Requirements

A veterinary services provider (VSP) is defined by section 3(1) of the Veterinary Practice Act 2003 (VP Act) as “a person (not being a veterinary surgeon) who provides veterinary treatment through the instrumentality of a veterinary surgeon”.

A VSP may be a body corporate, company, trust or other legal entity, or a person not registered as a veterinary surgeon.

Information to be given to Veterinary Surgeons Board of South Australia by Veterinary Services Provider

As per section 50 of the VP Act, a veterinary services provider must –

(a) in the case of a person who was a veterinary services provider immediately before the commencement of this section – within 60 days of that commencement; and

(b) in any other case – within 60 days of becoming a veterinary services provider

– give to the Board, in writing-

(c) the provider’s full name and business or (in the case of a corporation) registered address;

(d) the address of the premises at which the provider provides veterinary treatment;

(e) the full names and business addresses of the veterinary surgeons through the instrumentality of whom the provider is providing veterinary treatment;

(f) if the provider is a trust or corporate entity that has not been exempted by the regulations from the requirements of this paragraph – the full names and addresses of all persons who occupy a position of authority in the trust or corporate entity.

Maximum penalty: $10 000.

(2) A veterinary services provider must, within 30 days of any change occurring in the particulars required to be given under subsection (1), inform the Board in writing of the change.

Maximum penalty: $10 000.

(3) The Board must keep a record of information provided to the Board under this section available for inspection, on payment of the prescribed fee, by any person during ordinary office hours at the office of the Board and may make the record available to the public by electronic means.

The VSBSA is required by the VP Act to keep a record of information relating to VSPs.

All VSPs are required to complete Form 10.

A VSP must lodge a completed Form 10 within 60 days of becoming a VSP.

If there are any changes to the information provided to the VSBSA, the VSP must advise the VSBSA of those changes within 30 days.

Downloads

Improper directions by veterinary services providers

Section 51 of the VP Act provides that:

(1) If a person who provides veterinary treatment through the instrumentality of a veterinary surgeon directs or pressures the veterinary surgeon to act unlawfully, improperly, negligently or unfairly in relation to the provision of veterinary treatment, the person is guilty of an offence.

Maximum penalty: $20 000

(2) If a person who occupies a position of authority in a trust or corporate entity that provides veterinary treatment through the instrumentality of a veterinary surgeon directs or pressures the veterinary surgeon to act unlawfully, improperly, negligently or unfairly in relation to the provision of veterinary treatment, the person and the entity are each guilty of an offence.

Maximum penalty: $20 000

Fee

The VSBSA’s 2025 annual listing fee for a VSP is $655

Veterinary Service Providers Information Sheet

Working to ensure those in the profession achieve and maintain high professional standards of competence and conduct in their provision of veterinary treatment.

Correspondence Policy

We recommend using our postal address if your correspondence is sensitive and/or includes hard copy or confidential attachments (such as photos or documents). Please ensure you include a return postal address.

Our approach
When we perform our work, we aim to be fair, impartial, consistent, respectful, courteous.

How you can help us
To allow us to perform our work effectively and efficiently, we expect that you will familiarise yourself with our correspondence policy, give us accurate and complete information, treat us with respect and courtesy.

We aim to respond to correspondence, where required, within 20 working days of receipt.

Sometimes the matters raised in correspondence are complex and require detailed investigation in which case our response time will be longer.

There may be occasions where the issues you raise are outside our responsibilities. In this case we will refer you to the appropriate organisation or government department/agency. We encourage you to check to see if your issue is within our jurisdiction before you correspond with us. For example, if your enquiry relates to the ability of a veterinary surgeon to obtain, possess, prescribe or dispense Schedule 4 drugs, please direct your enquiry to the Office of the Chief Pharmacist: SAPharmacy@health.sa.gov.au. If your enquiry relates to the ability of a veterinary surgeon to obtain, possess, prescribe or dispense Schedule 8 drugs, please direct your enquiry to SA Health: HealthDrugsofDependenceUnit@sa.gov.au

We do not provide legal advice or personal advisory services to members of the community, veterinary services providers or veterinary surgeons.

We will only respond to items where we are the primary recipient. We will not respond to correspondence where we have been included as a carbon copy.

We will delete unsolicited advertisements without response.

We will not respond to correspondence containing offensive language or content.

We will forward any correspondence containing threatening content or advocating illegal activities to South Australia Police.

Your correspondence, once received, will become an official record of the Veterinary Surgeons Board of South Australia.