The Australian Veterinary Association (AVA) is a not-for-profit association representing more than 7000 Australian

veterinarians A veterinarian (vet) or veterinary surgeon is a medical professional who practices veterinary medicine. They manage a wide range of health conditions and injuries in non-human animals. Along with this, veterinarians also play a role in animal r ...

working in private practice, government, industry, and academia. The AVA was mooted before the First World War but not founded until 1921. The nineteenth century predecessor organisation was the Australasian Veterinary Medical Association. Prominent veterinarians who have been members of the Australian Veterinary Association include Professor J.D. Stewart (who was the first AVA President),

Ian Clunies Ross Sir William Ian Clunies Ross (22 February 189920 June 1959) was an Australian veterinary scientist. He has been described as the "architect" of Australia's scientific boom, for his stewardship of the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Re ...

(former head of the CSIRO), and parasitologist Hugh Gordon. The AVA provides information resources, continuing education opportunities, publications, public education programs, and professional support. The AVA also lobbies government on a number of fronts. Special interest groups have existed within the AVA since the early 1960s. These include groups dedicated to equine medicine, cattle, practice management, avian health, sheep, conservation and animal welfare. Some of the special interest groups publish their own peer reviewed journals. The Australian Veterinary History Society is a division of the association. Recent lobbying efforts include, HECS debt relief for rural veterinarians, mental health awareness in the veterinary profession, advocating for veterinarians as essential services during the COVID-19 pandemic and research into the deadly

Hendra Virus Hendra virus (''Henipavirus hendraense'') is a zoonotic virus found solely in Australia. First isolated in 1994, the virus has since been connected to numerous outbreaks of disease in domestic horses and seven human cases. Hendra virus belongs to ...

. The AVA has published the ''Australian Veterinary Journal'' since 1925.

Past and current presidents

*2024 - current: Dr Sally Colgan *2023-2024: Dr Diana Barker *2023: Dr Alistair Webb (resigned August 2023) *2022–2023: Dr Bronwyn Orr *2020–2022: Dr Warwick Vale *2019–2020: Dr Julia Crawford *2017–2019: Dr Paula Parker *2015–2017: Dr Robert Johnson *2012–2014: Dr Ben Gardiner *2010–2012: Dr Barry Smyth *2008–2010: Dr Mark Lawrie *2007–2008: Dr Dianne Sheehan *2006–2007: Dr Kersti Seksel *2005–2006: Dr Matt Makin *2004–2005: Dr Norm Blackman *2002–2003: Dr Joanne Sillince *2001–2002: Dr Robert Baker *2000–2001: Dr Ian Denney *1999–2000: Dr Garth McGilvray *1998–1999: Dr Geoffrey Niethe *1997–1998: Dr Roger Clarke *1996–1997: Dr Bill Scanlan *1995–1996: Dr Pamela Scanlon *1994–1995: Dr Michael Banyard *1993–1994: Dr Jakob Malmo *1991–1992: Dr John Plant *1989–1990: Dr Ian Fairnie *1988–1989: Professor Mary Barton *1987–1988: Dr Russell Duigan *1986–1987: Dr Terence Collins *1985–1986: Dr David Lindsay *1983–1984: Dr Jack Arundel *1982–1983: Dr Helen Jones *1981–1982: Dr Bryan Woolcock *1980–1981: Dr William Pryor *1978–1979: Dr Ian Pearson *1966–1967: Dr Bruce Eastick

Past notable board members

* Sam McMahon, an Australian politician for the

Country Liberal Party The Country Liberal Party of the Northern Territory (CLP), commonly known as the Country Liberals, is a centre-right and conservative political party in Australia's Northern Territory. In territory politics, it operates in a two-party system wi ...

and a

Senator A senate is a deliberative assembly, often the upper house or Legislative chamber, chamber of a bicameral legislature. The name comes from the Ancient Rome, ancient Roman Senate (Latin: ''Senatus''), so-called as an assembly of the senior ...

for the

Northern Territory The Northern Territory (abbreviated as NT; known formally as the Northern Territory of Australia and informally as the Territory) is an states and territories of Australia, Australian internal territory in the central and central-northern regi ...

in the

Parliament of Australia The Parliament of Australia (officially the Parliament of the Commonwealth and also known as the Federal Parliament) is the federal legislature of Australia. It consists of three elements: the Monarchy of Australia, monarch of Australia (repr ...

in 2019, served on the board from 2004-2009.

References

{{authority control Veterinary medicine-related professional associations Professional associations based in Australia 1921 establishments in Australia Veterinary organizations Veterinary medicine in Australia