EAAA Membership Policy

Categories of Membership

The Members of EAAA shall fall into one of the following categories:

• Individuals, who subject to the EAAA Constitution, shall have the right to attend, debate and vote at General Meetings
• Concessions, who subject to the EAAA Constitution, shall have the right to attend, debate and vote at General Meetings
• Organisation membership is applicable to Not-For-Profit organisations who subject to the EAAA Constitution shall be represented by their appointed delegates, shall have the right to attend, debate and vote at General Meetings for and on behalf of the Organisations 
• Associate membership is applicable to For-Profit Organisations, Statutory Authorities and the Departments & Agencies of all levels of Government who subject to the EAAA Constitution shall be represented by their appointed delegates, shall have the right to attend and debate at General Meetings for and on behalf of the Organisations but shall not have the right to vote, and 
• such other category or categories of members as determined by the Board from time to time.

Eligibility for Membership

Individual and Concession membership is available to all qualifying adults over 18 years of age. Individual and Concession members will:

• be bound by this Constitution
• act in good faith and loyalty to maintain and enhance EAAA, its standards, quality and reputation for the collective and mutual benefit of the Members
• at all times operate with, and promote, mutual trust and confidence between EAAA and the Members
• not do or permit to be done any act or thing which might adversely affect or diminish from the standards, quality and reputation of EAAA.

For noting: Concession members will have a valid Health Care Card or Pension Concession Card issued by either Services Australia or the Department of Veteran's Affairs or a current full time Student Identity Card and supply a copy of their concession card as part of their application 

An Organisation member will:

• be a Not-for-Profit organisation and/or a registered charity and listed on the ACNC website or be listed with the Australian Business Register
• have purposes that align with EAAA's Charitable Objects and do all that is reasonably necessary to enable the organisation’s purposes to be achieved 
• act for and on behalf of the interests of EAAA and the Members 
• be bound by EAAA’s Constitution 
• act in good faith and loyalty to maintain and enhance EAAA, its standards, quality and reputation for the collective and mutual benefit of the Members 
• at all times operate with, and promote, mutual trust and confidence between EAAA and the Members, and  
• not do or permit to be done any act or thing which might adversely affect or diminish from the standards, quality and reputation of EAAA.  

An Associate Members will:

• be a For-Profit organisation or Statutory Authority or the Departments & Agencies of all levels of Government 
• be a registered company listed with ASIC and have an ABN or have purposes or programs that align with EAAA's Charitable Objects and do all that is reasonably necessary to enable the organisation’s purposes to be achieved  
• act for and on behalf of the interests of EAAA and the Members 
• be bound by EAAA’s Constitution, act in good faith and loyalty to maintain and enhance EAAA, its standards, quality and reputation for the collective and mutual benefit of the Members 
• at all times operate with, and promote, mutual trust and confidence between EAAA and the Members, and
• not do or permit to be done any act or thing which might adversely affect or diminish from the standards, quality and reputation of EAAA.

Applications must be submitted using the relevant membership form on the EAAA website.  

Individual and Concession members will pay their membership fee when applying.  

Payments for Organisation and Associate membership applications may be paid when submitting an application, but the recommended practice is for an invoice to be issued by EAAA once an application is approved. 

Approval of Membership 

Membership applications are processed by the Membership Coordinator. 

Individual and Concession applications will be submitted to the Executive Office for consideration and assessed against the criteria for membership,  

Organisation and Associate members will submit additional information on their reasons for joining EAAA. The EAAA Board of Directors will consider and assess applications against the relevant eligibility criteria. 

Once applications are approved: 

Individuals and Concession members 

• the membership register will be updated and unique member number assigned 
• voting rights will be assigned 
• the member will receive written confirmation of membership approval along with the unique member number 

Organisation and Associate members 

• the member will receive written confirmation that the membership has been approved along with the unique member number. If payment of the membership fees is required, an invoice will be sent  
• once payment has been received, the organisation will be onboarded including: 
  • collection of additional contact information 
  • logos and membership profile to be published on the EAAA website
  • provision of an EAAA member icon for use on emails and/or organisation websites, and  
  • applicable voting nominee information. 

If the membership application is denied 

Any applicants whose applications are not approved will be contacted by the Membership Coordinator and have any fees already paid refunded via the payment method used.  

Membership Register

Membership information relating to individuals is subject to the EAAA Privacy Policy, the Constitution and the Corporations Act (the Act).  Organisation and Associate members are encouraged to have their logo displayed on the EAAA membership web page linking to the organisation’s member profile.   

Details of members are maintained in the EAAA database, these details include:  

• the names and addresses of all Members and the representatives of Organisation and Associate members  
• the dates of their admission as Members
• particulars of resignations, termination and reinstatement of membership
• any further particulars as the Directors or the Members at any General Meeting may require from time to time, and
• any other information required by the Act.

The Register will be open for inspection and copying in accordance with the Act Section 173, and as approved by the Executive Officer and Co-Chairs. 

Renewals & Lapsed Memberships

Membership is annual and all members will be invited to renew their membership at least one month prior to the conclusion of the current membership term.  

EAAA will issue an invoice with payment details provided. Members will receive two (2) reminders by email for the payment of renewal fees.  

If no payment is received prior to the end of the current membership term, the membership will lapse and be cancelled.  

Members will receive confirmation of cancelled membership within 14 days of cancellation.  

The Organisations and Associates revenue will be checked prior to the renewal invoice being sent out. The renewal fee will be updated accordingly to reflect the updated published revenue.  

Voting Rights

All members have the right to attend and speak at meetings of the EAAA Board. The Board may close the meeting to meet ‘in closed committee’ without the member/s present if it chooses.  Subject to this Constitution and to any rights or restrictions attached to any class of membership, at a General Meeting:

• each Organisation Member has three (3) votes and Associate Members have zero (0) votes, and  
• each Individual Member has one (1) vote, and each Concession Member has one (1) vote. 

A new category of Membership created by the Directors under clause 9.1(c) will not be granted voting rights unless approved by the General Meeting.

A proxy, attorney or representative is entitled to a separate vote for each Member the person represents, in addition to any vote the person may have as a Member in his or her own right.

An objection to the qualification of a person to vote at a General Meeting must be raised before or at the meeting at which the vote objected to is given or tendered and referred to the chairperson of the meeting, whose decision is final.

 A vote not disallowed by the chairperson of a meeting under clause 14.9(d) is valid for all purposes.

Membership Expulsion 

A member may be expelled following a vote of the Board if, in the Board’s absolute discretion, they decide it is not in the interests of EAAA for the person or organisation to remain an EAAA Member. When considering expulsion the Board will consider: 

• for Organisations, any matters referred to in Section 9.6 of the Constitution; or 
• for Individuals, any matters referred to in Section 9.7 of the constitution; or 
• for any member, not supporting, or giving the perception of not supporting EAAA in the achievement of its charitable objects per the Constitution Section 3.2, or 
• adherence to this policy.  

If the Directors intend to propose a resolution under clause of the EAAA constitution 12.2(a), at least two weeks before the meeting at which the resolution is to be proposed, they must give the Member written notice:  

• stating the date, place and time of the meeting  
• setting out the intended resolution and the grounds on which it is based, and  
• informing the Member that he or she may attend the meeting and may give a verbal or written explanation or submission before the resolution is put to the vote.  

The member will be notified in writing within 14 days of the resolution passing and will forfeit all membership fees paid prior to being expelled.