Vet Care in Remote Australia

By Kay Hisano | Dated July 1, 2025

Can you imagine living an eight-hour drive away from the nearest vet? If your pet needed help, could you drop everything for two days just to access basic healthcare? This is the reality for many Australians living in remote communities.

Last week, Dr John had the privilege of working with Animal Management in Remote and Rural Indigenous Communities (AMRRIC) to provide vital veterinary care for pets in Kalka, Pipalyatjara, and Amata—three communities located in the remote northwest of South Australia, on the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) lands.

These communities typically only receive veterinary services every 6 to 12 months due to their extreme isolation. So the visit was deeply appreciated by local residents. Much of the work involved parasite control, population surveys, and desexing both male and female animals to help manage community dog and cat numbers and reduce dog aggression.

Because animals are so important in these communities—emotionally, culturally, and for safety—all veterinary work was done with full owner consent and to a high standard of field medicine and surgery.

AMRRIC does an incredible job improving the wellbeing of animals and the people who care for them. If you’re in a position to support their work, you can donate here:
👉 https://givenow.amrric.org

If you’d like to hear more about Dr John’s experience, feel free to ask him next time you’re in the clinic!