Saturday, 27th April, is World Veterinary Day, and the theme set by the World Veterinary Association is validating vets as Essential Health Workers.

To mark the occasion and raise awareness (and funds) for the essential work they do, Byron Bay Wildlife Hospital (BBWH) is hosting a comedy night on the 26th of April.

Stand-up comedian and radio host Lehmo will headline the event, the aim of which is to ”shed light on the mental health and workforce challenges faced by Australia’s veterinary professionals.”

“Laughter is powerful medicine, and I hope to make people feel good while addressing the serious struggles within the veterinary industry,” said Lehmo.

Dr. Stephen Van Mil, Founder and CEO of Byron Bay Wildlife Hospital, highlighted the shared challenges across the veterinary sector, including constraints unique to wildlife hospitals. Dr Van Mil said, “Like our general practice vet colleagues, we are only human, and do our best to get native animals back to health into the wild where they belong.”

“One unique challenge we face is lack of operational funding because native animals don’t have private owners.”

The veterinary health sector has been facing some uphill battles as reported in the Parliamentary Inquiry in 2023 which addressed the workforce shortage in NSW's veterinary sector, recognising its broader societal implications. The mental health issues experienced in the sector is discussed in the podcast series “Sick as a Dog”, by award winning journalist, Caroline Winter. 

“This crisis is claiming lives and impacting animal welfare. This isn’t just a problem for the industry, it’s a problem for all of us – whether you’re a pet owner, wildlife lover, latte drinker, or work on the land, then you need vets, and they need you,” said Winter.

Dr. Stephen Van Mil, was at the parliamentary enquiry and said, “There is an estimated shortage in Australia of around 1,500 vets and we have one of the highest occurrences of domestic pet ownership in the world which exacerbates the problem.”

Russell Mills, the BBWH General Manager says, “The BBWH treats approximately 100 sick, injured or orphaned animals a week at an average cost of $550 per visit. We operate every day of the week and employ the equivalent of 3 full time vets and 4 full time vet nurses to care for the animals.”

The aim of World Vet Day is to highlight the vital role of veterinarians and vet nurses in promoting overall well-being, both for animals and humans

For stat lovers, BBWH reports:

-      23% of animals that are admitted to the hospital have been hit by cars

-      60% of the animals they see are avian “Most of the animals we see are birds, followed by mammals, then reptiles and amphibians,” says Russell.

-      They have cared for over 6000 animals in the 3 years they have been open.

-      42% of the animals go into care or are successfully able to be released back into the wild.

The fundraiser, “Standup for Vets + Wildlife” takes place on Friday 26th April. The program includes a panel discussion, silent auction, and screenings of Wildlife Rescue Australia and the cult series “Wilfred” featuring actor and writer Adam Zwar, who will also appear live at the event. Proceeds aid the provision of veterinary care for sick, injured and orphaned wildlife at Byron Bay Wildlife Hospital seven days a week.

Get your tickets here!