Report on the Australian Veterinary Association Annual Conference

By Dianne Phillips, CVA Councillor Australia

It was an honour and pleasure to represent CVA President Peter Thornber at the annual Australian Veterinary Association conference in May 2016 in Adelaide. The program was crammed with experts and interesting presenters in many streams of veterinary science including small animal medicine, surgery, behaviour, dentistry, welfare, practice management, public health, education, large animal medicine, surgery, welfare and wildlife and conservation biology. If you’re exhausted by reading that list, it’s even harder to choose which seminar to attend in person!

In addition to the academic program I met with the AVA executive on various occasions to participate in discussions and proposals to address key platforms representing the AVA’s focus. This primarily revolves around how best to maximise AVA’s relevance to all its members in the varied streams of veterinary professionals and to be seen as a national authority on animal welfare and health issues for its members,  industry stakeholders  and government. There was also a chance to discuss future opportunities to collaborate and promote activities which support the CVA and how best to develop these plans.

At the AVA Annual General Meeting the representatives of the CVA, New Zealand AVA, American Veterinary Medicine Association and the Federation of Asian Veterinary Associations made presentations about their organisations and exchanged symbolic gifts with the president of the AVA, Dr Robert Johnson. It had been a rewarding and fulfilling week!