The landscape of veterinary science in Australia is changing, and Dr Alex Harrison is at the forefront. Announced as the recipient of the 2025 President’s Award, Dr Harrison was recognised for his outstanding practical contributions to the field, remarkable commitment under challenging circumstances, and a driving vision for a more inclusive and representative profession.
As one of the first profoundly deaf people to graduate from a veterinary school in Australia, Alex has tirelessly advocated for those too often sidelined within veterinary practice.
“When I graduated as a veterinarian, I didn’t know anyone else in Australia with a visible disability in the profession – let alone someone who was profoundly deaf,” he said.
“There was no blueprint, no one I could look to and say, ‘They’ve done it, so I can too’. In many ways, I had to imagine my professional self into being.”
Like every new graduate, he was learning how to consult, diagnose, and communicate with clients. But on top of that, he was navigating an array of challenges that made his transition to practice even more complex.
“There were unique challenges like figuring out how to auscultate heart sounds, how to lipread scrubbed-in vet nurses through surgical masks, and how to make client phone calls using assistive technology. I was constantly working out ways to adapt, often in real time, while learning everything else new grads are expected to absorb.”
And while he says he was fortunate enough to have supportive bosses, not everyone was as accepting and willing to work together to accommodate for differences.
“One of the hardest moments in those early years was when a senior vet outside my practice quietly suggested that they didn’t think someone like me – a profoundly deaf person – should be in the profession at all.
“That crushed me. I internalised it, carried it, and tried to push through as best I could. It was a lonely road at times. For the first seven or eight years of my career, I quietly coped with what I know in hindsight was – depression.”
Thankfully, Alex continued to pursue veterinary medicine and became a practice partner in a group of 4 clinics in Adelaide.
“I worked 60-hour weeks until burnout finally caught up with me. I almost walked away from the profession altogether. But instead, I asked myself whether I could give something back – and if so, how?
“That’s when I began working alongside others to push for diversity, equity, and inclusion in veterinary medicine – including through The Veterinary Kaleidoscope. It gave me purpose. It gave my experiences meaning. And it gave me a voice.
“Now, I have pride in my identity and the path I’ve taken. But I also carry sadness for the younger version of myself who felt he had to shrink parts of who he was just to fit in. That’s a big part of my drive today: I don’t want the next generation to have to do the same.”
Much of Dr Harrison’s impact has involved what he calls quiet, ‘persistent’ change.
“Some things are too important to leave unsaid. Because this isn’t just an individual issue. It is systemic. And it’s long past time for us to face it head-on.”
Dr Harrison’s advocacy is particularly pressing, after the 2023 AVA Workforce Survey revealed 38% of veterinarians in Australia identify as having a disability, chronic illness, or being neurodivergent.
“Let that land,” he said. “That is not a statistic we can afford to ignore. That’s not a fringe issue. Nor is it a special interest group. That number is transformative – if we choose to act on what it tells us. That’s a structural reality. And it demands a response. Not in sentiment, but a structural one.”
The President’s Award is reserved for those whose achievements are marked not just by professional excellence, but by compassion, commitment, and a legacy of positive change for others. Dr Harrison exemplifies these qualities.
Looking ahead, Dr Harrison calls on the profession to act. “There are still people who dismiss this work as ‘activism’ or ‘politics’. But what they often don’t understand is that, for many of us who are marginalised, this work is about mental health. It’s about safety. It’s about staying in the profession at all.
“I’ve given this work a bloody big crack. And while I’m a decent clinician, I think the thing I’m proudest of is helping the profession begin to talk about this – really talk about it. Because I know, from everything we’ve seen, that when we act on these issues, we don’t just improve workplaces, we also save lives.”