Since launching in Tasmania in November 2025, PetSafetyNet has already supported 100 pets and their people - and it’s just getting started.
Through RACT’s GapOnly®^ partnership, policyholders with pet insurance from RACT, together with petinsurance.com.au, are helping support PetSafetyNet, with $1 from every GapOnly® claim contributing to the program.
What is PetSafetyNet?
PetSafetyNet is a collaborative program, co-funded by PetSure and VetPartners. Eligible pet carers can access 24/7 veterinary telehealth through VetChat and be referred to local participating VetPartners clinics for subsidised urgent or essential veterinary care.
The program provides:
Quick online eligibility verification
Free 24/7 veterinary telehealth support through VetChat
Subsidised urgent or essential in-clinic veterinary care in many cases<
The Tasmanian story of Mr Burns and Sophie
For Mr Burns, PetSafetyNet helped make urgent veterinary treatment possible for his dog Sophie, a nine-year-old Maltese.
Sophie needed eye removal surgery, the cost of which was difficult for Mr Burns to manage. Through PetSafetyNet, Sophie was able to receive the treatment she needed.
For Mr Burns and his family, Sophie is much more than a pet. She is a deeply loved companion whose presence brings comfort, connection and routine each day. His daughter shared, “Your program means so much to us. We are so grateful.”
The local veterinary team who treated Sophie said, “Seeing Sophie head home safely, and the smile on Mr Burns’ face when they were reunited, was incredibly moving for our entire team.”
It’s one example of how PetSafetyNet is helping Tasmanian pet carers access care for the animals who mean so much to them.
Local clinics making a difference
PetSafetyNet is delivered in partnership with VetPartners, one of Australia's largest networks of veterinary clinics. VetPartners brings together local teams committed to providing quality care in their communities, and their support is central to making PetSafetyNet possible on the ground.
In Tasmania, PetSafetyNet is available through participating VetPartners clinics, including Montrose Vet Centre, New Norfolk Vet Centre, Spreyton Veterinary Services, Launceston Veterinary Clinic, Burnie Veterinary Centre and North West Veterinary Centre.
Dan Wiggins, Regional Manager for the participating Tasmanian clinics, said his teams are proud to be part of the program:
“We’ve seen some really positive outcomes through PetSafetyNet in Tasmania. It’s helping local pet carers access care they may not otherwise have been able to afford.”
Who is eligible?
Pet carers may be eligible if they:
Have a dog or cat
Are experiencing financial hardship
Receive a Centrelink or DVA payment
Hold a Health Care Card or Pension Concession Card
Are aged 18 or over and live in participating local government areas
Do not currently hold pet insurance
Do you know someone who might be doing it tough and needs help accessing veterinary care for their pet? Visit the PetSafetyNet website for the full details.
How RACT pet insurance policyholders are helping
For every GapOnly® claim made on an RACT together with petinsurance.com.au policy, $1 goes towards PetSafetyNet.
This means by holding a pet insurance policy with us, you're helping to give back to those in need. It’s keeping pets where they belong, with the people who love them, turning everyday claims into meaningful community impact.
Petinsurance.com.au policies entered into for the first time on or after 7 November 2023 and subsequent renewals of those policies are issued by PetSure (Australia) Pty Ltd ABN 95 075 949 923, AFSL 420183 (PetSure) and promoted and distributed by PetSure’s Authorised Representatives (AR) Pet Insurance Pty Ltd ABN 38 607 160 930, AR 1234944 (PIPL) and The Royal Automobile Club of Tasmania Limited ABN 62 009 475 861, AR 228578. Petinsurance.com.au policies entered into for the first time prior to 7 November 2023 and subsequent renewals of those policies are issued by The Hollard Insurance Company Pty Ltd ABN 78 090 584 473, AFSL 241436, arranged and administered by PetSure (Australia) Pty Ltd ABN 95 075 949 923, AFSL 420183 (PetSure) and promoted and distributed by PIPL. Any advice provided is general only and does not take into account your individual objectives, financial situation or needs. Please consider the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) to ensure this product meets your needs before purchasing, or choosing to continue with the product. PDS and Target Market Determination available at petinsurance.com.au.
<PetSafetyNet is a trademark owned by PetSure (Australia) Pty Ltd ABN 95 075 949 923. AFSL 420183 (PetSure). For more information and the terms and conditions for PetSafetyNet, visit the Terms of Service available petsafetynet.com.au/safetynet-terms-of-service/. Eligibility criteria, outlined in the Terms of Service, apply.
^The gap means the difference between the vet’s invoice and the eligible claim benefit under your policy. GapOnly® is a trademark owned by PetSure (Australia) Pty Ltd ABN 95 075 949 923, AFSL 420183 (PetSure). Insurance products are issued by The Hollard Insurance Company Pty Ltd ABN 78 090 584 473, AFSL 241436 (Hollard) and/or PetSure (from 8 May 2023 only), administered by PetSure and promoted and distributed through their authorised representatives and distribution partners. Any advice provided is general only and does not take into account your individual objectives, financial situation or needs. Cover is subject to policy terms and conditions. Please consider the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) to ensure this product meets your needs before purchasing, or choosing to continue with the product. PDS and Target Market Determination available on our partners' websites. Meet our partners at petsure.com.au/partners.^Policy terms and conditions apply. GapOnly® is only available at participating vets. Please visit gaponly.com.au to search for GapOnly® enabled vets. GapOnly® is a trademark owned by PetSure (Australia) Pty Ltd (PetSure) (ABN 95 075 949 923, AFSL 420183).