the Minister.

Board membership

The Board consists of 9 members appointed by the Governor on the recommendation of the Minister.

• 6 members must be veterinarians with primary registration
• 3 members must not be veterinarians, including:
  • 1 legal practitioner
  • 1 person with qualifications or experience in accounting, business or finance
  • 1 person with other skills, knowledge or experience considered appropriate by the Minister

Skills and experience

In recommending veterinary members, the Minister aims to ensure that, collectively, they have experience in:

• management or governance
• teaching veterinary science
• government biosecurity agencies (State or Commonwealth)
• urban companion animal practice
• rural or production animal practice
• other relevant areas

The Minister may consult with a prescribed peak body representing the veterinary profession before making recommendations.

Requirements for non-veterinary members

Members who are not veterinarians:

• must not be, and must not have been, registered as veterinarians
• must not work in, or have a material interest in, veterinary services

All members are appointed by the Governor of South Australia for a term of up to 3 years. Members can be reappointed after this, however, cannot serve more than 9 consecutive years in total.

Board meetings are generally held every 6 weeks, with additional working groups and sub-committee meetings as needed.

Remuneration

Members are entitled to remuneration, allowances and expenses determined by the Governor:

• members are paid $206 per 4-hour meeting
• the presiding member is paid $258 per meeting and an annual retainer of $5050.

Members are not paid for their time spent on working groups or sub-committee, but they are entitled to other allowances and expenses.

Government employee members are not eligible for remuneration.

Appointing board members

PIRSA follows the requirements of the Act and government guidelines for all board appointments.

The Minister is provided a summary of suitable candidates following the interview process.