Stage 3 Constitution Reform update from the CRWG

Thank you to every member who attended a Townhall, read through the proposal, and took the time to share your thoughtful questions and submissions on the Stage 3 Constitution Reform before 31 July. Your input has sharpened the proposal and directly shaped the next steps we are taking.

Key changes under consideration for the Stage 3 revised proposal:

While the revised Stage 3 proposal update is still being finalised, we wanted to share some of the changes currently being considered. These will be included in the next version that will be published for member review:

• Making provisions for the Board to elect a Chair which may be separate from the President: i.e. The Directors may also elect a Chair from amongst their number. The Chair must be a Director but is not required to be a veterinarian.
• Confirmation that the AVA President must be a director who is a veterinarian thus maintaining strong member representation through the President.
• Clarifying that relevant SIG Executive Committees (ACV, ASAV, EVA) will manage expressions of interest for Sector-Director positions and nominate between 2–5 candidates to the independent Nominations Committee.
• Revising the independent Nominations Committee Terms of Reference to confirm that members of this committee cannot be current Directors and clarifying its role as an advisory body rather than a decision-making authority.

These proposed updates reflect member feedback, and we welcome further comment when the revised proposal is released.

What happens next?

• Our constitution consultant and legal experts are drafting updated wording to reflect the revised Constitution proposal. The CRWG will then review a side-by-side document showing the current Constitution clauses alongside the proposed updates.
• After the Board have approved this document, it will be published for member review and comment. Members will be notified by email when the revised proposal is ready and it will also be available on the AVA website.

Your questions, feedback and ideas have been fundamental to this process. Thank you for your ongoing involvement. 

Timing of the Constitution Vote

We received feedback that you would like a little more time prior to voting on the Stage 3 Reform. As a result, the voting date has been pushed back, provisionally to the end of October which will provide you with more time to review the revised constitution and ask any further questions.

If you have any further questions, please get in touch here at constitutionfeedback@ava.com.au

Many thanks,

Constitution Reform Working Group