CVS Australia launches Nursing Advisory Committee
20 August 2025
CVS Australia has launched a new Nursing Advisory Committee to empower veterinary nurses across its 45 companion animal practices. It offers a supportive platform where nurses can share insights, promote wellbeing, and help shape the future of veterinary care.
The committee is chaired by Tara Ryan, CVS Australia’s Chief Veterinary Nursing Officer, and includes a representative from each state to champion the voices of nurses across CVS Australia. Alexandra Lakes, Veterinary Nurse at Pet Universe in Adelaide, will oversee the initiative as nursing lead.
Designed to inform group-wide decisions, the committee will play a key role in reviewing and trialling equipment and products before they’re rolled out across practices, ensuring they’re nurse-approved and clinically effective.
One of the first initiatives is a quality improvement project focused on antimicrobial stewardship and infection control. Using a synthetic germ powder that glows under UV light, this will support practice teams to assess and enhance infection control processes in their practices to improve safety for both patients and colleagues.
A major focus will be reviewing how nurses are using their skills within clinics, to support and enhance career satisfaction and development. This project also aims to support nurses and their managers to map out progression and identify development opportunities within CVS Australia’s practice and operational teams.
Nurses across CVS Australia can also take part in its nursing journal club, providing an opportunity to connect with nurses across Australia and the UK, and supporting nurses to remain at the forefront of clinical research.
Tara Ryan, Chief Veterinary Nursing Officer at CVS Australia, said:
“I’m really excited to work with our talented and passionate nurses to help shape the future of veterinary nursing in Australia. This committee is about giving our nurses a voice, listening, learning and supporting them to be the nurse they want to be.”
