Veterinary scene down under: First VICSES volunteer to earn Level 3 incident management accreditation, and more news

Vetfordia festival where compassion meets celebration

With the festival tagline of ‘Every beat is a prescription for fun’, Elaine Cebuliak, BVSc, MANZCVS (Dentistry), IVAS Cert (Veterinary Acupuncture), Dip Ed, is planning a fun day of music, arts, food, and connection with her Vetfordia festival set to celebrate veterinary and allied-health professionals in support of mental health and wellbeing.

The good vibes of Vetfordia will be set in the town of Woodfordia in Queensland, on Sunday, October 6, 2024, and will feature music, dancing and fun stuff for kids - with the aim of harmonizing mental health for veterinarians, allied professionals and their families.

“When walking on the beach early one morning pondering why my good friend – a specialist veterinary surgeon died by suicide, I had a vision - what is missing in my profession, and why is there such a high rate of mental health concerns. Then it came to me – we need community, we need to celebrate life – and so the idea for the Vetfordia festival was born!” explained Cebuliak to dvm360®.

Cebuliak hopes Vetfordia can make a difference by creating a sense of community, using music as therapy, while providing family-friendly activities, mental health workshops, and networking opportunities.

“Isolation is a significant factor contributing to the mental health struggles of veterinarians. Vetfordia will bring together veterinarians and their families, providing a supportive environment where they can share their experiences, build relationships, and find solace in knowing they are not alone,” said Cebuliak.

“The festival will feature workshops and seminars led by mental health professionals who specialize in veterinary care. These sessions will offer practical advice, coping strategies, and resources to help veterinarians manage stress and emotional burnout. Vetfordia will also showcase a diverse lineup of musical acts, allowing attendees to unwind and enjoy the healing power of music," she continued.

Vetfordia aims to be a catalyst for change in the veterinary profession, with the festival’s emphasis on community, mental health education, and relaxation to create an environment where veterinarians can recharge and gain the tools they need to thrive both personally and professionally.

“I want it to encourage the exchange of ideas and foster collaborations, building connections that could lead to new friendships, mentorship opportunities, and a stronger sense of belonging within the veterinary community,” shared Cebuliak.

“Vetfordia is not just an event; it is a movement toward better mental health for veterinarians and their families. By combining the therapeutic power of music with educational resources and community support, Vetfordia offers a holistic approach to addressing the mental health crisis in the veterinary profession. Let us come together to support our veterinarians and our allied health workers, because when they thrive, so do our pets and our community.”

Vetfordia is an event listed as part of Queensland’s Mental Health week.

Incident management accreditation for veterinarian volunteering in emergency services

Outside of her work as a clinical veterinarian, Danielle Eyssens, BVSc (Hons), has volunteered with the Victoria State Emergency Service (VICSES) since 2007. She recently became the first VICSES volunteer to receive Level 3 incident management accreditation – with Level 3 incidents referring to those emergencies that come with the highest level of complexity, requiring significant experience from those who are managing the incident.

The VICSES is a volunteer-based organization that provides emergency assistance during natural disasters and other emergencies, to minimize the impact of these events, while working to strengthen the community’s capacity to plan, respond and recover, when emergencies occur. VICSES are the control agency for flood, storm, earthquake, tsunami, and landslides, along with provision of road crash rescue services in the state of Victoria.

Danielle Eyssens, BVSc, with Victorian Emergency Management Commissioner Rick Nugent, APM (image courtesy of VICESES)

“The demand on emergency services in Victoria in recent years has been increasing with multiple major and extended incidents occurring in succession or even concurrently. The demand on staff and volunteers increases to perform incident management roles as well as business as usual activities,” said Eyssens, exclusively to dvm360®.

“Response to these incidents would not be possible without volunteers, especially in the field. Having volunteers now able to develop to the Level 3 incident management qualification improves the services' ability to maintain the necessary level of resources for these events which can sometimes extend for months at a time,” she continued.

Eyssens got involved in volunteering with the VICSES after realizing that she wanted to do something more than work, as she was keen to balance the high stress and pressure of being a veterinarian.

“As a veterinarian, I love that I can do other things and keep a healthy mindset for my career. The skills I have learned from being involved in the State Emergency Service (SES) have made me a better vet and leader of my team at the veterinary clinic,” explained Eyssens.

“So many people have supported me in my veterinary, and now also in my SES pathway over the years. I love that I am paying it forward to the community that [is] experiencing the worst times of their lives when they go through an emergency or disaster that we respond to.”