History of S.S.A.A. (QLD) Inc.
Hunting and Conservation Division

Preserving Australia's Heritage

The Queensland division of this Organisation was founded in late 2000, after the considerable success experienced by the South Australian Branch since it’s inception in 1991. The South Australian Branch was formed at that time as a result of the cooperation between the Sporting Shooters’ Association of Australia (S.S.A.A.) and the National Parks and Wildlife Service, following a visit to the Gammon Ranges National Park by the then Minister for Environment, Susan Lenehan, when she directed that action be taken to control feral goats in National Parks.

Since that time, the South Australian Branch has achieved a high level of recognition, not only as a wildlife management ‘tool’ but also as a source of specimens and empirical data for research purposes.

The success of this Branch has been based on the sound training of members and careful organisation and monitoring of their activities in the field.

The Queensland Hunting and Conservation Division (H&C) has adopted many of the proven practices and procedures of the South Australian Branch. Membership is only open to current financial members of the Sporting Shooters’ Association of Australia (S.S.A.A.). This requires an undertaking to behave responsibly and ethically; compliance with all requirements for legal and safe ownership and use of a firearm; and precludes membership of any organisation which may have as any part of its program the overthrow of the government by force or violence. The possession of a current Weapons Licence is a requirement and is dependent upon a police background check and the satisfactory completion of a Police Department approved theory and practical Safety Course.

Hunting and Conservation Division members must complete an additional accreditation course before undertaking any field activity.

Accreditation consists of 2 parts, being:

  1. Satisfactory completion of an 8 hour theory course covering:
    • Hunters’ responsibilities
    • Basic Safety Rules
    • Hunting Ethics
    • Hunting Laws
    • Responsibilities to Landowners, Public and self
    • Field Firearm Safety
    • Principles of Wildlife Management
    • Wildlife Management Tools
    • Bushcraft and First Aid
    • Planning a Trip
    • Communications
    • Map reading and Navigation Systems
       
  2. The Passing of a practical field shooting test (100m offhand and 100m any rest)

As the objectives and specific conditions of many activities vary, each new major activity is preceded by a briefing outlining procedures and guidelines. Each activity is followed by a debriefing and completion of an Activity Report for recording of data and provision of feedback to the client.

The success of our accreditation and safe field operations has made it possible to obtain Public Liability Insurance cover for our Accredited Members undertaking H&C Division approved activities.

The H&C Division has a few fundamental policies. These include:

  • All activities must have a conservation related outcome.
  • All landowner/manager/client instructions are to be complied with.
  • All culling is undertaken to legal standards and guidelines, where applicable.
  • Teams are self-sufficient and bear their own costs of participating in field operations.

The H&C Division is committed to conservation and as such, offers its services for a variety of programs including habitat maintenance, revegetation projects, pest/feral animal control, native animal surveys and other, conservation related activities.

Though the Queensland H&C Division is relatively ‘young’, it has based its operation on the considerable experience gained by other State-based H&C organisations, as well as having representation on the S.S.A.A. Hunting and Conservation Division National Sub-Committee.

References, referees, copies of awards and further information can be provided on request. Please do not hesitate to make contact as we truly are committed to – "Preserving Australia’s Heritage".