About Us
The Sporting Shooters’ Association of Australia (SSAA) was established in 1948 in order to promote the shooting sports and protect firearm owners’ interests. Those roles remain the same today. The SSAA has a presence in each state and territory – each having its own association, with more than 200,000 members belonging to one of these. Each state/territory is independent and equal when making decisions and, alongside this, SSAA Inc acts as the service body for the states/territories but also operates independently. With more than 440 clubs at which they can shoot, SSAA’s 200,000-plus like-minded sporting shooters are part of Australia’s premier sports shooting body.
The SSAA manages more than 18 shooting competitions – commonly referred to as ‘disciplines’ – at local, state, national and international levels. We cater to many different types of firearms, including shotguns, pistols, revolvers and rifles, in rimfire, centrefire, air and black powder configurations, so no matter what age you are or what level competition you are interested in participating in, we have a discipline for everyone.
In addition to representing the interests of our target shooting members, the SSAA promotes the ethical hunting activities of our members and the sustainable use of wildlife. We encourage all hunters to display appropriate firearm handling skills, to conduct themselves in an acceptable way and to be responsible for themselves, others and the environment.
The SSAA works closely with the Australian and international firearms industry and has an Australian federal parliamentary presence to liaise and communicate with Australia’s elected leaders and those departments that affect our chosen sport. The Association also has official Non-Government Organisation status within the United Nations and regularly participates in discussions with affiliated and likeminded international groups.
Supporting those groups who support our chosen recreations and vigorously refuting the myth-making and factually incorrect claims of anti-shooting and anti-hunting groups is very important to the Association. As such, the SSAA Inc coordinates research projects and initiatives using data from a range of reputable sources, all of which provides material for our lobbying efforts and our publications and has run-on benefits for our SSAA state and territory association members.
History
On April 15, 1948, about 100 shooters met in the Railway Institute Building in Elizabeth Street in Sydney to form the SSAA. Since that time, many changes have taken place.
One of the most notable changes is the number of members in the Association, which continues to increase each year. In 1959, it had a mere but mighty 250 members – a drop in the bucket by today’s 200,000 members. Membership fees have obviously also increased since the Association first formed. Back in 1948, city members paid 10 shillings and country members paid 7/6.
The SSAA began in New South Wales because of the government’s increasing involvement in firearms legislation. In 1950, NSW adopted the title of The Sporting Shooters’ Association of Australia so everyone was clear that it was not just a ‘one state organisation’. State branches came into being at different times. Victoria formed in 1951, Queensland in 1957, South Australia in 1964, the Northern Territory in 1965-66, the ACT in 1965, Western Australia in 1967 and Tasmania in 1969.
In 1962, SSAA Inc came to life as a result of a meeting consisting of 12 people. The group agreed that there was a need for a federal body, whose purpose would be to assist and advise state bodies.
At that time, the Association had no official magazine, but rather a quarterly newsletter titled the Report, which was first printed in 1959. The first Australian Shooters’ Journal appeared in June 1968 and went through a number of changes and improvements before being retitled in September 1999 to Australian Shooter. A monthly magazine, the Australian Shooter quickly became the main publication for recreational shooters, competitors and hunters in Australia.
Aims and Objectives
The SSAA’s aims and objectives are:
- To promote and improve the role of the sporting shooter in Australia.
- To help educate in the skills of hunting, shooting and proper care and safe handling of firearms.
- To encourage all members to abide by the SSAA’s Code of Conduct and Rules of etiquette when hunting.
- To support farmers, particularly in the protection of native flora and fauna, and advocate game management in the Australian environment.
- To act as an effective and credible voice, representing members to the public, community leaders and authorities.
Code of Conduct and Social Media Policy
SSAA members must adhere to the following basic ethical requirements. It is our Code of Conduct. Any breach of these requirements may result in suspension of membership or expulsion from the Association.
- Obey the rules of firearms laws and regulations.
- Undertake to do all in their power to preserve the good image of the sport and the Association.
- Support game management and wildlife conservation.
- Encourage new shooters, both young and old, to acquire knowledge and ethical attitudes relating to game management, conservation and safe firearms ownership, all of which are the hallmark of the sporting shooter.
SOCIAL MEDIA POLICY
Note: Members of the Sporting Shooters’ Association of Australia are members of state or territory SSAA Associations, as identified on their SSAA membership card.
The Sporting Shooters’ Association of Australia Inc (SSAA) and its state and territory Associations realise that a significant number of members are involved within a social media community (such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc.).
It is important to know that all information exchanged within social media networks online or otherwise is within the public domain, and the difference between personal and public information is not always clear. It is also important to remember that information posted on social network sites can be easily traced and can be accessed at any time.
The purpose of these guidelines is to recommend a minimum standard regarding social media participation and use by members of a SSAA state and territory association regarding the SSAA Associations.
· When participating in social media networks online or otherwise, members of the SSAA Associations are asked not to make personal comments that may bring the SSAA associations into disrepute.
· Members of the SSAA Associations are advised not to unfairly/unjustly criticise the SSAA Associations, its directors or employees when participating in social media networks.
· When participating in social media networks online or otherwise, SSAA members should not imply that any personal comments are endorsed in any way by the SSAA Associations.
· Members of the SSAA Associations are advised/asked not to participate in social media networks in such a way that harasses, discriminates or treats unfairly or inappropriately any other person.
Breaches of a SSAA state or territory association’s official Social Media Policy or Guidelines may result in disciplinary action by the relevant SSAA state or territory association.
Please note: Policies may change at the Associations’ discretion.
Affiliations
SSAA Inc has affiliations and close relationships with a number of likeminded associations, including the American National Rifle Association (NRA), New Zealand Council of Licensed Firearms Owners (COLFO) and International Practical Shooting Confederation Australia (IPSC). We are a founding member of the World Forum on Shooting Activities (WFSA), which represents more than 100 million sporting shooters around the world and also has official Non-Government Organisation status at the United Nations.
We regularly engage with relevant government and non-government departments and bodies, such as the Attorney-General’s Department, Australian Border Force (formerly the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service), Australian Institute of Criminology (AIC) and Crimtrac, and we report on a range of political events and commentary regarding firearms ownership, sports shooting, recreational hunting and conservation issues.
Board Structure
SSAA INC Board
President: Mr Andrew Judd
Senior Vice President: Mr Paul Fitzgerald
Junior Vice President: Mr David Schereck
National Secretary: Mrs Kaye McIntyre
Treasurer: Mr Alf Bastian
ACT Board Member: Mr Shane Stroud
NSW Board Delegate: Mr Scott Wagner
NT Board Delegate: Mr John Bellman
QLD Board Delegate: Ms Hellen Gill
SA Board Member: Mr David Handyside
TAS Board Member: Mr Donald Riddell
VIC Board Delegate: Mr Neil Hibble
WA Board Member: Mr David McCarthy
CEO: Tom Kenyon
Secretariat: Nicole McClenahan
Chief of Staff/Public Officer: TBA