Our purpose
Animal Health Australia (AHA) is Australia’s trusted and independent national animal health body. We bring together government and industry to deliver important animal health and biosecurity programs and outcomes for the benefit of all Australians.
By partnering with members, we help identify threats and opportunities, drive collaborative solutions, and advocate for the long-term success of Australia’s livestock industries and animal biosecurity system.
Biosecurity is the management of risks to the economy, environment and the community, of pests and diseases entering, emerging, establishing or spreading. AHA’s role in the biosecurity continuum is focussed post-border.
Our vision
A strong national biosecurity system that ensures the resilience and growth of Australia’s livestock industries.
Our mission
To partner with government and industry to deliver programs that strengthen and protect Australia’s livestock industries.
Our values
Our work is guided by five core values, with employees and members at the heart of what we do.
ACT WITH INTEGRITY
Build trust and respect through ethical behaviour and accountability.
COLLABORATE
Harness our collective strength and the power of individual differences.
INNOVATE
Embrace creativity and strive for continuous improvement
LEAD
Inspire and empower teams to achieve excellence.
FOSTER COMMUNITY
Take a ‘one team’ approach through meaningful connections and a shared purpose.
Our company
Animal Health Australia (AHA) was incorporated under Australian Corporations Law in January 1996. AHA is a not-for-profit public company.
We have 35 member organisations spread across four membership groups:
- Commonwealth, state and territory governments
- livestock industries
- associate members.
Within the framework of a not-for-profit company, AHA manages more than 50 national programs that improve animal and associated human health, biosecurity, market access, livestock welfare, productivity, and food safety and quality.
Our company structure facilitates flexible and responsive management of animal health issues and accountability through an independently selected Board of Directors responsible to our members.
AHA is dedicated to advancing livestock health issues of collective interest to all who contribute to animal health in Australia. We manage national animal health programs for all, as well as some programs for a subset of members.
AHA’s members play a key role in the development and implementation of all programs. This collaborative approach is a major factor behind the success of AHA programs, and further strengthening of partnerships between government and industry bodies is an ongoing priority.
- Commonwealth, state and territory governments
- livestock industries
- associate members.
Members fund core company activities through annual subscriptions based on the gross value of production (GVP) of the jurisdiction or industry.
AHA is led by an independently selected Board of Directors responsible to our members and staffed by a dedicated team working in AHA’s Canberra office.
Our constitution
Our history
Australia has enjoyed a reputation for clean, healthy and disease-free agricultural production systems through our natural advantage of geographic isolation. This has also given Australian producers an edge in a very competitive international environment.
From the early 1990s, our international trading partners began to require more information and evidence of Australia’s animal health and welfare standards.
Australian governments and industry groups recognised a need for high-level decisions on strategic policy for future planning and funding of national animal health service programs. Australian Animal Health Council Limited was incorporated under Australian Corporations Law in January 1996 and commenced operation under the business name ‘Animal Health Australia’ (AHA) in February 2000.
AHA’s role in the national animal health system has expanded significantly over the years, with the number of programs and projects the company is responsible for growing substantially.