ABOUT US

 

We are a voluntary regulatory body, and a volunteer-led charitable trust. Our aim is to safeguard animal welfare and the public interest by upholding and advancing the educational, ethical, and clinical standards of veterinary nurses, veterinary technicians, and allied animal healthcare practitioners.

 

We do this by:

  • Maintaining a voluntary register of qualified professionals.

  • Establishing and maintaining practicing and registration standards.

  • Communicating and consulting with industry and stakeholders over regulatory matters and standards.

  • Establishing, reviewing, and advising on educational and professional standards for veterinary nurses, veterinary technicians/technologists, and allied animal healthcare practitioners.

Future areas of activity for us may include:

  • Accrediting and monitoring training institutions for veterinary nurses, technicians, and allied animal healthcare practitioners.

  • Determining fitness to practice for veterinary nurses, technicians, and allied animal healthcare practitioners.

  • Receiving concerns about allied veterinary nurses, technicians and allied animal healthcare practitioner performance, professional conduct or health and acting where necessary.

Ō mātau uara – O mātou
Our values – Our Vision

 

WE ARE ACCOUNTABLE

Working responsibly, efficiently, effectively, professionally, and with integrity. 

WE ARE CARING

Valuing our diverse roles, caring for the animals, the people, the environment, and the public we serve. 

WE ARE RESPONSIVE

Listening to our cultures, our industry and our profession, being reliable, flexible and equitable.

WE ARE COLLABORATIVE

Working with compassion, respecting each other, fostering equity and inclusiveness.   

WE ARE COURAGEOUS

Leading bravely, fairly, and transparently. Willing to reflect and open to learning how we can improve.  

 
 

The way we operate.

We are a volunteer-led registered Charitable Trust. We operate as a voluntary regulatory body, under governance processes that align with the Veterinary Council of New Zealand.

Participating in a voluntary regulation scheme is optional, and not required by New Zealand law.

What is voluntary regulation?

Learn more about the importance of voluntary regulation by clicking here.

 
 

  • We are a volunteer-led registered Charitable Trust. We operate as a voluntary regulatory body, under governance processes that align with the Veterinary Council of New Zealand. Our Terms of Reference can be seen here.

  • For the Council to command the confidence of all interested parties, it is necessary for the Council members to observe appropriate standards of conduct. The Council Member’s Code of Conduct can be seen here.

  • Anyone appointed or elected to the AVPRC Council or subsidiary committees, or attending meetings of said bodies, when privileged information may be discussed, must agree to keep such information confidential, and agree to non-disclosure of information. View the confidentiality and non-disclosure policy here.

  • Anyone appointed or elected to the AVPRC Council or subsidiary committees, or attending meetings of said bodies, when privileged information may be discussed, must declare all conflicts of interest that could potentially affect their ability to be, or to be perceived as being, neutral or impartial. There are a few steps we take to make sure conflicts of interest don’t affect the decision making. View the Conflict of Interest Policy here.

 

History

In 2014 the NZVNA Executive Committee created a regulation working committee tasked with initiating the move toward professional regulation of veterinary nurses. This working committee was given autonomy for operative governance within the NZVNA constitution to ensure minimal conflict of interest between the representative and regulatory branches of the organisation.

In 2015 the working committee adopted the name Allied Veterinary Professional Regulatory Council (AVPRC). The name was chosen to be inclusive of veterinary nurses, technicians, technologists, and allied animal healthcare professionals - encompassing both veterinary professionals like veterinary nurses and veterinary technicians as well as allied animal healthcare practitioners. The AVPRC developed a voluntary registration framework that launched in August 2015. In December 2015, there were 200 people on the new voluntary register. The register is still in place with more than 700 people applying to be on the register for 2020.

The AVPRC works closely with the Veterinary Council of New Zealand (VCNZ) and functions in a manner like the VCNZ with the aim that the two organisations will merge eventually when regulation is made statutory for allied veterinary professionals in New Zealand under the Veterinarians Act. Until then, the AVPRC will sit under NZVNA governance.

For more information on the New Zealand Veterinary Nursing Association website, here.