Individual Membership Benefits

// benefits

Membership Categories and Benefits

Ordinary Membership of the AI Future Australia Association (AFAA) covers two individual membership categories: Individual and Student. Individuals from industry, academia and government are welcome to join AFAA as Ordinary Members and work together to advance the development and innovation of the Australian AI industry. Below is an overview of the categories of Ordinary Membership, a comparison of benefits, participation mechanisms, reasons for joining, and the joining process to help you fully understand the value of joining AFAA as an Individual Member.

Membership Categories

The general membership categories and dues are listed below:

Membership Categories

Individual Membership (Individual)

Student Memberships

Memberships Fees

$200/year

$40/year
(1 year only, 1 year per registration)

Eligibility

Practitioners, researchers,
and enthusiasts in the AI industry, academia or government

University students and PhD candidates in AI-related fields

Note:
💼Individual members may choose either an annual or two-year program;
🎓Student members are limited to current students and enroll for one year at a time

Benefits Comparison

Regular members enjoy a wealth of benefits. The table below compares the specific benefits of Individual Membership with those of Student Membership:

Membership Categories

Individual Membership (Individual)

Student Memberships

Access to AI Research & Whitepapers

Included

Not specified

Join Community Networking Events

Included

Not specified

Discounted Tickets to AI Conferences

Included

Not specified

Standard Logo Branding

Included

Not applicable

Free Entry to Selected Educational Workshops & Seminars

Discounted or paid

Included

Career Mentorship Opportunities

Not Included

Included

Job Opportunities from Enterprise Members

Not Included

Included

Note:
Student members enjoy additional benefits at certain events.

// asked questions

Membership Basics

What benefits do Individual Members receive?

Individual members enjoy a broad range of benefits that support their professional growth and networking:

Access to AI Research & Whitepapers: Get access to curated AI research papers, industry whitepapers, and insights. This keeps you updated with cutting-edge AI trends (a perk exclusive to Individual members).
Community Networking Events: You’re invited to AFAA networking meetups, workshops, and industry events to connect with AI professionals across academia, industry, and government . Individual members often receive exclusive invitations to member-only gatherings and early registration for events .
Discounted AI Conference Tickets: Enjoy reduced rates for major AI conferences and the annual AFAA AI summit . As an Individual member, you can attend key industry events at a lower cost.
Standard Logo Branding: Enhance your professional credibility by using AFAA’s standard member logo. Individual members are provided a digital “AFAA Member” badge or logo that they can display on personal profiles (LinkedIn, CV, etc.) to showcase their affiliation.
Educational Workshops & Seminars: Gain discounted (and occasionally free) entry to selected AI workshops, training sessions, and seminars . This helps you continue learning and skill-building through AFAA’s educational events.

What additional benefits do Student Members get?

Student members receive many of the community benefits above (networking events, workshops, volunteering, etc.), and they have some exclusive perks tailored for career development:

Mentorship Program: Access to AFAA’s mentorship opportunities – students can be paired with experienced AI professionals for guidance on careers or academic growth . (This one-on-one mentorship is a special benefit for Student members.)
Career Opportunities: Priority access to internships and job listings shared by AFAA’s enterprise members . Student members get notified first about AI job openings and can join career-focused events to boost their employment prospects.
Peer & Community Support: Join the same member-only forums, Discord channels, and WeChat groups as Individual members, providing a space to network and learn from professionals in the field.
Free Workshops: Enjoy free entry to selected educational workshops and seminars that AFAA hosts . (Many learning events that might be discounted for others are completely free for Student members.)
Volunteering & Leadership: Just like Individual members, Students can volunteer in AFAA activities – from helping organize events to contributing to community projects . It’s a chance to gain experience and connect with mentors by working alongside industry professionals.

Do members get priority or special access to events?

Yes. Both Individual and Student members are given priority or exclusive access for many AFAA events:

Individual members enjoy discounted tickets and sometimes early-bird registration for high-demand events like the annual AI summit . They may also receive invites to members-only networking sessions not open to the public.
Student members often have special accommodations at events – for example, free or subsidized entry to educational workshops , or dedicated student networking sessions. AFAA sometimes offers additional perks for Students at events (like mentorship meet-and-greets or career fairs).
In general, when AFAA events have limited capacity, members are given priority access to RSVP before general attendees. This ensures you can take full advantage of the networking and learning opportunities.

Joining & Onboarding

How do I sign up for Individual or Student membership?

Joining AFAA is straightforward:

1. Visit the Membership Page: Go to the Join Us section on the AFAA website and select your membership category (Individual or Student).

2. Fill Out the Application Form: You’ll be directed to an online membership form (hosted via Notion). Provide your details — name, email, affiliation, and (for Students) your school and student status.

3. Submit Your Application: Once the form is completed, submit it. There’s no payment required at this initial step.

4. Wait for Approval Email: The AFAA team will review your application (usually within a few days). If you meet the eligibility criteria, you’ll receive a welcome email with an invitation to officially activate your membership.

5. Complete Payment & Activation: Follow the instructions in the email to pay your membership dues. After payment, your membership will be activated – congratulations! You can now enjoy all member benefits.

Tip: If you’re signing up as a Student, you may be asked for proof of enrollment (e.g. a student ID). Once you graduate, remember to switch to an Individual membership for the next year to continue with AFAA.

I submitted the membership form – what happens next?

After applying, keep an eye on your email. You should receive a confirmation or welcome message from AFAA within a few days. This email will contain:

An approval notice (or a request for more info, if needed).
Payment instructions, if you haven’t paid yet, with details on how to complete the dues payment.
Next steps for accessing your benefits, such as how to join the community platforms.

Once you follow the instructions and your payment is processed, you’ll be an official AFAA member. If you don’t see any email after about a week, check your spam folder or reach out to AFAA’s support to inquire about your application status.

How do I join the AFAA online community (Discord, etc.) after signing up?

AFAA uses platforms like Discord and WeChat to connect members online . After your membership is confirmed, you’ll receive an invite link or instructions to join the members-only Discord server (and any other member group chats). Simply click the invite from your welcome email to join. In these community channels, you can introduce yourself, ask questions, and network with fellow members. If you don’t receive the invite or run into any issues joining, contact the AFAA team – they’ll make sure you get access. Being part of the Discord/WeChat is highly recommended, as it’s where you’ll hear about upcoming events, announcements, and can directly engage with the AFAA community.

Individual Membership Benefits

Membership Categories and Benefits

Membership Basics

Joining & Onboarding

Take Your AI Journey to the Next Level – Join AFAA Today!