EVA – Equine Veterinarians Australia: History, Role & Bain Fallon Lectures

Equine Veterinarians Australia (EVA) is the peak professional body representing equine veterinarians in Australia.

Founded in 1971 as a special interest group of the Australian Veterinary Association (AVA), EVA provides continuing professional development (CPD), professional advocacy, clinical resources, and community support for veterinarians working with horses nationwide.

EVA operates as a special interest group of the Australian Veterinary Association (AVA), representing the equine profession nationally.

The Equine Veterinarians Australia connects clinicians, researchers, industry, and equine veterinary professionals, ensuring that equine health and welfare in Australia remain at the highest standard. Its flagship event, the Bain Fallon Memorial Lectures, has become the largest equine veterinary conference in the southern hemisphere.

A Brief History of EVA

EVA was formed in 1971, at a time when the Australian veterinary profession was expanding and equine practice was becoming more specialised.

As a special interest group within the AVA, the EVA gave equine vets a clear voice in national discussions while creating a professional identity of its own.

Over the decades, Equine Veterinarians Australia has launched its own journal, built strong connections with equine organisations across the country, and created educational events that attract international audiences.

Its mission remains consistent: to advance equine veterinary medicine and support the veterinarians who dedicate their careers to horses.

What EVA Does Today

EVA is central to equine practice for equine veterinary professionals in Australia, offering:

• Continuing Education & Events – including the annual Bain Fallon Memorial Lectures, workshops, webinars, and practical training sessions.
• Journal: The Australian Equine Veterinarian (AEV) – a peer-reviewed biannual publication featuring clinical reports, case studies, and updates relevant to practitioners.
• Apps & Tools – such as EVA Equine Forms (for pre-purchase exams, Hendra exclusion, and dental exams) and EVA Equine Techniques (a reference app of clinical procedures).
• Awards & Recognition – EVA celebrates excellence through awards at Bain Fallon, including the Patricia Ellis Award and Jane Axon Award.
• Student Engagement – The Australian Association supports the next generation of vets with prizes at universities, such as the EVA Prize at James Cook University.
• Advocacy & Representation – EVA works closely with government, industry, and horse owners to ensure equine welfare remains a national priority.

Bain Fallon Memorial Lectures: EVA’s Flagship Event

The Bain Fallon Memorial Lectures, held annually in July, are the highlight of EVA’s calendar.

Last Congress: 19–23 July 2026 (46th Bain Fallon Memorial Lectures)
City: Melbourne, Australia (Pullman Melbourne Albert Park)

What it is:
The largest equine veterinary CPD event in the Southern Hemisphere.

Who attends:
Bain Fallon consistently attracts 250–270+ equine veterinarians from Australia and overseas and features 50+ exhibitors in a sell-out trade exhibition.

Who Bain Fallon Is For

• Full-time equine clinicians
• Practice owners
• Early-career vets building confidence
• Vets seeking one high-value CPD week instead of fragmented learning

What’s included:
International and Australian speakers, practical wet labs, workshops, and a major trade exhibition. The consistently sold-out exhibition gives delegates direct access to the latest diagnostics, therapeutics, and services – without chasing representatives or booking additional meetings.

Beyond the lectures, Bain Fallon is about community.

Beyond the lectures, Bain Fallon is about community. Delegates spend time catching up with old friends, meeting new colleagues, sharing ideas over coffee, attending social events, and discussing the future of equine practice.

These conversations often become just as valuable as the lectures themselves, creating friendships, collaborations, and new ideas that continue long after the conference finishes.

Why Bain Fallon Feels Different

Bain Fallon isn’t just another conference added to an already busy CPD calendar. It’s designed to bring everything together in one focused week.

For equine veterinarians, that matters.

Instead of spreading learning, networking, and industry updates across multiple events and months, Bain Fallon creates a single point in the year where the profession comes together. Clinical education, practical workshops, industry conversations, and social connection all happen in the same place, at the same time.

What makes it feel different is the environment. Conversations don’t stop when lectures finish – they continue in workshops, over coffee, during social events, and throughout the exhibition hall.

It’s where ideas are tested, experiences are shared, and professional relationships are strengthened, often just as much outside the lecture theatre as inside it.

For many equine veterinarians, Bain Fallon is the one week each year that delivers both high-level education and a genuine sense of professional community.

Dr. Olivia James recently attended Bain Fallon 2026 to present a lecture on improving efficiency in equine practice. While the lectures were excellent, she said some of the most valuable moments happened between sessions.

