The AVA was founded in 1921 by a small group of veterinarians who believed the profession needed a united voice. More than 100 years later that belief remains at the heart of everything we do.

Over that time the profession has changed enormously. The animals veterinarians care for, the science behind that care, the communities they serve and the challenges they face have all been transformed. Through every shift the AVA has been there, representing the profession, advancing its expertise and fighting for the conditions that allow veterinary professionals to do their best work.

Today the AVA represents thousands of veterinarians, veterinary students and allied professionals across Australia, from those working in busy city clinics to those serving remote and rural communities, from researchers and academics to government veterinarians protecting Australia’s biosecurity. The diversity of the profession is one of its greatest strengths, and it is a diversity we are proud to represent.

Our history is not just a record of the past. It is a foundation for what comes next. The challenges facing the profession today, workforce sustainability, mental health, technological change and the growing expectations of the communities vets serve, are ones we are committed to meeting with the same determination that has defined the AVA for more than a century.