About us

What we do
The Sporting Shooters’ Association of Australia was established in 1948 in order to promote the shooting sports and protect firearm owners’ interests. Those roles remain the same today, and with more than 150,000 members, the SSAA is the premier shooting body representing licensed firearm owners in Australia.

SSAA National Board President: Dean Mighell Senior Vice President: Geoff Jones Junior Vice President: Ron Bryant Secretary: Kaye McIntyre Treasurer/Public Officer: Alf Bastian ACT Board Member: Dave True NSW Board Member: Paul McNabb NT Board Member: Robert Kittle Qld Board Member: Michael Pommer SA Board Member: David Handyside Tas Board Member: Andrew Judd Vic Board Member: Fred Schenck WA Board Member: Lewis Knight Secretariat: Nicole McClenahan CEO: Tim Bannister

‘Introducing the SSAA’ video

‘What is the SSAA?’ video

Media & Publications
The SSAA Media & Publications department publishes a range of national publications, including the monthly Australian Shooter, quarterly Australian Hunter and annual Australian & New Zealand Handgun magazines; the periodicals ASJ: The political voice of the SSAA and The Junior Shooter; and SSAA National e-publications. The Australian Shooter has an audited monthly distribution figure of 121,438 copies.
www.australianshooter.com.au

Website
The SSAA makes extensive use of the internet to keep members and supporters informed of legislative developments, media reports, industry news, business directory, and general matters of interest.
www.ssaa.org.au

United Nations & Lobbying
The SSAA has official Non-Government Organisation status within the United Nations and regularly participates in international discussions. It also has a Federal Parliamentary presence to liaise and communicate with Australia’s elected leaders and those departments that affect our chosen sport.
www.ssaa.org.au/capital-news

Industry Liaison
The SSAA is closely involved with the firearms industry, both at a national and international level. The SSAA has also worked closely with the National Firearm Dealers and Traders Council and the office of the Minister for Justice and Customs in the formulation of workable import regulations.
www.ssaa.org.au/industry-news

Research
The SSAA research department gathers data from a range of sources, providing material for publication in the Australian Shooter magazine and ASJ periodicals and coordinating various research projects and initiatives.
www.ssaa.org.au/research

Conservation & Wildlife Management
The SSAA has won national recognition for its participation in the control of feral pests in both national parks and on pastoral lands throughout Australia. The SSAA owns several large tracts of land with a view to preserving a number of endangered species.
www.ssaa.org.au/hunting

Competition
The SSAA manages more than 16 handgun, rifle and shotgun shooting competitions at local, state, national and international levels, catering to beginner and experienced shooters alike.
www.ssaa.org.au/disciplines

Insurance
SSAA Insurance Brokers Pty Ltd provides all general insurance for most major shooting organisations within Australia, and can insure all SSAA members’ personal and business needs.
www.ssaaib.com.au

Youth Development & Gun Safety Education
The SSAA conducts regular safety seminars and practical instruction on firearm safety. The Association works closely with the firearm industry in the promotion of responsible firearms handling among junior shooters across Australia.
www.ssaa.org.au/juniors

Aims and Objectives of the Association

• To promote and improve the role of the sporting shooter in Australia.
• To help educate young people in the skills of hunting, shooting and proper care and safe handling of firearms.
• To encourage all hunters to abide by a strict code of ethics.
• To work for a better understanding between landholder and Association member.
• To actively advocate game conservation and assist appropriate authorities in game management programs.
• To act as an effective and credible voice, representing all Australian shooters to the public, community leaders and authorities.

SSAA Code of Ethics
SSAA members undertake to adhere to the following basic ethical requirements (breach of which may result in suspension of membership or expulsion from the Association).

• Having first obtained a landholder's permission to shoot on his property, members consider themselves to be invited guests, so that they will be welcome on subsequent visits.
• They obey the rules of safe firearm handling and diplomatically yet firmly insist others to do the same.
• They obey relevant game laws and regulations.
• They acquire marksmanship and hunting skills which will ensure clean harvesting of game.
• They support game conservation programs.
• And, most importantly, they pass on to youngsters the attitudes to game and conservation and the skills of safe firearms ownership which are the hallmark of the sporting shooter.

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