Professional Associations and Networking

Australia Awards aims to enhance your learning experience by encouraging you to seek opportunities for networking with professional associations, governments, other agencies, and businesses in Australia. 

Networking will expose you to different skills, knowledge and ways of doing things in Australia that you can draw on when you return home. To assist you, we have compiled a list of some relevant Australian professional associations by sector of study. We encourage you to seek out other associations and groups that may be better suited to your specific field of study. 

The benefits of joining an Australian professional association 

1. Develop networks within government, industry and media 
2. Meet other students and participate in social events 
3. Be invited to and attend industry events, forums and seminars 
4. Attend professional development workshops and training sessions 
5. Receive discounted access to national conferences 
6. Build contacts with experienced industry professionals and mentors 
7. Receive subsidised membership subscriptions 
8. Gain access to relevant journals and other publications 
9. Receive automatic subscription to association newsletter and other communications 
10. Gain access to awards and prizes 

Below is a general list of Australian professional associations by sector. To find relevant professional associations operating near you, please contact your Student Contact Officer.

• Agriculture and Food Security
• Australian Agricultural and Resources Economics Society
• Australian Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology
• Natural Resources Management/Mining
• AusIMM The Minerals Institute
• Natural Resources Management/Environment
• Environment Institute of Australia and New Zealand
• Environmental Health Australia
• Australasian Systematic Botany Society Inc.
• Ecological Society of Australia
• National Trust
• Society for Conservation Biology
• Public Policy/Governance
• Australian Institute of International Affairs
• Financial Services Institute of Australasia
• Australian Institute of Management
• Institute of Public Administration Australia
• Water and Sanitation
• International Water Centre
• Australian Water Association
• Multidisciplinary
• The African Studies Association of Australasia and the Pacific
• University associations, clubs, and societies

In addition to a professional association, scholars can join a university club or society while on award. The list of all clubs and societies is available from your university’s Student Contact Officers.