WHEN: 10 October, 2023
WHERE: NOVA, 122 Faulkner Street
WHO: Any member of the general public who work alongside animals in any capacity
RSVP: Bookings are essential by emailing animalethics@une.edu.au
Working with animals makes for a rich and meaningful career, but it can also be an occupational hazard.
Frequent exposure to trauma and stress as they seek to alleviate animal suffering and distress puts caring and compassionate people like farmers, veterinary staff and animal welfare officers at high risk of developing compassion fatigue.
The repeated grief and loss associated with their profession has contributed to high rates of suicide among veterinary staff, in particular, who are four times more likely to die by suicide than the national average.
They engage in work that can evoke deep positive and negative emotions, the mental and emotional tally of which can easily tip toward deficit and become the ‘cost of caring’.
Research in June 2022 found that six in 10 vets sought help for their mental health and nearly 70% had lost a colleague or peer to suicide. An increased risk of compassion fatigue, burnout and secondary traumatic stress exists in all animal-related occupations.
“People can witness animals in significant pain and distress, regularly observe animal euthanasia, and become involved in research, medical and remedial interventions,” said former veterinary technician and now compassion fatigue specialist therapist Dr Rebekah Scotney, from the University of Queensland.
“They engage in work that can evoke deep positive and negative emotions, the mental and emotional tally of which can easily tip toward deficit and become the ‘cost of caring’.”
Rebekah delivers workshops to help equip animal care workers for the difficult demands of their jobs. And on 10 October, the UNE Animal Ethics Committee is hosting a free three-hour workshop for members of the public at NOVA in Armidale.
Just being aware of the risk is a protective mechanism in itself and I give participants practical strategies to enhance health and wellbeing at the individual, team and organisational level.
“The aim of the workshop is to help people identify how occupational stress and compassion fatigue might manifest within themselves and their work environments,” Rebekah said.
“Just being aware of the risk is a protective mechanism in itself and I give participants practical strategies to enhance health and wellbeing at the individual, team and organisational level.”
The workshop will be from 5-8pm at NOVA, 122 Faulkner Street, and bookings are essential by emailing animalethics@une.edu.au Other sessions will be held during work hours on UNE’s Armidale campus from 9-11 October.