Catching up with colleagues, meeting new equine veterinarians, and discussing the challenges facing the profession reminded her why Bain Fallon is much more than a conference. It’s where the equine veterinary community comes together.

2026 Location & Venue: Designed for Busy Clinicians

Bain Fallon 2026 will be held at the Pullman Melbourne Albert Park, a venue chosen specifically for its convenience and ability to keep everything under one roof.

For delegates, this means:

• On-site accommodation across the Pullman and Mercure towers
• Lecture theatres, workshops, exhibition, and social events all in the same location
• No daily travel between venues
• Easy access to Melbourne’s CBD, airport links, and major transport routes

For busy veterinarians, this setup removes friction. Delegates can move from their rooms to sessions, workshops, or networking events without losing time or energy navigating a city or juggling logistics.

The venue strikes a balance between focus and comfort – allowing equine veterinarians to fully engage with the program while still enjoying the atmosphere of Melbourne, one of Australia’s most vibrant cities.

How EVA Connects to BEVA

EVA is part of the wider global equine-vet community through its links with the World Equine Veterinary Association (WEVA) and collaborations with national associations such as NZEVA (NZ) and JSES (Japan). If you’re already a member of Equine Veterinarians Australia, you may also be eligible for BEVA Affiliate Membership, which provides discounted access to BEVA’s journals, CPD library, webinars, and BEVA Congress rates.

If you’re already a member of EVA (through your AVA membership), you may also be eligible for BEVA Affiliate Membership, which provides discounted access to BEVA’s journals, CPD library, webinars, and reduced BEVA Congress rates.

Learn more about BEVA Affiliate Membership →

Why EVA Matters to Equine Vets

Whether you are based in Australia or overseas, EVA offers:

• World-class CPD tailored to equine practice.
• Research and publications through The Australian Equine Veterinarian.
• Practical tools and apps designed for daily use in practice.
• Recognition and awards to highlight contributions to the profession.
• A supportive community linked into the global equine veterinary network.

EVA (Equine Veterinarians Australia) – Frequently Asked Questions

What does EVA stand for?

EVA stands for Equine Veterinarians Australia, the national professional body representing veterinarians who work with horses in Australia.

Is EVA part of the Australian Veterinary Association (AVA)?

Yes. Equine Veterinarians Australia (EVA) operates as a special interest group of the Australian Veterinary Association (AVA), representing the interests of equine veterinarians within the broader Australian veterinary profession.

Who can become a member of EVA?

EVA membership is available to veterinarians with an interest in equine practice through their Australian Veterinary Association (AVA) membership. This includes students, recent graduates, and experienced practitioners working across all areas of equine veterinary medicine.

What is the Bain Fallon Memorial Lectures?

The Bain Fallon Memorial Lectures are EVA’s flagship annual conference and the largest equine veterinary CPD event in the southern hemisphere, featuring international and Australian speakers, practical workshops, wet labs, and a major trade exhibition.

The exhibition also gives delegates the chance to speak directly with companies about the latest equipment, medicines, diagnostic tools, and services available to equine veterinarians, all in one place.

For many equine veterinarians, Bain Fallon is the highlight of the professional calendar. It combines world-class education with the opportunity to reconnect with friends, build new relationships, discover new products, and step away from the day-to-day pressures of practice.

Delegates often return home not only with new knowledge, but with fresh ideas and renewed enthusiasm for the profession.

When are the Bain Fallon Memorial Lectures usually held?

The Bain Fallon Memorial Lectures are typically held annually in July and rotate between major Australian cities.

Do Bain Fallon Memorial Lectures count toward CPD?

Yes. Attendance at the Bain Fallon Memorial Lectures contributes toward continuing professional development (CPD) requirements for equine veterinarians.

Is EVA relevant to veterinarians outside Australia?

Yes. While Equine Veterinarians Australia represents equine veterinarians in Australia, its educational events – particularly the Bain Fallon Memorial Lectures – attract international delegates, and its publications and resources are widely referenced by equine practitioners abroad.

Join Our Community

We already have a strong community of Australian equine veterinarians among our subscribers, alongside colleagues from South Africa, the UK, and beyond.

If you would like to join this network, meet like-minded professionals, and connect with the wider equine veterinary community, now is the perfect time to get involved.

Together with EVA, you’ll gain access to professional support, practical resources, and a global community committed to advancing equine medicine.

This article was prepared by the team at The Equine Practice Company, which supports equine veterinarians globally through advanced CPD programmes, clinical education, and long-form professional training.