ACCAN OBJECTIVES

From section 3.1 of the ACCAN Constitution:

1. to be a peak body in Australia representing the interests of consumers in relation to communications and telecommunications issues;
   
   
2. to promote the telecommunications consumer objectives of accessibility, affordability and availability to all consumers;
   
   
3. to promote the development of Australian information and communications technology resources;
   
   
4. to develop a strong, coordinated voice for consumers and to represent and advocate on behalf of consumers to Government, regulators and the telecommunications industry;
   
   
5. to undertake research, policy development and education on consumer telecommunications issues;
   
   
6. to facilitate access to and dissemination of information to consumers, consumer representatives and consumer organisations;
   
   
7. to advocate on behalf of consumers on telecommunications laws affecting consumers, law reform, policy development and in relation to industry practices;
   
   
8. to participate in regulatory and co-regulatory activities; and
   
   
9. to contribute to the development of Government telecommunications policy.
   
   

View our Strategic Plan

View our Constitution

There are three categories of membership.

• Voting members
• Associate members (Non-voting)
• Life members 

Voting members includes both organisations and individuals – each having one vote. The eligibility criteria for organisational Voting members is that their purposes align with ACCAN's objectives and that they are both non-party political and not for profit. Individual Voting members must also subscribe to ACCAN’s objectives. Voting members can nominate and vote for positions on ACCAN’s board of directors. 

Associate members (Non-voting) are those who are interested in working with ACCAN but are not eligible (or do not wish to apply) for Voting membership. 

Life membership is conferred by a special meeting of ACCAN on someone who has made an outstanding contribution to the area.

Please contact us if you're unsure which type of Membership is best for you.

Members of the telecommunications industry, such as carriers, carriage service providers (CSPs), content service providers and equipment manufacturers, are not eligible for membership. 

We value your voice

ACCAN trusts our member network to inform us about the communications issues that are affecting themselves and/or their members/clients. To effectively advocate for change our lobbying and campaigns need to be evidence based and supported by strong personal stories. We therefore regularly seek input from our members in the form of surveys or occasional telephone calls. If you don’t have the time to participate, we don’t mind but equally welcome contact from our members whenever there is an issue that you’d like us to look at.

Membership pricing

ACCAN membership is renewed yearly and based on the applicant's income.  The fees are structured as follows:

Organisational Membership

Individual Membership

Fee Waivers

Both Individual and Organisational Members and applicants can apply for a fee waiver. If you would like your fees waived please contact ACCAN to discuss further.

Apply

Take the first step today and become a member by calling ACCAN on (02) 9288 4000 or

Apply online

You may also download the application form below and return signed forms to ACCAN.

Download:  ACCAN Individual Membership Application Form82.51 KB

Download:  ACCAN Individual Membership Application Form230.56 KB

Download:  ACCAN Organisational Membership Application Form83.6 KB

Download:  ACCAN Organisational Membership Application Form233.11 KB

ACCAN’s purpose is to work for “communications services that are trusted, inclusive, accessible and available for all.”  We need the expertise and support of individuals and organisations to help guide ACCAN’s work towards better outcomes for all communications consumers. ACCAN facilitates opportunities each year through our consultative forums and conference for ACCAN Members to help guide our strategic direction. Become an ACCAN Member and have your voice heard!

The benefits of becoming an ACCAN member are:

We put consumers first

We are a community-based, member-driven, not-for-profit, non-party political organisation.

Be heard:

Tell us about your issues and opinions through direct contact with us. We also have expert Advisory Forums, which members can nominate to join, which help us identify consumer issues and strategies to address them. 

Be informed:

Our weekly newsletter will keep you up to date with news and issues affecting consumers and the communications industry. Your membership also means you will receive ACCAN at a Glance which will keep you up to date with our policy, grants and research activities, as well as industry and regulatory news, and tip sheets.

Be equipped:

ACCAN tip sheets and educational resources will help you and your constituents on consumer rights and important issues.

Fight the good fight:

Take part in our campaigns, research and grants projects to help us advocate for consumer rights.

Networking:

Participate in ACCAN Events, including discounted fees for our annual conference, profiling your work and events through our website, find other events and contacts through ACCAN.

Have a say:

Your membership to ACCAN entitles you to nominate and vote for directors on the ACCAN Board.  You can also choose to become a non-voting, Associate Member.

Holly Raiche has served ACCAN as a Board member for many years. She was a member of the ACCAN Working Group (involved with establishment of ACCAN) and was the Deputy Chair of ACCAN’s Founding Board.

She is a respected communications law scholar and consumer activist who has served Australia’s communications community in national and international roles.

Holly’s contributions extend far beyond her work with ACIF, CTN and ACCAN. Through the Internet Society of Australia, she has been involved in the far wider world of internet regulation and governance.

Her ability, experience and commitment to robust analysis of communications issues has assisted ACCAN and the Board in its’ advocacy for better outcomes for consumers.

Len has been a lifelong champion of people with disabilities, particularly for the deaf and hard of hearing. He brought that commitment to the early days of the Consumers’ Telecommunications Network (CTN) and then to ACCAN. He has served on the CTN and ACCAN Board in many capacities including as Deputy Chair, Treasurer and member of the Finance and Audit Committee and Performance Committee. He has been a member of the ACCAN Independent Grants Panel since 2020. 

He has brought his unique blend of knowledge and experience in communications and information technology to his involvement in ACCAN, with his portfolio of responsibilities including disability access, emergency services and emerging technologies.  

ACCAN is delighted to award Andrew a Life Membership of ACCAN. Andrew has been a life-long champion for people with disabilities, particularly the deaf and hard of hearing.

He has brought that commitment to consumers through his early involvement with ACCAN’s predecessor organisation CTN, and his support for over the years to ACCAN.

He has been an exceptional contributor to ACCAN campaigns and policy work and an outstanding advocate for people with disabilities in a number of CTN and ACCAN fora, and an outstanding advocate on the many committees and panels he has participated in. He brings to ACCAN a wealth of knowledge and experience on people with disabilities, particularly the deaf and hard of hearing that include:

• His involvement in drafting the first disability standard on acoustic coupling;
• His involvement with Print-a-Call and later, establishment of Hearing Connections in the provision of both assistive devices and advice on their use
• His championing the issues of the compatibility of hearing aids with mobile phones and later, of the compatibility of TTYs with the NBN
• His involvement with ACCAN’s Accessible Telecoms Project

ACCAN, its members and so many of the consumers we serve owe a huge debt of gratitude to Andrew for his knowledge, his expertise and his commitment to people with disabilities. We are proud to name Andrew Stewart as a Life Member of ACCAN.