Our History
A legacy of safe and responsible shooting sports, hunting and collecting
The Sporting Shooters’ Association of Australia (SSAA) was founded in 1948 to represent the interests of law-abiding sporting shooters across the nation. Since then, it has grown into the largest shooting organisation in Australia, with over 155,000 members nationally.
SSAA NSW was established in the 1950s as the state body, and today it represents more than 72,000 members across New South Wales. From its beginnings, SSAA NSW has been dedicated to making shooting safe, accessible and respected for individuals, families and communities throughout the state.
Growth and milestones
Over the decades, SSAA NSW has evolved alongside its members. Our history reflects not only the growth of shooting sports but also the values of responsibility, inclusivity and advocacy.
Supporting members and communities
From our earliest days to today, our mission has remained the same: to promote, protect and preserve responsible sport shooting in NSW.
Throughout our history, SSAA NSW has consistently provided:
Leaders in safety, training & education
Setting the benchmark in delivering firearm safety training courses, whilst educating our members to better understand their legislative requirements
Advocates
Providing a strong and credible voice across government, regulatory and industry stakeholders for law-abiding firearm owners (LAFO) in NSW
Experienced membership
Comprising of volunteers who are subject matter experts across all facets of the shooting fraternity
Conservation Partners
Supporting ethical hunting and responsible wildlife management, including partnership programs such as the National Parks & Wildlife Services Supplementary Pest Control and Farmer Assist initiatives, which connect our membership, government and landowners with experienced and accredited volunteers
Community Partners
With over 130 branches and affiliate clubs, our credible membership and expertise have forged strong and reputable relationships with government and industry stakeholder communities
Looking ahead
As we build on over seven decades of history, SSAA NSW continues to focus on the future.
Growing sport shooting as a family-friendly, inclusive activity.
Maintaining the highest standards of safety and responsibility.
Championing safe, responsible and respected shooting across NSW.