Rural
3 September, 2025
New initiative links vets with farmers
Young veterinarians will soon gain hands-on farm experience through a new pilot program, FarmVet Connect, which is designed to strengthen livestock health and biosecurity across Victoria.
Veterinary Support Services will utilise more than $102,000 in funding to provide early-career veterinarians with a year of experience working alongside beef and dairy farmers.
The program will match up to 12 veterinarians in regional clinics with at least two local producers, helping them build rural networks, share knowledge, and support veterinary and agricultural education.
Producers will play an active role by opening their farms, joining discussion groups, and inviting vets to industry and social events.
The Victorian Apiarists Association has secured more than $205,000 to run educational sessions on the threat of Varroa mites and to support a research project aimed at maintaining the health of ironbark forests.
The Victorian Farmers Federation will expand its Stock Sense program by more than $1.66 million, introducing it into peri-urban areas to ensure hobby farmers and livestock owners understand how to keep their animals safe.
Stock Sense will continue to raise awareness of biosecurity issues through workshops, webinars, and resources.
Victorian Minister for Agriculture Ros Spence announced $15 million for 22 projects on August 29, which will strengthen Victoria’s biosecurity and safeguard the livestock industries as part of the 2025 Livestock Biosecurity Funds Grant Program.
She said the initiative will help new vets to jumpstart their on-farm understanding and knowledge.
”Biosecurity risks are constantly changing, and the Livestock Biosecurity Funds Grant Program helps industry get ahead of emerging challenges – safeguarding our livestock industries,” said Minister for Agriculture Ros Spence.
“FarmVet Connect will help early career vets jumpstart their on-farm understanding and knowledge, while getting the benefits of relationship building and collaboration from proven producers."