Membership & Resources
Join GHAA to learn essential hunting skills, enjoy the bush, meet great people and experience ethical, rewarding outdoor adventures.
About GHAA Membership
The Game Hunters Association of Australia Inc. is a hunting organisation that looks to bring hunters, land holders, government authorities and the public together to educate and assist with game, pest management and safe hunting.
Our memberships are recognised by the QLD and NSW Police Services as an approved recreational hunting club for the purpose of licensing for firearms: QLD for Category A and B firearms (Approval Number 79000008-01) and NSW for licensing for Category A and B firearms (Approval Number 407745119). We are also recognised by the VIC Police Service as an approved Category A or B Longarm Sport Target Shooting Club in Victoria.
Our Membership fees, purchased in the multi-year form, are the cheapest rates you will find for these purposes.
Membership Types
GHAA has three membership categories, with great discounts for longer memberships. We are inclusive and encourage families and juniors, from beginners to seasoned hunters.
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Adult Membership
- 1 year: $85
- 3 years: $235
- 5 years: $340
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Junior Membership (under 18 yrs.)
- 1 year: $50
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Family Membership*
- 1 year: $140
- 3 years: $390
- 5 years: $560
*A Family Membership includes one or two adult parents and their children under 18 years old, all living at the same address. It does not cover adult siblings or parent and adult children.
- The GHAA Membership runs parallel with the financial year – no pro rata calculations.
- A new Membership in the January will have their Membership run till the end of June the next year, i.e. 18 months initial Membership.
- A new Membership in September will have their Membership run till the end of June the next year, i.e. 10 months initial Membership.
- Membership for ‘reason to own’ purposes is valid & encouraged though those wishing to hunt our properties must undertake the Hunter Induction and Education.
Online Membership Application & Renewal
There is a two-step process for joining or renewing your membership.
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Complete the form
The preferred online method with our square payment portal will ensure you receive a receipt and the payment information will be sent immediately to the membership officer to improve the processing time.
Renewal reminders are sent out and paid via our Hello Club site. Please ensure you enter a credit card payment method into Hello Club to allow for auto-renewals.
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Payment method
Depending on the payment option you chose after submitting the form, you will be given instructions on what to do to complete the membership payment.
You are also able to pay for the hunter education (please include membership number) and booking fees for properties (include membership number and property name on notes to seller section of payment).
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Complete the form
The preferred online method with our square payment portal will ensure you receive a receipt and the payment information will be sent immediately to the membership officer to improve the processing time.
Renewal reminders are sent out and paid via our Hello Club site. Please ensure you enter a credit card payment method into Hello Club to allow for auto-renewals.
-
Payment method
Depending on the payment option you chose after submitting the form, you will be given instructions on what to do to complete the membership payment.
You are also able to pay for the hunter education (please include membership number) and booking fees for properties (include membership number and property name on notes to seller section of payment).
Membership Benefits
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Monthly Meetings
- Except in January, meetings are held on the first Wednesday of every month.
- Meetings begin at 6:30pm for a 7pm start. We have regular guest speakers, pizza nights & raffles – we aim to make our evenings informative, educational, and social. Many of us meet for a meal and a chat at the Nerang Hinterland Hotel around 5.30pm.
- Visitors and prospective Members are welcome to arrive before the meeting commences to meet some of our Members beforehand – contact us for further info if you wish to attend.
- Zoom meetings are also in place for Members who don’t live on the Gold Coast.
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New Member Hunter Induction and Education Course
All new members wishing to gain access to either hunt game or feral pest animals or accompany a hunter as a non hunter on GHAA properties must first complete our Hunter Induction and Education Course. This course is mandatory for all new and existing members wishing to access a GHAA property, regardless of their hunting experience.
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Insurance included in your Membership Fees
- The GHAA has in place a $20 million public liability coverage for hunting activities Australia wide.
- Also included is a $12000 insurance policy for your firearms, and associated gear, either at home or whilst in transit anywhere in Australia and for 21 days internationally.
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Newsletter
Each month you will receive a newsletter by email with all the relevant information regarding events for the up and coming months. The newsletter is a great way to tell your hunting tale or even just to share some useful tips – the more member input, the better the newsletter!
Courses
GHAA Hunter Induction and Education Course
- One of the best & most comprehensive & best priced general hunter education courses in Australia.
- All new members wishing to gain access to hunt game or feral pest animals on GHAA properties must first complete our Hunter Induction and Education Course. This course is mandatory for all new members regardless of their hunting and firearm experience.
