President's message from Dr Sally Colgan - May 2025

 

As many of you are aware, the AVA is currently considering proposals for substantial and important change.

I’d like to acknowledge the resilience and commitment of the board in navigating this complex change process.

BUT I must also extend my sincere gratitude to the many past directors, who have paved the way for constant improvement and progress.

As we know, change doesn’t happen overnight - Rome wasn’t built in a day and all that….! and as a learned colleague said to me this week, changing things in the AVA can sometimes feel like turning a barge with a teaspoon. We MUST make these changes with GREAT CARE and CONSIDERATION, so as not to capsize the ship in the process.

We all know that working with vets can be SUPER fun as we are often rather exacting, passionate and not shy with feedback. I’d like to thank our CEO and the AVA team so for their patience and professionalism. I can’t recall a single time I’ve asked for help and not received it. They’re a team who genuinely want to do a good job, and that matters a lot.

To our volunteers – you are the engine room of the AVA and without you, the train would grind to a halt. I know that many of you work far beyond the capacity of a volunteer and the AVA becomes your second job. This commitment doesn’t go unnoticed and without you, the AVA simply couldn’t function.

When I spoke at the Gala Dinner last year, I said that to make a difference, we need to be “in the room” - to make a difference, we need to show up, speak up, and lead with clarity, purpose, and confidence. Over the past 12 months, together with the entire AVA team and your board, we have strived to live up to that expectation.

Our advocacy efforts have been front and centre - elevating the visibility of our profession at the highest levels of government including one-on-one meetings with the Shadow Treasurer [now the leader of the liberal party] and the leader of the National Party and many prominent and influential senators and ministers on both sides of the house.

We’ve been in senate hearings, parliamentary inquiries, on TV and on radio, in broadsheet media, in magazines, in newsletters and on social media platforms (yet to embrace TikTok but we’re working on our dance moves).

We are making sure vets are heard, respected and recognised as essential – reiterating our concerns and advocating for support and for change.

While advocacy might be the glamour-queen, the beating heart of the AVA – albeit one that suffers from paroxysmal atrial fibrillation is PAC, the Policy Advisory Council. Luckily, the indomitable Mel Latter is there to provide cardio-conversion and keep us on track.

I encourage you to get involved in this process – join the council or a WG or comment on the member comment forum – this work underpins our advocacy efforts and gives our members a platform to stand on. We may not always agree, but we do find a pathway that we can accept as a representative voice for the profession – if you don’t get involved, you can’t have your say on what the AVA is saying about you and your profession.

As I’ve learned from our UPAV friends, an animal can have more than one beating heart and another vital AVA vessel is the relatively new COPs. This meeting of the minds from across all our SIGs and Divisions helps keep us informed, connected and accountable to our members. We are One AVA and this is a key part of what makes us stronger together.

If I reflect on what’s most different this year from past years on the board, I think it has to be the extent of member engagement and consultation we have undertaken in the past 12 months, but moreover, how well that feedback has been translated into real action.

These haven’t been token conversations - your feedback is directly reflected in the actions we’re now implementing – there’s real alignment between what members say and what the AVA does.

This is immensely satisfying from a board perspective as our work can sometimes seem so high level that it is hard to see a “cause and effect” outcome.

But we are under no illusions: change takes time and there are no shortcuts. It takes process, patience, trust, and buy-in.

We are tackling some long-term issues, but we are keeping members at the centre of the conversation, and building an AVA that’s more agile, more relevant, and more accountable.

Our profession faces some serious challenges: workforce pressure, mental health, declining membership, and at times, a sense that our contribution goes unnoticed.

^{Dr Alex Harrison receiving the AVA President's Award from Dr Sally Colgan}

But we must also take the time to celebrate the extraordinary nature of the profession we’re part of.

We need to remind the world that veterinary medicine is a force for good, grounded in science, compassion, and service. It’s a profession worth joining - and worth supporting.

I’d like to make special mention of those affected by the floods in Southeast Queensland and Far North New South Wales this year. It was a time of significant hardship, but the veterinary community's response was nothing short of inspiring. ACV President Stacey Rae, who was personally affected, demonstrated exceptional leadership by bringing together more than 30 veterinarians to coordinate support, share information, and ensure no one was left isolated. The AVA team worked closely with the QLD division and ACV, providing rapid, clear support and round-the-clock assistance during this challenging time.

This collective response served as a powerful reminder of our ability to rise to the occasion in the face of adversity. It showcased our resilience, tenacity, collegiality, generosity, and empathy—core values that form the foundation of our profession.

We know the sector is under pressure. But we can’t let that become the full story. Yes, vets are stretched. Yes, we need better systems and support. But we also need to focus on what’s going well—and use that as a base to build from. This is an industry full of highly skilled, committed people who care deeply about what they do.

As Kendall Crocker said today, veterinary science is a fabulous degree – it is a ticket that opens so many doors and leads to so many opportunities. I was fearful of being too sentimental but as Kendall mentioned James Herriott, I feel it OK to indulge! One of my favourite quotes is from his last book, when he is heading off to war, and he reflects on being a veterinarian:

“The thought came to me, that it was the greatest good fortune not only to be fascinated by animals, but to know about them- and the knowing was a precious thing.”

I believe we’re on the right path, and as I hand over the reins, I do so with pride in what we’ve achieved together so far and with enormous optimism for what lies ahead.

^{Dr Sally Colgan, Dr Gemma Chuck, Dr Diana Barker}

Introduction of New President

It is my very great privilege to introduce your next president.

Many of you know her, and I’ve had the privilege of working alongside her on the board for the past four years. She’s incredibly generous with her time and unwaveringly committed to the AVA cause, she’s meticulous and diligent and her experience and her insight across many disciplines is invaluable. With an eye on the future, but grounded in what the AVA needs to deliver, she brings a wealth of knowledge, enormous energy and perspective to the role.

Without further ado, I’d like to call on Dr Gemma Chuck to accept the President’s mantle.

Dr Sally Colgan