2020 in review

 

In 2020, the year of COVID-19 and massive change across the world, ANZCVS played its part in adapting to this global disruption.

With the cessation of mass gatherings last year, we had to rapidly pivot our usual in-person Science Week to an online event, and delivered the Online Scientific Series which featured eight Chapters, over 50 sessions and over 800 registrations. In 2021 we plan to offer a face-to-face Science Week in July at the Gold Coast, and with COVID-19 restrictions ever changing, this will be a strenuous exercise to deliver an event that will not be the same as conferences in years gone by, but adapted to the new world we live in.

ANZCVS Council made the difficult decision to defer Membership examinations to 2021, however successfully delivered Fellowship exams remotely in November. We now have the challenging task of delivering over 540 Membership examinations this year. In another College first, Membership and Fellowship examinations will be delivered remotely in June and July. This will be an enormous logistical challenge with over 43 examinations sites, across eight Australian States and Territories and 18 countries, to over 559 Membership and Fellowship examination candidates; and coordinating 130 examiners and 30 observers.

Although there will be many obstacles ahead as we plan examinations and Science Week, College staff, Council, Board of Examiners and Chapter executives are committed to continuing our core activities to provide security and certainty to the College as an organisation, our Members and the veterinary profession.

In addition to these key College activities, we are undertaking new initiatives to help our community be more connected. We are in the midst of developing a digital framework to foster Chapter discussions, support mentoring services and a provide a central platform for documents and communications. This includes:

  • Chapter specific portals
  • @anzcvs.org.au domain email addresses for all Members
  • A new College website
  • Reference libraries
  • Online learning management system

Last year we also saw the New Zealand branch settle into its first year holding their first event late last year; and welcomed new Chapters – Veterinary Sports and Rehabilitation Medicine and Pig and Health Production. We look forward to helping and watching these new Chapters and Networks flourish.

This year also is a particularly special year for the College – we celebrate our fiftieth anniversary! The College has a deep and rich history, which we will celebrate with a number of initiatives planned this year. We hope you can join us in our celebrations as we reflect on our history, celebrate our purpose and map our future.

In times of uncertainty and change, the College remains committed to being engaged with the membership and providing as much certainty as we can about College activities. We always welcome Members to contact us at any time through the College office to provide feedback and ideas.