Survey Reports
Associations Forum regularly undertakes practical surveys which are used by the associations and charities sector as standard reference points and are free to members that participate. Our surveys include Associations Salary Survey, Board Survey, Membership and Services Survey, and Association Events Survey.
For more information or to purchase a copy of any of our survey reports please call 02 9904 8200 or email info@associations.net.au
Association Board Survey 2026
The 2026 Association Board Survey is now open. This is the 18th annual Associations Forum Board Survey in Australia, providing valuable insights into the governance, composition and performance of association boards across the sector.
- The average number of directors is 9, with 22% of organisations in Australia having this number of directors.
- Australia’s boards have an average female representation of 48%, indicating significant progress toward gender balance.
- Survey participants reported a greater number of Presidents/Chairs of Board being appointed by their members compared to last year.
- The role of the Company Secretary/Public Office is undertaken by the CEO/Head of Staff in 43% of Australian and 10% of Australian organisations outsource these services.
Contact our team for more information or if you have any questions.
The final report is free to Associations Forum members. For non-members (NFP organisations only) who do not participate in the survey, the report can be purchased for $200.
Associations Salary Survey 2026
The Associations Salary Survey explores remuneration and employment trends across the associations sector and examines how organisations are responding to changing workforce and market conditions. Associations Forum has been conducting the Associations Salary Survey for 17 years to develop a comprehensive understanding of salary benchmarks and employment practices across a wide range of associations and charities.
Key Findings From 2026:
- Changes in remuneration were more active over the past year, with an overall average increase of 5.1%. This is a notable shift compared to the 1.8% average increase reported in last year's survey.
- 93.4% of respondents indicate flexibility with hours and location continued to be the main driver in attracting and retaining staff, followed by an organisation's purpose and reputation (78%).
- While there are some large increases in the following specific categories, overall we are seeing the variation in remuneration flattening across small to medium size organisations.
The 94 page Associations Salary Survey 2026 can be purchased for $300 (Members) or $600 (Non-members NP organisations only). Contact our team for more information.
Association Membership and Services Survey
Associations Forum would like to thank the 216 organisations that participated in the 2026 Association Membership and Services Survey. This marks the 17th edition of the Associations Forum Membership and Services Survey in Australia. Membership and member services are at the core of associations, with the ongoing challenge of delivering offerings that members find essential and highly valuable.
Key Findings From 2026:
- On average, associations are welcoming new members at an encouraging 12.7%. However, at the same time, attrition is sitting at 9%. Growth is happening, but so is churn.
- Budget restraints is the clear number one reason why members do not renew. Members are weighing up every dollar, and associations need to prove the return on that investment.
- Email remains the most preferred way to communicate with members, but many tell us they get too many emails. That tells us relevance matters more than frequency.
We would like to thank Higher Logic for sponsoring the 2026 Association Membership and Services Survey.
The survey is FREE for members or can be purchased for $200 (NFP organisations only). Contact our team for more information.
Association Events Survey 2025
Associations Forum thanks the 154 organisations that participated in the 2025 Association Event Survey. This survey provides benchmarking data across the industry and helps association professionals to plan their events better. It examines a number of areas including event types, attendance, factors influencing the decision-making process and where events are being run. As a leading provider of practical training, events and advisory services for associations, Associations Forum makes the following observation based on the key
Key Findings From 2025:
- The conference remains the single most important event for the majority of associations with 76% holding this event annually.
- Two-thirds of respondents (66%) plan their major conference more than a year in advance, underscoring the necessity of securing key dates and venues early.
- Attendance figures are trending positively, with 36% of respondents reporting an increase of more than 5% in attendees compared to the previous year.
- The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in events continues to increase with 76% of respondents now leveraging AI for tasks, including content creation, reporting, event planning and marketing communications.
We would like to thank Cvent, Nyaal Banyul Geelong Convention and Event Centre, Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre and Novotel Melbourne Airport for sponsoring the 2025 Association Events Survey.
The Association Events Survey 2025 is available and is FREE for members or can be purchased for $200 (open to NFP organisations only).
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