AIG Membership is available to professional geoscientists, engaged in all sectors of industry, government, education and research. Members of the public, without formal geoscience qualifications, and non-profit organisations interested in Australian geoscience may apply for Associate membership.
Membership applications are only accepted by AIG from individual applicants who must meet all of the requirements of membership pertaining to the grade of membership at which admission is being sought. AIG does not accept company members.
AIG has responded to recent changes to geoscience degree undergraduate curricula at some Australian universities by introducing educational requirements for institute membership.
Geoscience knowledge requirements for new membership applications have recently been implemented by the Institute. The objectives of this initiative are to ensure AIG members have core geoscience knowledge and competencies in order to facilitate best practice and to meet the key object of a professional body to maintain standards and ultimately protect the public.
Read further information on the knowledge requirements here.
Membership applications must be:
All applications are assessed by the Membership Committee which is a Permanent Committee of the AIG Board. The membership committee undertakes a range of rigorous checks that may include verification of the authenticity of academic qualifications; assessing the equivalence of overseas qualifications with Australian academic qualifications by reference to Australian Government databases, and interviews with the applicant and members supporting the application. Upon completion of this review, the Membership Committee may recommend acceptance of the application by the AIG Board which is ultimately responsible for the approval of each application. Each application must be approved by a majority of Directors.
AIG does not assess or accredit geoscience courses offered by Australian universities. All Universities are required to have all degree programs independently assessed by both the University Council and Commonwealth educational authorities before a degree can be awarded. This accreditation process is accepted by the Institute as ensuring the quality of geoscience qualifications offered to students in Australia. Most geoscience degree programs involve a minimum of four years of undergraduate study.
Membership Guidelines can be downloaded here.
The admission criteria and assessment process for applications for admission as, or upgrade to Fellow are similar to those of Member with several, notable exceptions:
Fellow membership is available to senior geoscientists with at least 15 years’ professional experience in your field(s) of practice and, in the opinion of the Board, have achieved prominence in this field.
The applicant’s prominence or contribution to the geoscience profession is assessed by means of a statement detailing how these criteria have been satisfied furnished by the applicant.
Guidelines for Fellowship can be downloaded here.
Graduate membership is available if you have completed at least a Bachelor’s level or equivalent qualification degree in geoscience and have less than five years’ professional experience.
Graduates are expected to upgrade to Member, requiring assessment of a new, complete membership application (with the exception of their academic qualifications and transcripts which are held on file by the Institute) when they attain the required postgraduate experience.
If you don’t personally know any members, please contact your local branch who will be able to help put you in touch with one.
Student membership of AIG is available to all full-time and part-time students engaged in undergraduate or Honours degree studies majoring in a geoscience field at a recognised tertiary institution. Student members must have their enrolment confirmed by a member of staff of the tertiary institution.
Associate membership is offered to persons who have not completed a Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) and to non-commercial organisations (e.g. a school) that display appropriate interest in geoscience and the objectives of the Institute.
Associate membership is available to anyone with an interest in geoscience.
Retired membership is offered to Members and Fellows with at least ten years of continuous membership who have retired from active employment.
All Graduates, Members, and Fellows must abide by the Institute’s Code of Ethics and make a declaration that they have not been subject to disciplinary action by a professional association.
We have implemented an online system for registration which enable applicants for membership to lodge the required information and supporting documentation online.
Things to note when applying for membership online
Applications that include qualifications obtained from overseas universities will be assessed using Australian government-provided information to ensure that your overseas degree is comparable with an appropriate qualification from an Australian university.
Admission to membership of the AIG at the level of Graduate, Member, Fellow is subject to compliance with the criteria detailed in the application guidelines. All members agree to be bound by AIG’s Code of Ethics. You are advised to read the Code of Ethics carefully before submitting your application.
AIG membership may be suspended or revoked in response to a breach of AIG’s Code of Ethics. These measures form part of a package of sanctions that may be imposed by the Board for disciplinary purposes. Complaints against a member may be lodged in writing by any individual or organisation, anywhere in the world. All complaints are actively pursued by AIG through a multiple stage process:
Complaints are initially referred to a Complaints Committee that determines the validity of the complaint. The Complaints Committee may recommend measures that must be taken by the member to resolve the complaint. If the complaint cannot be resolved in this manner, it is presented to the Ethics and Standards Committee.
The Ethics and Standards Committee investigates all complaints referred to it and, if the member is found to have a complaint to answer, recommends the action required to address the complaint to the AIG Board.
The Board will consider an appeal from the member against the Ethics and Standards Committee finding and recommendations, or take disciplinary action against the member that may extend to suspension of membership or expulsion.
The following diagram helps to clarify the process described above.
AIG Complaints Process
The Complaints Committee has an investigative role, the Ethics and Standards Committee makes findings and decisions in relation to the offence and penalties, and the Board hears appeals against decisions. The Ethics and Standards Committee or the Board will decide in consultation with the respondent and complainant the most suitable form of proceedings.
The Complaints Committee is a permanent committee of the AIG Board of up to five members, whose cumulative experience covers reporting of exploration results, valuation of mineral properties, estimates of resources and ore reserves, and broad professional geoscience practice. Only one or two members are required to investigate a particular complaint.
Membership of the Ethics and Standards Committee would be drawn from up to five senior members of the AIG, one of whom, ideally, would have some legal or administrative procedure experience. Up to three members would be required to sit on a particular complaint.
This permanent committee of the Board has a judicial role involving:
review of the information and recommendations in the complaint file provided by the Complaints Committee;
Complaints and Ethics and Standards actions are dealt with in strict confidence. Details of adverse Ethics and Standards Committee findings leading to disciplinary action are published for the information of AIG members.
Complaints and breaches of AIG’s Code of Ethics are investigated and, if necessary, pursued against a member irrespective of where the basis for the complaint occurred.
The Ethics and Standards Committee has wide discretion to decide on one or more penalties fitting the circumstances of each offence. Penalties range from cautions and reprimands for minor offences, through to demotion to a lower membership grade, suspension of membership, naming of members found guilty in an AIG publication, and expulsion from membership in more serious cases. An apology, published, or written or verbal may form part of the penalty.
Last Updated 15 December 2022