About the awards.
The GOVAs – GapOnly® Veterinary Awards celebrate the outstanding achievement of individuals and practices across all areas of the veterinary profession throughout Australia.
As our inaugural event in March 2025 coincides with International Women’s Day, we’d like to shine the spotlight on the outstanding achievement of women in the profession. We’re pleased to announce a special award for the Woman Veterinarian of the Year.
The Awards Evening will be held on the 7 March 2025 at the stunning Museum of Contemporary Art on the foreshore of Sydney Harbour. Register your interest in attending the event below.
Congratulations to our 2025 winners & finalists
With over one hundred submissions received across four categories, the judging panel was truly impressed by the high calibre of work highlighted in the submissions, and the passionate dedication and innovation demonstrated across the veterinary community. Each nomination reflected the unwavering commitment of professionals and teams like you, who work tirelessly to improve the lives of pets and their people.
Woman Veterinarian of the Year
FINALIST – Dr Jessica Green (Vet HQ)
FINALIST – Dr Andrea Barnard (Wagga Wagga Veterinary Hospital)
WINNER – Dr Elizabeth Thrift (The Pet Specialists)
Veterinary Practice of the Year
WINNER – Wagga Wagga Veterinary Hospital
FINALIST – Mont Albert Veterinary Surgery
FINALIST – The Village Vet (Pymble & Killara)
SafetyNet PetAssist™ Community Service
FINALIST – SCAR Community Animal Hospital
WINNER – RSPCA NSW Hunter Veterinary Hospital
FINALIST – Northern Territory Veterinary Service
Veterinary Team Member of the Year
FINALIST – Shuang Liu (Chapel Hill Family Vet)
WINNER – Ashleigh McIntosh (Greencross Vets Lawnton)
FINALIST – Hayley Strain (PetICU)
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Awards Evening
Friday 7 March 2025
Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney NSW
2 course dinner & drinks + keynote speakers
Register your interest for complimentary event tickets below
Keynote Speaker
Sam Bloom is the subject of the international best seller, Penguin Bloom, which documents her incredible fight back from an accident that left her paralysed from the chest down. Facing profound challenges, including deep depression, her outlook began to change when her family adopted an injured magpie chick, named Penguin. Caring for Penguin rekindled Sam’s sense of purpose, leading to multiple world championships in surfing. Her experiences highlights the profound impact animals can have on human resilience and recovery, making her an inspiring speaker for our first GOVA awards.
Master Of Ceremonies
Mark is an Australian satirist and comedian renowned for his incisive political satire and engaging media presence. He has served as the resident satirist on ABC’s 7.30 and hosted the quiz show Pointless. In July 2024, Humphries began hosting The 6.57pm News, a weekly satirical segment airing every Friday at the end of Seven’s 6 pm bulletins nationally.
Awards Evening. Register your interest.
GOVA. Privacy Policy and Consent.
We take privacy seriously and comply with the Australian Privacy Principles (APP) under the Privacy Act 1988.
See Collection Notice (APP 5) for information on how we handle personal information.
Consent: Please ensure you have the nominee’s permission to share their contact details before submitting.
Use of Information: Contact details will only be used for purposes related to the awards process, such as notifying nominees or requesting additional information.
Data Protection: All submitted data will be stored securely and only accessible by the awards team.
Rights: Nominees and nominators can request access to or removal of their data at any time by contacting [email protected]