SafetyNet PetAssist, a regional veterinary assistance program, has expanded to Tasmania and Port Macquarie.
SafetyNet PetAssist™, co-designed by PetSure, VetPartners and VetChat, launched in late 2024 and has since supported more than 350 pets and delivered $260,000 worth of veterinary care. It has also helped 35 pets avoid euthanasia where cost was a determining factor.
Dr Simone Maher, Chief Veterinary Officer at PetSure, said access to veterinary care should be considered a broader social issue.
“Ensuring pets receive the treatment they need is not a veterinary issue, it’s a community issue. Healthy pets and healthy people contribute to a healthy society. To improve equity in access to veterinary care, we must think beyond existing frameworks and be prepared to embrace change.”
The initiative offers free 24/7 telehealth consultations and subsidised in-clinic treatment for urgent and essential cases. It is aimed at pet carers facing financial hardship, including people receiving Centrelink or Department of Veterans’ Affairs support, and those holding a health care or pensioner concession card. Organisers say the model is designed to reduce mobility, financial and geographical barriers that can prevent animals from receiving timely treatment.
According to Dr. Maher, the program’s care paradigm now heavily relies on telehealth.
“Veterinary telehealth helps break down barriers of distance, mobility, and often cost when thoughtfully integrated to complement existing care frameworks, allowing pet owners to seek advice sooner and prioritize early intervention, potentially preventing small issues from escalating.”
The program’s creators claim that by providing more flexible work arrangements, the advantages also extend to veterinary professionals. Clinic shifts can coexist with telehealth positions, which they claim may lessen stress and enhance wellbeing.
