Membership

AVA membership connects you to the national professional community for veterinary science in Australia — the peers, clinical resources, career support and collective voice that make a difference throughout a veterinary career.

The veterinary profession faces real pressures: workforce shortages, mental health challenges, evolving scope of practice, and a public that expects more than ever from the people caring for their animals. AVA exists to support you through all of it — individually and collectively. When you are a member, you are part of something that works on your behalf, whether that is advocating for better working conditions, shaping national policy, or simply having someone  pick up the phone when you need help.

Every paid member can join any of AVA’s 19 Special Interest Groups at no extra cost — the communities of practice that connect you with peers who share your clinical interests and understand the specific challenges of your field. That peer connection is one of the things members consistently tell us matters most.

The profession is stronger when more of us are in it together. AVA advocates on your behalf, maintains the standards that protect the public and the animals we care for, and gives you a collective voice in shaping where the profession goes next. 

AVA membership is open to any veterinary professional — registered veterinarians working across clinical practice, specialist care, government, research, industry, academia and beyond; allied professionals including veterinary nurses, technologists, practice managers and researchers; and veterinary students enrolled in an accredited Australian degree. Every member can purchase any tier — All Access, Flexi or Connected — to suit their career stage and level of engagement. If you work in this profession in any capacity, there is a place for you here.

The simplest way to think about it is: what do you need, and what do you attend?
All Access is right for you if you’re in active practice, attend AVA events or conferences, or rely on clinical tools in your day-to-day work. The Event Advantage discount saves $400 or more per event, so attending even one conference typically covers the price difference between All Access and Flexi.

Early career vets get significant discounts on All Access to make sure cost is never a barrier in the years when professional support matters most. If you graduated in the last three years you pay 70% off the standard rate, and in years four and five you pay 45% off. The full All Access benefits are included at every discount level.

Flexi suits members working part-time, on parental leave, or in government, academic or industry roles. You get the key practical tools including webinars, HR advice and Career Connect, without paying for benefits you might not need right now.

Connected is the right fit if you’re on a career break, retiring or working overseas. You stay in the community, keep your advocacy voice and maintain your professional identity.

Student membership is free for the full duration of your veterinary degree.

You know your circumstances best, so have a look at the full benefits and choose what fits. If you’re not sure, contact us and we’ll help you work it out.

Yes. Every member — across all tiers — can join any of AVA’s 19+ Special Interest Groups at no extra cost. Every member in every SIG gets access to the online community, member directory, news and reference resources.

What you can access within a SIG grows with your tier:

• Flexi and All Access members also get webinar recordings and SIG journals in digital format
• All Access members unlock the full suite: conference proceedings, accreditation access (Bullcheck/Pregcheck/Hospital accred), apps and digital tools, print journals , significant event discounts and more
• If you’re on Connected and regularly want webinars or SIG journals, that’s a good sign Flexi is worth a look. If you’re on Flexi and want conference proceedings or accreditations like BULLCHECK, All Access opens that up.

AVA wants to make sure cost is never a barrier to having the support, community and tools you need early in your career. New graduates receive a significant discount on All Access — AVA’s most comprehensive tier.

• Years one to three post-graduation: 70% off All Access, just $266 per year
• Years four to five post-graduation: 45% off All Access, just $488 per year

All Access gives you the full suite: clinical tools, unlimited CPD, webinars, SIG communities, the AVA Journal, EBSCO database, HR support, 24/7 counselling, Career Connect and Event Advantage pricing on conferences and events.

Your discount applies automatically when you join. 

Members holding Fellow, Honorary or Life Complementary status receive All Access membership at no charge. Nothing changes for you — your status and full access continue as before.

Under the new membership model, Life (retired) members are recommended to transition to the Connected tier at $266 per year — a saving of $43 or more on your current rate. Plus, you now get access to any of AVA’s SIG communities, so you can stay close to the corners of the profession you care most about.
Your decades of contribution to veterinary practice deserve recognition. As a thank you for your long-standing commitment to the profession, you’ll also receive an exclusive discount code to unlock the Event Advantage rate at AVA conferences and events (saving $400+).

What you need depends on your membership category:

• Veterinarians: your state or territory veterinary board registration number, university and graduation date
• Allied professionals: a short application letter outlining your role in the veterinary profession supported by a veterinarian
• Students: your personal email, university and expected graduation year

Membership activates immediately on joining. You have instant access to all your tier benefits from the moment your application is confirmed.

Yes. AVA offers group packages for practices, corporate groups, government departments and academic institutions. Head to our group membership page to find out how packages are structured, what is covered and how to get started.