AACAI Associate Membership Application

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Membership Application Fee

AACAI charges an administration fee of $50, which requires to be paid up-front by the applicant. This goes towards the processing of your application.
Please pay this fee here.
Then, return to this page to complete your application.

Associate Membership Overview

Associate Members generally have less experience than Full Members. They are available to assist in consulting work and/or may undertake independent consultancies appropriate to their experience or expertise. This category includes recent graduates or junior consultants with less than five years’ experience, but may be qualified in specific fields of archaeology and special skills as recognised by the Membership Committee.

To qualify for associate membership, each applicant shall, in accordance with the AACAI Constitution:

8.1 have an honours degree or postgraduate degree in archaeology or other field of scholarship accepted by the Membership Committee, or have such experience in the field of consulting archaeology as considered sufficient by the Membership Committee for admission as an Associate member;
8.2 intend to seek at least part time employment in the field of consulting archaeology;
8.3 be supported by references from two professional archaeologists each stating that in his or her opinion the applicant is competent in archaeological procedures relevant to the application and setting out the grounds for that belief;
8.4 be able to work as a supervised or unsupervised field or research assistant and may undertake sub-consultancies or consultancies where he or she has appropriate level skill and training; and,
8.5 any other such criteria as the Membership Committee and National Executive Committee shall determine at their discretion from time to time.

In the absence of an Honours or Postgraduate degree in archaeology, acceptable equivalent qualifications and/or experience must include a substantive piece of independent work in the field of archaeology, demonstrating knowledge of both the theory and practice specific to the discipline. Such a work could be published or unpublished, for example a major article or chapter in a peer-reviewed journal or book, a major essay required for some postgraduate diplomas in archaeology, or a consulting report.

Associate Membership Subscription Information

Associate Membership Annual Subscription Cost = $110

AACAI runs on the Financial Year (1 July-30 June)

If your application is successful, you will be offered associate membership and asked to pay the subscription fee for the current Financial Year.

Note the $50 Application Fee is not included in the Annual Subscription Fee.

Application Form

    Required Documentation

    Applicant Information

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    Employment Information

    Academic Qualifications

    Institution 1

    Institution 2

    Institution 3

    Referees

    Applicants for associate membership must include two referee letters - they should be of known professional standing in the field of archaeology but need not be members of the association.

    General

    'Note: If your application is successful, you will be added to the mailing list of the relevant AACAI State Chapter in the State/Territory that you primarily work in i.e. if there is one active there.

    AACAI Code of Ethics

    Please read and tick each clause of the AACAI Code of Ethics and the Consulting with Aboriginal Communities AACAI Policy Document to indicate that you have read, understood and agree. All fields below are mandatory.

    1. Foreword

    1.1 Members agree that as archaeologists we have certain responsibilities to the public, our employers and clients and our colleagues, and undertake to abide by the Code of Ethics as set out below to the best of our ability.

    2. Duty to the Public

    2.1 A member should take a responsible attitude to the archaeological resource base and to the best of her/his understanding ensure that this, as well as information derived from it, are used wisely and in the best interest of the public. 2.2 A member shall not recommend or take part in any research, which she/he is not qualified. 2.3 A member shall not recommend or take part in any research, which she/he has good reason to believe, may be sub-standard. 2.4 A member shall ensure that all relevant data pertaining to the resource base should be deposited with an appropriate government authority or archive.

    3. Duty to Certain Groups

    3.1 A member shall be sensitive to, and respect the legitimate concerns of groups whose cultural background is the subject of investigations.

    4. Duty to Informants

    4.1 A member shall offer appropriate remuneration for time, expertise, personal cost and inconvenience incurred in the giving of information, sought by a member of the association.

    5. Duty to the Profession

    5.1 A member shall keep informed about developments in her/his field of expertise and be willing to share such knowledge to improve the general standard of archaeological work. 5.2 A member shall avoid discrediting the profession by knowingly undertaking work beyond her/his competence. 5.3 A member shall respect the professional interests of colleagues as far as is ethical in terms of the interests of the public and the discipline. 5.4 Where a member has been asked for a second opinion, she/he shall advise the first archaeologist that she/he has been so requested. 5.5 A member shall not refuse a reasonable request from a qualified colleague for research data and shall endeavour to pass on relevant information to interested colleagues and appropriate official bodies. 5.6 The consultant should not knowingly compete with another for employment to the detriment of professional standards. 5.7 A member must state clearly the evidence on which the report is based, to what extent it is a matter of personal observation and the qualifications and experience of any co-workers quoted. 5.8 A member shall plan and complete any work as carefully and competently as possible under the circumstances and remembering that the information gained matters in terms of the discipline of archaeology as well as the problems of the employer or client.

