Behavioural Medicine

The home for veterinarinary professionals passionate about behavioural medicine across all species.

Understanding animal behaviour is essential for improving the lives of your patients and their owners, maintaining safety and welfare, and supporting the diagnosis, management, treatment, and long-term health of veterinary patients through behavioural medicine. 

Behavioural medicine covers the normal psychology of animals and abnormal psychology, recognised as behaviour problems. Joining the Australian Veterinary Behavioural Medicine (AVBM) gives you access to continuing professional development events such as webinars, conferences and a world leading journal to help you gain insight into this fascinating and essential area of veterinary medicine.

Why join AVBM?

Community and Connection

AVBM members gain access to a wide range of valuable benefits designed to support clinical practice and improve animal welfare.  

From practical resources that help identify behavioural concerns and guide effective advice and treatment, to tools that empower clients to understand what’s normal for their pets and when it’s not, membership strengthens confidence in managing behaviour cases. 

  • Meaningful Connections: Network with peers and mentors through conferences and dedicated social events.  
  • Supportive Community: Be part of a welcoming, inclusive environment, especially valuable for those transitioning into behavioural practice.  
  • Diverse Expertise: Join a community working across species, disciplines, and clinical settings.  
  • Future-Focused: Support and inspire the next generation through student awards and early-career engagement in behavioural medicine.  

Knowledge and CPD

 

AVBM equips members with the knowledge and confidence to apply behavioural medicine effectively in everyday practice. 

  • Targeted CPD: Quarterly webinars and conference lectures designed to support you at every stage of your behavioural journey.  
  • Hands-On Learning: Practical, case-based workshops and training across a range of species.  
  • Leading Research Access: Online access to the Journal of Veterinary Behavior: Clinical Applications and Research – the only peer-reviewed journal dedicated entirely to veterinary behavioural medicine (six issues per year) – keeping you connected to the latest evidence.  
  • Ongoing Insights: Quarterly e-newsletters covering key updates, learning, and practice tips to support behavioural medicine in real-world settings. 

Influence and advocacy

AVBM members play an active role in influencing the future of animal behaviour and welfare across Australia. 

  • Policy Leadership: Contribute to meaningful change in legislation and welfare frameworks, including issues like breed-specific regulation.  
  • Expert Voice: Be involved in AVA submissions, policy development and public commentary.  
  • Media & Public Engagement: Support clear, accurate communication of behavioural science to the profession and the wider community.  
  • Education Advocacy: Champion stronger integration of behavioural medicine into veterinary training and continuing professional development. 

Learning & Events

Advance your career with CPD courses, webinars, conferences, and events across Australia.

VIEW ALL Learning & Events

  • AVBM Webinar | Early recognition of significant issues – the approach and management of behaviour problems in animals | Dr Sally Nixon

    Australian Veterinary Behaviour Medicine
    Open for registration

    0.5 CPD Points

    Register

  • On-Demand AVBM Webinar | Pain and Behaviour: Case Studies | Dr Karen Kam

    Australian Veterinary Behaviour Medicine
    On-demand
    Open for registration

    0.5 CPD Points

    Register

  • On-Demand | AVBM Webinar | Don’t forget about dementia: Pets get it too | Dr Sagi Denenberg

    Australian Veterinary Behaviour Medicine
    Open for registration

    0.5 CPD Points

    Register

  • On-Demand | AVBM Webinar | Alpha-casozepine in veterinary behaviour medicine: mechanism, evidence and clinical application | Dr Dennis Wormald

    Australian Veterinary Behaviour Medicine
    Open for registration

    0.5 CPD Points

    Register

Connect with your AVBM colleagues on the AVA Member Hub (Circle)

The AVA Member Hub, powered by Circle, is AVA’s online community platform. It gives you a dedicated space to connect with your colleagues across Australia, tap into expertise and stay engaged beyond events and conferences. 

Not on the Member Hub yet? Click on the button below for more information:

AVA Member Hub (Circle)

ALL ACCESS

MAXIMUM VALUE
  • Event Advantage discounts (Save $400+ per event)
  • Journal of Veterinary Behaviour: Clinical Applications and Research (Digital only)
  • Equine evolutionary history and behaviour (Fact sheet)
  • Why does my dog bark? (Fact sheet)
  • Mental health of cats and the role of fear and anxiety in cats (Fact sheet)
  • Treatment for litter tray problem in cats (Fact sheet)
  • Is my dog playing or fighting? (Client resource)
  • Live and on-demand webinars & CPD library
  • AVA Member Hub (Circle) - directory & social network

FLEXI

The essentials
  • Live and on-demand webinars & CPD library
  • AVA Member Hub (Circle) - directory & social network

CONNECTED

Community and connection
  • Live and on-demand webinars & CPD library - $25
  • AVA Member Hub (Circle) - directory & social network

STUDENT

Start your career
  • Event Advantage discounts (Student rate)
  • Live and on-demand webinars & CPD library
  •  AVAG Conference Proceedings
  • AVA Member Hub (Circle) - directory & social network
  • The Kersti Seksel Award (Final year students)

Got a question about AVBM?

We would love to hear from you. 

Whether you want to know more about AVBM membership, have a question about an upcoming webinar or conference, or just want to find out if AVBM is right for you – get in touch. Our team responds to all enquiries within three business days. 

AVBM inbox: elaine.robertson@ava.com.au

Member Services: members@ava.com.au