Victorian Consolidated Legislation

VETERINARY PRACTICE ACT 1997

No. 58 of 1997
Version incorporating amendments as at 22 February 2008

TABLE OF PROVISIONS

           Section Page

   PART 1-PRELIMINARY

   1.      Purposes
   2.      Commencement
   3.      Definitions

   PART 2-REGISTRATION

           Division 1-Procedure for obtaining registration

   4.      Application for registration
   5.      Qualifications for general registration
   6.      General registration
   7.      Specific registration
   7A.     Non-practising registration
   8.      Endorsement of registration as a specialist practitioner
   9.      Entitlement of applicant to make submissions
   10.     Notification of outcome of application
   11.     Duration and renewal of registration
   12.     Application for renewal of and refusal to renew registration
   13.     Restoration of name to the register
   14.     Effect of suspension of registration
   15.     Registration obtained by fraud

           Division 2-The Register

   16.     The Register
   17.     Certificates
   18.     Use of certificate as evidence
   19.     Requirement to notify the Board of change of address

   PART 3-INVESTIGATIONS INTO REGISTERED VETERINARY PRACTITIONERS

           Division 1-Preliminary investigations into professional conduct

   20.     Complaints about the conduct of registered veterinary practitioners
   21.     When complaints about professional conduct are to be investigated by the Board
   22.     Outcome of preliminary investigation
   23.     Power of Board to institute a hearing into professional
           conduct
   24.     Suspension of registration upon commencement of
           investigation

           Division 2-Preliminary investigation into the health of
           registered veterinary practitioners

   25.     Commencement of preliminary investigation
   26.     Notification to veterinary practitioner
   27.     Examination as to health of practitioner
   28.     Report of examination
   29.     Outcome of preliminary investigation
   30.     Referral to formal hearing
   31.     Request for conditions, limitations or restrictions
   32.     Repealed
   33.     Immediate suspension of registration

           Division 3-Formal and informal hearings

   34.     Establishment and notification of an informal hearing
   35.     Constitution of a panel for an informal hearing
   36.     Notice of an informal hearing
   37.     Conduct of an informal hearing
   38.     Findings and determinations of an informal hearing
   39.     Change of informal hearing to formal hearing during course
           of hearing
   40.     Request for formal hearing upon completion of informal
           hearing
   41.     Establishment and notification of formal hearing
   42.     Constitution of a hearing panel for a formal hearing
   43.     Notice of a formal hearing
   43A.    Preliminary conferences
   43B.    Requirements as to attendance at preliminary conference
   44.     Conduct of a formal hearing
   45.     Findings and determinations of a formal hearing into conduct
   46.     Findings and determinations of a formal hearing into ability
           to practise

           Division 4-General provisions relating to investigations

   47.     Procedure at formal and informal hearings
   48.     Powers of panel conducting a formal hearing
   49.     Determinations
   50.     Removal of suspension, condition, limitation or restriction
   50A.    Agreements to amend, vary or revoke conditions or revoke suspensions
   51.     Reasons for determinations of panel or Board
   52.     Notifications
   53.     Offence to disclose information identifying complainant
   54.     Terms and conditions of appointment of panel members

   PART 4-REVIEW BY VICTORIAN CIVIL AND ADMINISTRATIVE TRIBUNAL

   55.     Review by Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal
   56.     Notification

   PART 5-OFFENCES

   57.     Claims by persons as to registration
   58.     Fraud, forgery etc.
   58A.    Offence to direct or incite unprofessional conduct
   59.     Advertising
   60.     Exemptions

   PART 6-ADMINISTRATION

   61.     Establishment of Board
   62.     Powers, functions and consultation requirements
   63.     Membership of the Board
   64.     Terms of office
   65.     Resignation and removal
   66.     President and Deputy President
   67.     Acting member
   68.     Payment of members
   69.     Procedure of Board
   70.     Member's interests
   71.     Resolutions without meetings
   72.     Approved methods of communication for Board
   73.     Effect of vacancy or defect
   74.     Immunity
   75.     Staff
   76.     Delegation
   77.     Secrecy

   PART 7-REPORTING AND FINANCIAL PROVISIONS

   78.     Veterinary Practitioners Registration Board Fund
   79.     Investment powers

   PART 8-ENFORCEMENT AND SUPPLEMENTARY
   POWERS

   80.     Proceedings for offences
   81.     Identification
   82.     Powers of entry with warrant
   83.     Announcement before entry
   84.     Copy of warrant to be given to occupier
   85.     Copies or receipts to be given
   86.     Powers of Board in relation to fees

   PART 9-GENERAL

   87.     Supreme Court-limitation of jurisdiction
   88.     Regulations

   PART 10-SAVINGS, TRANSITIONAL AND AMENDMENTS

           Division 1-Savings and transitional

   89.     Definitions
   90.     Repeal
   91.     Board succeeds old Board
   92.     Proceedings before the old Board
   93.     Application of this Act to conduct occurring before commencement of this Act
   94.     Existing registrations
   95.     Preparation of annual report

           Division 2-Consequential amendments

   96.     Consequential amendments
           __________________
           SCHEDULE-Consequential Amendments
           1. Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals (Control of Use) Act 1992.
           2. Domestic (Feral and Nuisance) Animals Act 1994.
           3. Drugs, Poisons and Controlled Substances Act 1981.
           4. Evidence Act 1958.
           5. Health Act 1958.
           6. Livestock Disease Control Act 1994.
           7. Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1986.
           8. Stock (Seller Liability and Declarations) Act 1993.
           9. Therapeutic Goods (Victoria) Act 1994.
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           ENDNOTES
           1. General Information
           2. Table of Amendments
           3. Explanatory Details
           INDEX