NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE, No. 41

31 MARCH 2011

2. Competence to Practise

(a) Competency Standards

Pursuant to section 88(3) of the Veterinarians Act 2005, the council refers persons to the document "Competency Standards and Performance Indicators for Veterinarians" available on its website
www.vetcouncil.org.nz
and from the council’s office on request. This sets out the competency standards council expects veterinarians to meet, at the point of initial registration, and on an ongoing basis, and provides criteria against which an individual veterinarian’s performance may be measured.

(b) Recency of Practice

Non-recency of practice can impact on performance. All applicants for a practising certificate are required to provide the council with information on their recency of practice. In the following situations, the council, after consideration of the individual circumstances of the case, may propose to decline or place conditions upon the applicant’s practising certificate (section 26(3)(c)) for:

• those who have not practised as a veterinarian for the last three consecutive years, or have not practised as a veterinarian for the last three consecutive years in the area in which they intend to practise; and
• those who hold a recognised qualification or a pass in a prescribed examination or assessment programme (section 6) but have not:
  • practised as a veterinarian for one or more years subsequent to gaining registration; or
  • practised for one or more years in the area in which they intend to practise subsequent to gaining registration.

(c) Continuing Professional Development

The council requires all veterinarians to maintain and enhance their performance by engaging in continuing professional development activities. Pursuant to section 88(3) of the Veterinarians Act 2005, the council refers persons to the document "Continuing Professional Development – Guidance for Veterinarians" available on its website
www.vetcouncil.org.nz
and from the council’s office on request. This sets out the continuing professional development standards council expects veterinarians to meet.

Under section 25, when considering an application for a practising certificate, the council may require the applicant to provide any document or information that the council considers, on reasonable grounds, is necessary to assess his or her application.

The council will use this section to monitor veterinarian’s compliance with the continuing professional development declarations made in their annual practising certificate declarations. Section 26 may be used in situations of non-compliance.

*This notice replaces the notice published in the New Zealand Gazette, 25 February 2010, No. 22, page 520. The changes relate to:

• additions to the fitness to practise requirements to reflect:
  • any investigations, in New Zealand or overseas, by an employer, or registration or professional body or educational institution or other authority (eg racing authority) relating to any matter that may be the subject of disciplinary proceedings; or
  • Veterinarians Act 2005, section 50(1)(a) grounds for discipline;
• the council’s decision to amend its consideration of the situation of veterinarians with non-recency of practice from five to three years, consistent with the provisions of the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003; and
• the council’s decision to require all veterinarians to engage in activities to maintain and enhance their performance and to monitor compliance.*

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New Zealand Gazette 2011 Deadlines

Easter Deadlines—22 April 2011 and 25 April 2011

and

Anzac Day, 25 April 2011

New Zealand Gazette Edition—28 April 2011

Commercial Section Notices: (Companies, Partnership, Insolvency and Land Transfer Acts)

The deadline for these notices will be 12.00 midday on Thursday 21 April 2011, due to the observance of Good Friday on 22 April 2011 and Easter Monday/Anzac Day on 25 April 2011.

All other notices must be lodged at the New Zealand Gazette office by 12.00 midday on Tuesday 26 April 2011.

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