    6. Duty to Employer or Client

    6.1 A member shall report on work accurately, promptly and in the manner that best serves the public, the employer or client.

    7. Matters of Fact

    7.1 The consultant's findings, recommendations, etc., shall be based upon professional knowledge and opinion and should avoid exaggerated and ill-founded statements.

    8. Matters of Opinion

    8.1 A member shall not knowingly misrepresent the needs, problems or possible consequences of a project. 8.2 A member shall not attempt to discredit the competence or integrity of a colleague unless she/he considers it is professional or public duty to do so.

    9. Limitation

    9.1 A member shall advise the employer or client to engage other expert consultants for aspects of a project beyond her/his own competence. No concealed fee shall be accepted for such referrals.

    10. Training of Potential Archaeologists

    10.1 A member shall give less qualified co-workers on a project every reasonable opportunity to gain skills and experience and shall negotiate adequate and appropriate remuneration for such work with regard to the skills of the co-worker and requirements of the job.

    11. Credit to Colleagues

    11.1 A member shall give due credit for work done by others (including subordinates) as consultants and/or researchers, and acknowledge ideas and methods originating from other persons unless such contributions have become generally known.

    12. Acceptance of Favours

    12.1 A member shall avoid placing her/himself under any obligation to any person or organisation if doing so could affect her/his impartiality in professional matters.

    13. Confidential Information

    13.1 A member shall not use confidential non-archaeological information acquired during work for an employer or client without due permission from that employer or client. 13.2 A member shall respect such information and ensure that co-workers do the same. 13.3 A member shall not disclose such information unless the law so requires.

    14. Consulting Practice

    14.1 A member shall not be described as or claim to be an archaeological consultant unless she/he can act as an independent and unbiased adviser and has suitable qualifications and experience.

    15. Legal Requirements

    15.1 A member shall take care to know of and comply with all relevant legal requirements. 15.2 A member shall refuse any request from an employer or client or any other persons, which involves illegal or unethical behaviour, such as suppression or misrepresentation of information.

    16. Preference of Employment

    16.1 On any job where a qualified archaeological assistant is necessary or required, a qualified archaeologist who is a member of this Association should be given preference of employment.

    17. Duty to Employees

    17.1 The recommended fee scales of employees shall be regarded as a minimum and shall not be undercut.

    AACAI Policy - Consulting with Aboriginal Communities

    1. The Association recognises that Aboriginal sites are of significance to Aboriginal people as part of their heritage and as part of their continuing culture and identity. 2. The Association recognises that Aboriginal communities should be involved in decision-making concerning Aboriginal sites. Aboriginal opinions, concerns and management recommendations should be presented alongside those of the archaeological consultant. 3. The Association recognises that Aboriginal people have a right to be consulted about the intention to undertake archaeological work, to be consulted about the progress and findings of this work, and to be consulted about any recommendations arising from this work. 4. The Association supports the practice of directly involving Aboriginal people in archaeological work, particularly fieldwork. 5. The Association recognises that work undertaken by Aboriginal people on behalf of any Member of the Association must be subject to appropriate remuneration in accordance with the Association’s recommended scale of fees, or, where appropriate, subject to remuneration above the Association’s fee scale where this has been derived from negotiations between the Member and the Aboriginal community. 6. The Association recognises that the circulation or publication of the results of archaeological work must be sensitive to Aboriginal concerns about the disclosure of confidential information about sites. 7. The Association recognises that assistance provided by Aboriginal people and communities should be acknowledged in subsequent written and verbal reports, publications and presentations. 8. The Association recognises that information and documentation derived from archaeological work should be returned to relevant Aboriginal people and their communities. 9. The Association recognises that consultation with Aboriginal communities should be via land councils, co-operatives or other organizations that are generally recognised as legitimately representing the interests and views of Aboriginal people in the relevant locality, area or region.

    Agreement

    I agree to abide by the Code of Ethics and Policies of the Australian Association of Consulting Archaeologists Incorporated.

     
     
     


    What Happens Next?

    When all of your documentation and the processing fee are received, copies of your application will be sent to of the Membership Secretary who will then advise the Membership Committee to assess.
    The National Executive Committee will vote on the recommendation of the Membership Committee and you will be informed of the result via a letter from Membership Secretary.
    If your application is successful, you will be offered associate membership and asked to pay the subscription fee for the current Financial Year.
    Please note that the review process can take several months to complete.

    If you have any questions about the process, please contact the Membership Secretary here.