- All new members who are non hunters wishing to accompany a hunter to a GHAA property must also first complete our Hunter Education Course.
- Landholders who have signed up their property to the GHAA, and who have seen the detail in this course are now asking for this course as a base minimum to gain access to their properties, for all hunters wishing to use their land.
- The Hunter Induction and Education one day course is held approximately four times a year on a Sunday from 10am to 4pm. Lunch is supplied.
- You don’t need to have your Firearms Licence to undertake this training.
- Not required if your Membership is solely ‘reason to own’ firearms licensing purposes.
- Hunter Induction and Education is usually held in February, May, August and October. Please refer to the Newsletter for the next available course date.
The Hunter Induction and Education Course covers all aspects of hunting and shooting.
Topics include:
- GHAA Club rules
- GHAA club Properties rules and information
- Private land hunting in Australia
- Understanding Farms and Farmer Relations
- Firearm Familiarisation and Safety
- Hunting and shooting safety
- Bush Navigation and safety
- Use of GPS and UHF radios – mandatory on GHAA properties
- Hunting and shooting equipment
- Selecting Firearms and ammunition for purpose
- Game animal harvest and butchering
- Target animal species information
- Trail Cameras
- and lots more...
AND we constantly teach:
- ALWAYS OBSERVE FIREARM SAFETY AT ALL TIMES!!
- Adhere to ALL the firearm transport, storage rules and allied laws for everyone’s benefit.
Firearm Safety Training
Statement of Attainment for Long Arms Licensing
All persons requiring a firearms licence in Australia are required to undertake an approved course in firearms safe handling. The course is entitled “Statement of Attainment for Long Arms Licensing”.
R-Licence Training
- GHAA is an Approved Hunting Organisation for NSW DPI R-Licence.
- Due to NSW DPI's shift to online training, GHAA no longer offers R-Licence training.
Some comments about GHAA’s Hunter Induction and Education Course
I’ve done several hunter education courses around the world, this is the most comprehensive I’ve done.
Great weekend and a very professional course.
Top HE Course, appreciate all your time and energy.
It is very easy to see the huge amount of effort that has gone into putting it together, and it has definitely left me with a passion to go out there and learn more and give it a go
I believe that each and every participant will have gained invaluable knowledge from the course, as I have, despite their experience. The firearms industry is one that is under constant scrutiny, and subject to negative media and political comment on a regular basis, it is only through organisations such as yours that enable and empower the end user in a positive way.
Would recommend this club and course to anyone with a genuine interest in hunting. Great value for money, thanks again.
Activities
Annual Christmas Dinner
GHAA holds its annual dinner in December each year to coincide with Christmas. The dinner is well attended by club members, their partners and children.
Shotgunners Sporting Day
Usually held, depending on expressions of interest, May and September of each year for those members who enjoy shotgunning. Held at the Gold Coast Clay Target Club.
Other Club Activities
GHAA’s very proactive committee is always looking for ways to engage our members with locally held events in the Gold Coast and Brisbane areas. Over the last few years, we have had days targeting:
- Wild Dogs and Trapping
- Training courses in First Aid; Reptile Safety; Butchering and Chainsaw Use and Maintenance
- Hands-on experiences, such as access to hunting properties (mentoring)
- Shotgunners sporting days
- Social get-togethers in Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast
Properties
As a member of GHAA you have access to properties at very reasonable rates. Some of our properties are exclusive to GHAA. All properties require booking in advance through our Property Coordinator team. Access to these properties is only available to members who have undertaken the Hunter Induction and Education Course.
Current GHAA properties are located between 3.5 and 8 hours’ drive from the Gold Coast and Brisbane. All of the properties are working family farms and members are assisting our farmer partners in control of feral and pest animals that are causing significant damage to their properties.
If you're a landowner experiencing feral pest problems (deer, pigs, goats, feral cats, foxes, etc.), please contact our club committee. They can demonstrate the benefits of dealing with a highly organised, adequately insured, and ethical association.
Resources
Members have access to the following:
Hand held UHF radios and GPS are mandatory on all club properties.
Information on property is covered in great detail in the GHAA Hunter Induction and Education Course. Included are protocols with the landowner, property specific details such as accommodation, vehicle requirements, along with map references, emergency protocols, etc.
Join a Community of Responsible Hunters
Become a GHAA member and enjoy access to training, ethical hunting, insurance cover and a supportive community of like-minded people.