Welcome to AMRRIC

AMRRIC is an independent group of Veterinarians, academics, health professionals and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. We work to improve the health and wellbeing of companion animals and improve the overall health and wellbeing of remote Indigenous communities.

You can support AMRRIC's work by donating now.

Dog health programs showcased in "The Western Australia Indigenous Storybook"

The Storybook is the first in a series of Indigenous Storybooks showcasing the achievements of Indigenous people and communities across Western Australia. This edition celebrates and shares the good news coming out of the Kimberly and Pilbara region. The dog health programs are featured in the stories "Let"s Work Together" and "A Jouney in Dog Health ".  The storybook is enriched by detailed information about the projects and participants so that each story is a contact point for the authors and organisations involved.

Download The Western Australia Indigenous Storybook (PDF, 204 kb)

Member of the month - Craig Highlands

Craig Highlands currently works as the Senior Ranger of the Shire of Northam. His time in Northam as the Senior Ranger has exposed him to the need to not only improve the wellbeing of the companion animals, but their owner’s wellbeing as well, this includes meaningful employment. Craig is the developer of an Indigenous Heath and Animal Welfare program which aims to educate in a fun and engaging way about the needs of companion animals. It also provides the skills to enable the participants of this program to gain full time employment within the Avon region or the skills to do further education. The program has a profound effect on the community and on the individuals involved. ‘There has been a whole new way of looking at animals and their needs and as a person who cares a lot about our lifelong friends (animals) this has brought so much joy and job satisfaction’, he said. ‘The participants themselves have enhanced the understanding of their culture’ and he has found the experience and trust provided by the local Aboriginal people ‘to be of a life changing nature’. ‘I have learnt as much as I have been able to teach’ he said, ‘ the partnership developed here with the community has been truly inspiring’.

Craig is a new member of AMRRIC and was lucky enough to meet Julia Hardaker in Perth and is so grateful for the assistance and advice offered to him. This meeting opened a whole new world of animal welfare awareness and he said he ‘was honoured to be invited to be a guest speaker at the annual AMRRIC Conference in Townsville this year (2011)’. The Conference and the AIAM conference opened up a whole new world to Craig and he is very committed to continue the good work being done in the area of indigenous and animal welfare.