AAAE History

The alliance was ‘born’ on the 9 November 2013 when the members of the National Education Forum (NEF) met in Sydney and created this new entity. The AAAE was formed to represent the collective views of national professional teacher associations in Australia and developed out of the National Education Forum (NEF), which had been in operation and meeting regularly since 1992.  Over the 21 years of NEF operation significant advocacy was achieved by its members. However, in 2010 the NEF realised it was time to create a more formal and representational entity to advocate for national professional teacher associations in a developing and ever changing national educational landscape. Between 2010 and 2013, the NEF drafted a constitution and canvassed support from its member associations to form AAAE. The difference between the NEF and AAAE is that the NEF was only a forum for discussion, whereas the AAAE is a fully constituted body with the representational status to speak on behalf of its membership on matters of education importance.

The inaugural AAAE Annual General Meeting was held in Sydney on 9 November 2013. Subsequent to the November AAAE AGM the Constitution was submitted to Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), with company status for AAAE being granted in January 2014. The first Members’ Forum was held in Canberra on 15 March 2014, commencing the real work of AAAE to promote the voice of professional teacher associations in Australia.

Since that time, AAAE has met regularly, every year, through its Member Forums to continue the valued work NEF in keeping members connected. AAAE has collaborated in member association research projects; engaged with the federal Department of Education in roundtables and advocated to Ministers of Education, ACARA and AITSL.  AAAE Board Members have held and continue to hold roles on educational committees, including AITSL. AAAE’s work is shaped by a member-led Strategic Plan.