The Australian Veterinary Association (AVA) is a not-for-profit association representing more than 6000 Australian veterinarians working in private practice, government, industry, and academia.[1]
The AVA was founded in 1921. 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 (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. Recent lobbying efforts include live cattle export and research into the deadly Hendra Virus.
The AVA has published the Australian Veterinary Journal since 1925. 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.