Australian Islands Alliance

Who we are

The Australian Islands Alliance is an emerging national network connecting people and organisations involved in the custodianship, conservation and management of Australia’s offshore islands.

Australia’s islands hold extraordinary ecological, cultural and community values. They are places of unique biodiversity, deep cultural connection, innovation and resilience.

The Australian Islands Alliance exists to support island stewardship, strengthen collaboration, promote knowledge exchange and advocate for the importance of islands within Australia’s environmental and community landscapes.

Vision

Healthy, resilient and connected island environments and communities across Australia.

To create and maintain a collective that amplifies the voices of Australia’s offshore islands and their communities, and operates for the national benefit of island cultural and nature conservation values.

Mission

To foster collaboration, knowledge-sharing and advocacy that supports the stewardship, conservation and sustainable future of Australia’s islands.

Our purpose

• Connect Australia’s island community. Strengthen relationships between island practitioners, Traditional Custodians and communities, government agencies, NGOs, researchers and other organisations with an interest in Australia’s islands and Sea Country.
• Recognise cultural values and Indigenous knowledge. Promote the importance of cultural knowledge, connection to Country and Sea Country, and respectful partnerships in island conservation and restoration.
• Advance island conservation and restoration. Champion threatened species recovery, ecological restoration, biosecurity and effective management of Australia’s island environments.
• Strengthen the national voice for islands. Raise awareness of the environmental, cultural and social values of Australia’s islands and advocate for sustained recognition, policy support and investment in their conservation and management.

How we can support you

AIA provides a national network that can help island communities, practitioners and organisations connect with people, knowledge and opportunities beyond their immediate networks.

• Make connections. We can help connect projects and organisations with Traditional Custodians, island practitioners, community groups, researchers, managers, NGOs, government agencies and policy-makers with relevant knowledge and experience.
• Build collaborative partnerships. We can help facilitate respectful collaborations that bring together Indigenous knowledge, contemporary science, community experience and practical land and sea management.
• Share knowledge and experience. We can provide opportunities to exchange research, practical experience, lessons learned, resources and approaches from island conservation, restoration, biosecurity and community-based programs across Australia.
• Support Island Arks Symposia. AIA can support local organising committees through national outreach, connections, advice and expertise, helping Island Arks Symposia continue to bring together Australia’s island community.
• Strengthen initiatives and national opportunities. We can bring together people and organisations around shared priorities and contribute expertise, perspectives and networks to relevant national strategies, initiatives, submissions and resources.
• Amplify island issues and achievements. We can help promote important environmental, cultural and social issues, projects and successes and strengthen their visibility at community, sector and national levels.

Outcomes

• Australia’s offshore islands show improved conservation and management results due to increased knowledge sharing, stronger networks and enhanced sector capability.
• Practitioners demonstrate increased awareness of island management outcomes and a clearer understanding of the sector’s capability needs and strengths.
• Networks and relationships between island practitioners and Traditional Custodians—including within IPA areas—are strengthened and more collaborative.
• Government and key stakeholders receive coordinated, sector-led advocacy, policy advice and practical guidance that influences decision-making.
• Indigenous-led island priorities are more effectively implemented as a result of better knowledge exchange, stronger networks and increased capability across the sector.