Victorian Current Acts

VETERINARY PRACTICE ACT 1997

TABLE OF PROVISIONS

   PART 1--PRELIMINARY

   1.      Purposes  
   2.      Commencement  
   3.      Definitions  
   3A.     Deemed general registration  
   3B.     Deemed specialist endorsement  
   3C.     Governor in Council may approve an approved person  

   PART 2--REGISTRATION

           Division 1--Procedure for obtaining registration

   4.      Application for registration  
   5.      Qualifications for general registration  
   6.      General registration  
   7.      Specific registration  
   7AA.    Cancellation of specific registration if practitioner unable to comply with condition  
   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  
   14A.    Registration may be surrendered  
   15.     Registration obtained by fraud  

           Division 2--The Register

   16.     The Register  
   16A.    Board may remove particulars of persons no longer registered or holding a specialist endorsement  
   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, or imposition of conditions on, registration on decision to conduct investigation or hearing into conduct of veterinary practitioner  

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

   25.     Commencement of preliminary investigation  
   26.     Notification to veterinary practitioner  
   26A.    Suspension of, or imposition of conditions on, registration if preliminary investigation to be conducted on health etc. of 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  
   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  
   47A.    Conferences, meetings or hearings may be held by remote means.  
   48.     Powers of panel conducting a formal hearing  
   49.     Determinations  
   50.     Revocation of suspension or removal of 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.     Offences to disclose information identifying complainant or witness  
   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.     Duty of confidentiality  

   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  
   80A.    Appointment of persons  
   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  
   86A.    Infringement notices  

   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  

   PART 11--SAVINGS AND TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS ARISING FROM AMENDING ACTS

   96.     Transitional provision—Primary Industries Legislation Amendment Act 2014  
   97.     Primary Industries Legislation Amendment Act 2016—Transitional provision  
   98.     Transitional provisions—Agriculture Legislation Amendment Act 2022  
           ENDNOTES