Section 72 of the Veterinary Practice Act 2018 (the Act) requires that all veterinary premises in the ACT must be approved for use by the Board annually.
Premises inspections
All premises will undergo inspections by the Board every four years to ensure compliance with the minimum acceptable requirements for veterinary premises, as set out in the Veterinary Premises Standards and self-assessment checklist.
Apply for registration
Application to register a veterinary premises: For all veterinary premises registrations.
The services performed at the veterinary premises will determine the requirements and the type of registration granted by the Board. The categories for veterinary premises, as listed in the Act, are provided below:
- Veterinary consulting room - means premises where a restricted act of veterinary science (other than major veterinary surgery or emergency care) may be carried out;
- Veterinary clinic - means premises where a restricted act of veterinary science, including major veterinary surgery, may be carried out;
- Mobile veterinary clinic - means a vehicle, including a trailer, that may be moved from one location to another, and is modified to operate as a veterinary clinic;
- Veterinary hospital - means premises where a restricted act of veterinary science, including major veterinary surgery and emergency care, may be carried out, and a higher level of diagnostic facilities than are available at a veterinary clinic is provided; and
- Mobile veterinary hospital - means a vehicle, including a trailer, that may be moved from one location to another, and is modified to operate as a veterinary hospital.
Home visits
If you are a veterinary practitioner performing home visits you do not have to complete a full application for premises registration. Please submit page 3 of the premises registration application form and a letter from a registered premises agreeing that they will take any referred cases.
Renew premises registration
The registration period is from 1 July to 30 June. Registration renewal reminders will be emailed to the appointed superintendent of the premises.
Registration must be renewed (and the prescribed fee paid) between 1 May and 30 June each year online. See annual renewal - veterinary premises.
Changes of details
Applicants must notify the Board in writing within 14 days of a change of information provided in this application. The notification of change of details form is to be used to update:
- a premises name;
- transfer premises registration to another registration holder;
- a registration holder’s name or address; or
- nature of services provided at a veterinary hospital.
Registration applies to the actual premises, so if you are re-locating a hospital from one premises to another you must submit a new application to register a veterinary premises and you must notify the Board of the cancellation of the existing registration.
Appoint a superintendent
All veterinary premises must have a superintendent. If the premises registration holder wishes to appoint a new superintendent, please use the appointment of a superintendent of a registered veterinary premises form.
The application process
Applications for registration will generally be considered by the Board at their next scheduled meeting. Applications need to be received 10 days prior to the Board meetings. Applications for premises registration will be confirmed in writing along with your electronic Certificate of Premises Registration.
Should you require registration prior to the next scheduled Board meeting, you may apply for your application to be considered by the Board out-of-session. Please note it can take up to 10 working days for applications to be considered out-of-session. An additional fee applies for out-of-session consideration and the cost can be found in the fees and charges schedule.
Submit your application
Forms can be submitted in one of the following ways:
Email: TCCS.vetboard@act.gov.au
Please note: there is a 10MB limit for each email received at this address. You may wish to split up documents that go over this limit into several emails or use a Dropbox link. The Secretariat will confirm receipt of your application.
Mail:
ACT Registrar
ACT Veterinary Practitioners Board
GPO Box 158
CANBERRA ACT 2601
Signage - Complaints
Under the Human Rights Commission Act 2005, each veterinary practice is required to provide information about the complaint process to its customers. Section 95 legally requires all veterinary premises in the ACT to provide information in a prominent position at the premises to clients about their right to make complaints. Failure to display is an offence under their Act and has a penalty of 5 penalty units.
Download the relevant sign for display here: complaints notice (PDF 425KB).
