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Alcoholics Anonymous isn’t run like a political body or business. There are no bosses, no rules, no dues or fees. Instead, AA is guided by service and the collective voice of its members.
From answering enquiries to publishing literature and cooperating with health workers, certain services are needed to carry the message. To meet these needs, the AA service structure in Australia is simple, flexible and always guided by the Fellowship itself.
Groups – The Heart of AA
AA begins in the group.
Groups are where members gather, share experience, and support one another in recovery.
- Groups may have trusted servants (like secretaries or treasurers).
- Roles are rotated regularly so service is shared.
- Groups may form small committees to look after things like meeting formats or refreshments.
Groups also elect representatives who carry their group’s conscience forward to district and area meetings.
Area Assemblies and Delegates
Groups come together first at district meetings and then at area assemblies.
At the area level, delegates are elected to attend the national General Service Conference. This ensures that AA decisions flow from the bottom up, with the voice of each group carried all the way through.
The Australian General Service Conference
Each November, AA in Australia gathers for the General Service Conference.
The Conference acts as the group conscience of the Fellowship nationwide. It:
- Brings together delegates from areas across Australia
- Includes Trustees of the General Service Board
- Welcomes staff from the General Service Office and other participants
The Conference links local groups with Trustees, who serve as custodians of AA’s Traditions and policies.
The General Service Board
The General Service Board puts Conference decisions into action. It includes:
- Regional Trustees
- Non-alcoholic Trustees
- General Service Trustees
Their job is to help AA’s services run smoothly, always under the guidance of the Fellowship.
The General Service Office (GSO)
AA in Australia has a small General Service Office (GSO) in Sydney. Its job is simple: to serve the Fellowship, not to govern it
The GSO helps with:
- Coordinating the annual Conference
- Publishing and distributing AA literature
- Supporting new groups
- Providing information to members, the public, and professionals
- Linking AA in Australia with the rest of the world
The GSO is funded mainly by group contributions, literature sales, and member donations.
Want to know more? See our full page on the General Service Office.
International Connections
AA in Australia also links into the worldwide Fellowship. Delegates are sent to the World Service Meeting and the Asia Oceania Service Meeting, sharing experience and learning from other countries.
Holding It All Together
AA’s structure is simple and flexible. It rests on rotation of service, shared responsibility, and the principle that no one governs.
From a local group meeting to the annual national Conference, AA in Australia remains united by its primary purpose: to carry the message of recovery to the alcoholic who still suffers.
