Australia’s peak representative body for professional and consulting archaeologists

The Australian Association of Consulting Archaeologists Incorporated (AACAI) is an organisation for professionals working in all fields of contract and public archaeology.

AACAI aims to uphold and promote the discipline of archaeology and to advance the welfare of its members. AACAI has a Constitution, a Code of Ethics and a Consulting with Aboriginal Communities Policy Document. It also has a Website and Social Media Policy, and a Procedure for Handling Complaints against its Members.

AACAI Objectives

  1. To encourage the communication of knowledge and promote a spirit of co-operation amongst workers within the field of archaeology;
  2. To support and encourage research into all forms of archaeology, particularly those with relevance to consultancy work within the discipline;
  3. To promote the training of students in archaeology, especially in consulting work, by encouraging consultants to provide such training;
  4. To establish, maintain and encourage adherence to professional standards and ethics by fellow consultants.

AACAI Governance & Structure

AACAI is a national organisation with State Chapters currently in New South Wales (combined with the Australian Capital Territory), Victoria and Western Australia. The National Executive Committee (NEC) deals with national issues, including membership applications, AACAI policy and general administration, while State Chapters deal with local matters. AACAI may also provide technical and professional advice, and dispute resolution. In accordance with the Constitution, the NEC and the State Executive Committees must hold elections every two years.

AACAI runs occasional Professional Development workshops and training, and it advocates for better heritage legislation through Submissions to various Governments across Australia and puts out Media Releases reaffirming that advocacy. It also publishes quarterly Newsletters, a peer-reviewed online open-access journal, the Journal of the Australian Association of Consulting Archaeologists (JAACA), and has also produced a series of Australian Archaeology Consultancy Monographs.

AACAI have developed a number of very helpful documents for its members over the years, including a Recommended Minimum Fee Scale for archaeological consultants, a Policy on Volunteering in archaeological consulting, Information for Archaeological Assistants,  and a Photographic Standard for Cultural Heritage. AACAI have also ran online surveys of its members and other interested parties, establishing what their needs and requirements are as archaeological professionals and consultants. As a result, AACAI have ran various information and social events as well as contributed sessions and financial support to conferences, colloquiums, symposiums and forums over the years, and have also published some helpful resources for its members. Members can keep up to date with AACAI’s activities or general news from the world of archaeology through the website News page, Facebook page and LinkedIn page.

AACAI maintains a directory of its members here. Full Members are listed with academic qualifications, consulting experience, general expertise and special skills (as ratified by the Membership Committee), and there are links to their affiliated websites and contact details, while Associate and Affiliate Members are listed with their contact details, availability and general experience. You can also search the directory by filtering the expertise and special skills of Full Members.

Incorporated Status

AACAI is a currently registered Incorporated Association in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) (Association number A00794). As such, AACAI adheres to the regulation of the Association Incorporation Act 1991 (ACT). Under this Act, incorporation creates a legal entity separate and distinct from the individual members in an Association. As such, AACAI has certain obligations and reporting requirements every year, which the NEC must fulfill on behalf of the Association. These includes audited or reviewed financial statements.

Insurance

AACAI is currently covered for Professional Indemnity and Public/Products Liability Insurances provided by Business Insurance Australia Pty Ltd and Berkley Insurance Australia Pty Ltd.

AAACAI advises all members who are engaged in their own consultancies to carry Professional Indemnity and Public Liability insurances. Those who employ assistants at any time are legally obliged to maintain a Worker’s Compensation Insurance policy.

Partnerships & Conferences

AACAI have close partnerships with like-minded organisations such as the World Archaeological Congress (WAC), the Australian Archaeological Association (AAA), the Council for the Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (CHASS), the Australian Society of Historical Archaeology (ASHA), the Australian Indigenous Archaeologists’ Association (AIAA), Australia ICOMOS, the Canberra Archaeological Society, the Archaeological Society of Western Australia (ArchSocWA), and the Anthropological Society of Western Australia (ASWA).

Every year, AACAI will sponsor various archaeological and heritage conferences in Australia that will be attended by members and prospective members. At the annual AAA Conference, AACAI run a ‘Meet the Graduates and Colleagues’ event, which is an opportunity for graduate students heading towards submission and recent graduates seeking employment to engage with archaeology and cultural heritage companies and organisations in a relaxed and catered environment. AACAI also run a session at the conference showcasing consulting archaeology papers across the country, and at the conference dinner, awards The Laila Haglund Prize for Excellence in Consultancy to the best paper. AACAI have also sponsored the Victorian Archaeological Colloquium, the WAC Conference, and specific Heritage Future Forums in the past.