Emeritus Professor Trevor Heath OAM was a former and much-loved Head of School for the School of Veterinary Science.
Those who were fortunate to study and work with Professor Heath recall his gracious and giving nature, sharing advice and support to staff and students alike. For many, he played a significant role in shaping their future.
The Trevor Heath OAM Rural Scholarship provides a unique opportunity for donors to support, in perpetuity, future veterinary students from rural and regional Queensland backgrounds who will be able to follow their dream of becoming veterinarians.
The scholarship will help deserving students achieve their potential and continue his wonderful legacy.
Recent news
Vale Emeritus Professor Trevor Heath OAM - Hundreds of lives he touched/helped
14 Nov 2025
We mourn the passing of Emeritus Professor Trevor Heath OAM, a distinguished academic and leader whose humanity and contributions to veterinary science have left an enduring legacy at UQ and beyond.
Professor Heath served with distinction as Dean of Veterinary Science and later held the Chair in Veterinary Anatomy, before being appointed Emeritus Professor in 1999. He continued to provide constructive support and encouragement to students as Academic Consultant at King’s College, UQ for another 15 years. His leadership, scholarship, and dedication to the advancement of veterinary education were deeply valued by colleagues and students alike.
Trevor himself attributes his success from a benevolent Rhodes Scholar; mentoring students then became a touchstone of his professional life:
“That time spent in helping a young person can reap a reward far greater than the time and effort involved.”
We extend our heartfelt condolences to the Heath family. Trevor’s legacy will continue to live on in the hundreds of lives he touched and the institutions he helped shape.
The endowment fund
Thanks to UQ Alumni Friends and other generous donors, we have reached our fundraising goal of $150,000 for the scholarship!
While we have reached our target, it is critical that we keep giving so the endowment fund grows over time, to provide a sustainable source of funding for the scholarship in perpetuity.
UQ is registered as a deductible gift recipient (DGR) under federal government legislation - Subdivision 30-BA of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997, endorsed by the Australian Tax Office (ATO) as an income tax concession charity (TCC) and registered with the Australian Charities and not-for-profits commission. UQ provides you with a receipt for every gift greater than $2 for your taxation records.
"A small amount of help at a critical time in a young person’s life can make a difference out of all proportion to the time and effort involved."
Professor Trevor Heath OAM
A career devoted to supporting others
Professor Heath completed a Bachelor of Veterinary Science at the University of Sydney, the only graduate in his year to receive First Class Honours - plus all 7 prizes for subject performance. While there, he served as President of the Sydney University Veterinary Society.
He went on to complete a PhD in Experimental Pathology at the Australian National University, before moving to the University of California Medical Centre in San Francisco to undertake a post doc in Anatomy.
Driven by a passion for students and learning, Professor Heath began his teaching career at the Melbourne Vet School. He furthered his studies as a Fellow in Medical Education at Michigan State University, where he earned a Master of Medical Education and Educational Psychology.
At the age of 36, in 1973, he accepted the position of Dean of Veterinary Science at The University of Queensland. It was here he became an inspiration for so many.
The Trevor Heath OAM Rural Scholarship honours this veterinary pioneer who not only made an indelible mark through his career but did so by helping others to rise alongside him.
It is a tribute to his rural roots and his dedication to wellness and creating a welcoming environment for those who may feel a little like they don’t belong.
About the scholarship
The inaugural Trevor Heath OAM Rural Scholarship will be awarded in early 2026.
This scholarship will provide financial support to a student from a rural or regional Queensland community enrolled in a 5-year veterinary science program.
Your donation will also honour the legacy of Trevor Heath OAM.
"Trevor has given so much to support veterinary students with their transition to university life and into their careers. It is now time for us to acknowledge his significant contribution by honouring him with this rural residential scholarship in his name."
Dr Edith Hampson
Past student
"Professor Heath has spent a lifetime supporting, encouraging and mentoring an incredible number of students and alumni from UQ Veterinary School. I thoroughly enjoyed our squash court battles during my time as a student, and I continue to enjoy the social contact and wise counsel throughout my life and career from the Professor.
"In my second last year of veterinary science, I had just finished a block of clinical practical work with veterinarians in practice, and most seemed very despondent about the profession; a couple of practice owners even suggested changing course before it was too late. I raised my concerns about being a bit disillusioned. Professor Heath gave me some good advice: we all need to choose a path in life and we need to have the courage to weigh up and go after opportunities as they go past our front door. Basically, we make our own luck, and he suggested I needed to focus on how I would lead my life, and focus on what path I should choose. We are all masters of our own destiny."
Dr Glen Richards
Past student