President's message from Dr Gemma Chuck - July 2025

Wow, it’s been a hectic but amazing few weeks since my last newsletter! With progression of the Transition Project, media and advocacy activities and international engagement opportunities, I can’t think of a more exciting time to be involved with the AVA. I thank all our volunteers and members, the AVA Board and our staff for their continued work as we evolve our association together to be the best it can be. Here are some key titbits of what’s been happening.

AVA Transition Project

For those not in the know, the AVA is in the process of updating our over 100-year old Constitution to better reflect how we work today and to ensure it is fit-for-purpose in the future. The proposed changes are based on last year’s Stakeholder Survey which involved over 2,500 responses from members and non-members. During June and July, we engaged with all SIGs and Divisions in small focus groups, and we held 3 member Townhalls to ensure all voices have been heard. This extensive consultation period will allow us to shape a revised proposal of the Constitution which we will share with members in August. It’s been such a valuable process and I want to thank all members who provided feedback through the focus groups, Townhalls and email submissions.

Alongside the proposed Constitution reform, and also based on your feedback, we are in the process of updating our membership model. This would involve a single membership fee with access to all Special Interest Groups to allow a more inclusive and collaborative AVA. There is more information about this on the AVA website (Transition Project).

^{Screenshot from Constitution Townhall 3 recap}

Of course, if we are going to change, we also need the systems and processes in place to support that change. Your feedback indicates that we need to improve our technology and communications to allow members to stay connected, find information and get support. We are committed to improving these digital platforms for our members to give you an exceptional AVA experience. These things do take time, so I appreciate your patience as we work with you on this.  

Hendra case in south-east Queensland

In early July, there was a confirmed case of Hendra virus in a horse in south-east Queensland. This was the first case since 2022. The AVA provided an immediate response with a media release, member alert text messages, media interviews and provision of the EVA Hendra resources to all AVA members. Thank you to the EVA for their prompt and active engagement in this process. It was a great example of how AVA can come together for the greater good for all its members. This situation also highlighted the essential role of veterinarians in public health, an area impacted by rural workforce shortages. The AVA continues to advocate for solutions to help address the workforce shortages that many regional clinics are experiencing.

International Engagement

In mid-July I travelled to Washington DC for the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Convention, the World Veterinary Association (WVA) Congress and the International Veterinary Officers Coalition (IVOC) meeting. This was an incredible opportunity to engage with our international counterparts, share insights, discuss our common challenges and celebrate our wins. For me, it highlighted how small the world is when it comes to the issues we are all facing. There are obvious differences in legislation and compliance, as well as geographical reach, available finances and scale of operations. Yet, fundamentally, we are one profession and our global community is united in their support of each other.

This international collaboration is culturally and professionally important for AVA. It is a unique opportunity for learning, and we have a strong voice in these engagements. It became clear to me that, for a comparatively small association, we have some amazing initiatives in place. From our member feedback, we are fully aware of areas for improvement but importantly we have made a commitment to our members to not just talk-the-talk, but to walk-the-walk as well.  I felt immensely proud and grateful to represent the AVA at these meetings and am looking forward to ongoing international engagement in the future.  

^{Drs Paula Parker, Mark Schipp, Gemma Chuck, Bronwyn Orr at 2025 AVMA Convention}

Dr Mark Schipp also travelled to Washington DC on behalf of the World Veterinary Association for which he is a Councillor. Dr Schipp chaired the WVA Global One Health Summit and it was rewarding to see a fellow AVA Director in this prominent role.

Membership Renewal

In our ongoing commitment to listening to members, AVA membership fees for 2025/26 have been frozen meaning there has been no price increase from the previous year. Although a small step, this indicates our commitment to delivering more value to members. If you have any questions or need assistance, please reach out to the Member Services team via members@ava.com.au or 1300 137 309.

Dr Gemma Chuck
AVA President