Engaging Communities: auDA’s impactful 2024

Throughout 2024, auDA was delighted to connect with the Australian community and .au members across the country, in person and online. Together we enjoyed engaging on ways in which to unlock social and economic value for Australians and ensure an open, free, secure and global internet into the future. As we reflect on the year, we wanted to share key 2024 member and community engagement highlights below.

Early in the year, auDA launched the auDA Academic Partner (aAP) program to support and engage with university faculties interested in IT, cyber security and internet governance. The program delivers guest lectures by auDA to student groups, promotes auDA programs such as the Asia-Pacific Internet Governance Academy (APIGA) and highlights grant opportunities for faculty through auDA’s Public Benefit Program.

A highlight from our university engagement this year was auDA CEO Rosemary Sinclair AM's keynote speech at the University of Melbourne’s 2024 Doctoral Colloquium, where Rosemary shared auDA’s Future Scenarios Project Report and set out how students can contribute to the evolving internet ecosystem through their own work and research. These engagement opportunities were important opportunities to share knowledge and raise awareness about internet security and governance among the next generation of tech professionals.

Throughout the year, auDA engaged with the local startup community, offering guidance on .au domain name registration and website security. Through our ongoing support of incubators including Runway HQ, Stone & Chalk and Fishburners, auDA provided emerging businesses access to tools and information to help them succeed online, including through presentations on website security and legal considerations for startups delivered with the support of our affiliate partners, Cynch Security and Sprintlaw. These engagements aim to foster innovative thinking and position auDA as a trusted partner to the entrepreneurial community.

Through its engagements with small business members and business chambers, auDA supports important discussions for Australian businesses, in particular about setting up an effective online web presence and ensuring it is secure. In 2024, we engaged with business chambers in Western Australia, Tasmania, Far North Queensland and New South Wales. These partnerships allowed us to speak with business leaders and provide resources to help industry understand how a .au domain name can support their business online and to improve their website security.

auDA is committed to ensuring its membership represents the Australian community and to promoting diversity within the Australian technology sector. To this end, we supported and participated in events such as the Women in Tech Fest Conference, and collaborated with organisations such as Sisterworks, Women in Digital, Canberra Women in Business and Women in Innovation SA. These collaborations provide women in technology with a platform to network with other women in the industry and build a more inclusive digital future from which we all benefit.

In auDA’s 2024 .au member survey, one third of members told us they have a strong preference for online learning.

In response, auDA invested in the delivery of an increased range of digital educational opportunities for members including webinars with organisations such as IP Australia, CSIRO’s National Artificial Intelligence Centre, and our affiliate partners Cynch Security and Sprintlaw.

In April, we also launched the .au online member portal to provide members access to on-demand educational and video content, covering topics such as registering a .au domain name, setting up and keeping your website secure and an introduction to internet governance. Members can also view past webinars, update their contact details and contact the .au membership team via the portal.

If you’re a current .au member and you haven’t yet logged into the portal, visit the .au member portal page for instructions to log in for the first time.

We wanted to take this opportunity to thank our .au members and all those who supported auDA in member events throughout 2024 – it was a tremendous year! We look forward to continued engagement throughout 2025 and beyond, helping us reflect and respond to the diverse needs of Australians through our work administering the .au.