Australia's longest-running private research
institute on international affairs

Founded in 1933 by membership organisations that date back to the 1920s, the AIIA is active in every state and territory across Australia. It holds more than 160 events per year and fields over 10,000 annual event registrations.

Throughout its history, the AIIA has been involved in the key debates of international relations in Australia. The AIIA currently publishes the Australian Journal of International Affairs, Australia’s premier academic journal in the field, and Australia in World Affairs a series published every five years to assess Australian foreign policy and international relations. It also publishes occasional papers and Australian Outlook, a popular online publication featuring short articles and a weekly summary of events in Australian foreign policy.

In addition, the AIIA organises programs of exchange between Australian scholars, practitioners, officials, members, and their counterparts overseas. These include track 1.5 and track 2 policy dialogue roundtables both in Australia and overseas, as well as study tours and delegations to foreign countries. The institute also sends representatives to major international dialogues and dispenses scholarship funding for Australians conducting research overseas.

The AIIA’s membership is broad based, ranging from distinguished foreign policy practitioners and academics to interested intelligent individuals with no professional or formal scholarly background in the subject. The AIIA is also geographically broad. It is the only institute of its kind with branches in every state and territory capital city in Australia. The AIIA works closely with but is independent from Australian government departments, particularly the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

It receives its income from investments, membership fees, sponsorship, donations, royalties, project income, and rent. It does not accept anonymous donations and discloses all income sources above $5000 in its annual review.