# Australian Veterinary Association > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Australian_Veterinary_Association > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Australian_Veterinary_Association.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_Veterinary_Association > Source revision: 1356729716 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Australian professional association The **Australian Veterinary Association** (**AVA**) is a not-for-profit association representing more than 7000 Australian [veterinarians](/source/Veterinarians) working in private practice, government, industry, and academia.[1] 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.[2][3] 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](/source/Ian_Clunies_Ross) (former head of the CSIRO), and parasitologist [Hugh Gordon](/source/Hugh_Gordon_(parasitologist)).[4] 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](/source/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.[5] Recent lobbying efforts include, HECS debt relief for rural veterinarians,[6] mental health awareness in the veterinary profession,[7] advocating for veterinarians as essential services during the COVID-19 pandemic and research into the deadly [Hendra Virus](/source/Henipavirus). The AVA has published the *Australian Veterinary Journal* since 1925.[8][9] ## Past and current presidents - 2025– present: Dr Gemma Chuck - 2024–2025: Dr Sally Colgan - 2023–2024: Dr Diana Barker [10] - 2023: Dr Alistair Webb (resigned August 2023) - 2022–2023: Dr Bronwyn Orr - 2020–2022: Dr Warwick Vale - 2019–2020: Dr Julia Crawford[11] - 2017–2019: Dr Paula Parker[12] - 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](/source/Sam_McMahon), an Australian politician for the [Country Liberal Party](/source/Country_Liberal_Party) and a [Senator](/source/Senator) for the [Northern Territory](/source/Northern_Territory) in the [Parliament of Australia](/source/Parliament_of_Australia) in 2019, served on the board from 2004-2009.[13] ## References 1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["The Australian Veterinary Association"](http://www.ava.com.au). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20110723052420/http://www.ava.com.au/) from the original on 23 July 2011. Retrieved 28 July 2011. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Australasian Veterinary Medical Association"](http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article8511382). *[The Argus](/source/The_Argus_(Melbourne))*. Melbourne. 14 April 1883. p. 11. Retrieved 19 May 2012 – via National Library of Australia. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["A Veterinary Awakening: The History of Government Veterinarians in Australia - Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry"](https://web.archive.org/web/20120511084806/http://daff.gov.au/animal-plant-health/animal/a-veterinary-awakening-the-history-of-government-veterinarians-in-australia). Archived from [the original](http://www.daff.gov.au/animal-plant-health/animal/a-veterinary-awakening-the-history-of-government-veterinarians-in-australia) on 11 May 2012. Retrieved 19 May 2012. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Australian Veterinary History Society (2002), [*Eminent Australian veterinarians*](http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/34369669), Australian Veterinary History Society, retrieved 19 May 2012 1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Australian Veterinary History Society (2002), [*Milestones in Australian veterinary history*](http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/34369819), Australian Veterinary History Society, retrieved 19 May 2012 1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Media Release 10th May 2023"](https://www.ava.com.au/media-centre/media-releases/veterinary-peak-body-renews-calls-for-hecs-debt-relief/). Retrieved 13 September 2023. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["Media Release 31st Aug 2023"](https://www.ava.com.au/media-centre/media-releases/ava-receives-funding-to-help-improve-the-mental-health-and-wellbeing-of-australian-vets/). Retrieved 13 September 2023. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["VETERINARY JOURNAL"](http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article58257144). *[The Sunday Times](/source/The_Sunday_Times_(Western_Australia))*. Perth. 26 April 1925. p. 26. Retrieved 19 May 2012 – via National Library of Australia. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Australian Veterinary Association; Blackwell Publishing (1927), *Australian veterinary journal*, Australian Veterinary Association, [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0005-0423](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0005-0423) 1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["Media Release 18th August"](https://www.ava.com.au/media-centre/media-releases/the-australian-veterinary-association-board-appoints-new-president/). Retrieved 13 September 2023. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["Board of Directors"](https://www.ava.com.au/about-us/board-of-directors/). Retrieved 31 May 2019. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** Association (AVA), Australian Veterinary. ["Australian Veterinary Association | Board of Directors"](https://www.ava.com.au/about-us/board-of-directors/). *www.ava.com.au*. Retrieved 3 May 2019. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** ["Annual Report 2004 AVA"](https://www.ava.com.au/siteassets/about-us/annual-reports/ava_annual_report_2004.pdf) (PDF). Retrieved 31 May 2019. Authority control databases International ISNI VIAF National United States Czech Republic Israel Other IdRef Yale LUX --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Australian Veterinary Association](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_Veterinary_Association) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_Veterinary_Association?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.