Veterinary Practice Act 1997

The Board must grant general registration as a veterinary practitioner to an applicant if—

the applicant is qualified for registration under section 5; and

the Board is satisfied that the applicant's principal place of residence is in Victoria or will be in Victoria while the applicant practises as a veterinary practitioner; and

there are no grounds under subsection (2) under which the Board may refuse to grant registration to the applicant; and

the circumstances are such that section 7 does not apply; and

the applicant has paid the fee determined by the Board under section 4(2)(d).

For the purposes of subsection (1)(ab), the Board must have regard to—

whether the applicant's residence in Victoria is the applicant's sole residence; and

every place of residence of the applicant in Australia.

Without limiting this Part, the Board must refuse to grant registration as a veterinary practitioner to an applicant if it is satisfied that—

the applicant has applied for and been refused an interstate right to practise; and

the basis on which the applicant was refused that right has not changed as at the time of the applicant's application under this Act.

Without limiting this Part, the Board must also refuse to grant general registration to an applicant who, under a law of another State or a Territory, has been disqualified from applying, or is not entitled to apply, for a right to carry on or engage in veterinary practice in that State or Territory, being the equivalent of registration as a veterinary practitioner under this Act.

The Board may refuse to grant registration to an applicant on any one or more of the following grounds—

that the character of the applicant is such that it would not be in the public interest to allow the applicant to practise as a registered veterinary practitioner;

that the applicant is unfit to practise as a registered veterinary practitioner because he or she has a severe substance dependence;

that the applicant has been found guilty of an indictable offence in Victoria or an equivalent offence in another jurisdiction within a period of 10 years preceding the application;

that the applicant has been found guilty of an offence where the ability of the applicant to practise is likely to be affected because of the finding of guilt or where it is not in the public interest to allow the applicant to practise because of the finding of guilt;

that the applicant has previously been registered under this Act or the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1958 and during the course of that registration has had proceedings under Part 3 or similar proceedings under the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1958 brought against him or her and those proceedings have never been finalised;

that, in the opinion of the Board, the applicant is unfit to be registered because he or she has a physical or mental impairment which significantly impairs his or her ability to practise as a registered veterinary practitioner;

that the applicant's competency in speaking and communicating in English is not sufficient for that person to practise as a registered veterinary practitioner;

that, in the case of an applicant in respect of whom a determination of a panel has been made under section 45(2A)(a)(i), that the applicant has not undergone the counselling as specified in the determination of the panel;

that, in the case of an applicant in respect of whom a determination of a panel has been made under section 45(2A)(a)(ii), that the applicant has not undertaken further education in accordance with the determination of the panel;

that, in the case of an applicant in respect of whom a determination of a panel has been made under section 45(2A)(a)(iii), the applicant has not complied with the undertaking about the person's conduct as a veterinary practitioner;

that, in the case of an applicant in respect of whom a determination of a panel has been made under section 45(2A)(d), that the period for which the applicant is not entitled to re-apply for registration has not expired;

that the applicant has previously held a right to practise as a veterinary practitioner outside Victoria, being the equivalent of registration as a veterinary practitioner under this Act, and that right has been cancelled or suspended and not restored because of conduct which, if committed within Victoria, would entitle the Board to suspend or cancel registration.

A grant of registration under this section is subject to any conditions, limitations or restrictions that the Board thinks fit.

The Board may, upon application by the registered veterinary practitioner, amend, vary or revoke any condition, limitation or restriction imposed under subsection (3).