Pagan Alliance Inc. is an information and networking organisation for Pagans within Australia. Being affiliated with similar organisations in New Zealand, Britain, Europe, USA and Canada, it also acts as part of an international network of Pagans.
It is an organisation run by a team of dedicated volunteers who have many years of experience within the Pagan community.
Founded in 1991, Pagan Alliance Inc. continues to grow into one of the largest Pagan organisations in Australia, with a branch in every state.
Pagan Alliance is an alliance of Pagans. These Pagans are across the country and even across the world. We are a network of Pagans who have joined forces to represent each other. We have come together as a group across the nation and beyond. Together we look after each others' interests, promote our own well-being and try to make life easier and more meaningful for Pagans. Before we had a network were were divided and segregated into local areas. With the alliance, we stand together and have a national voice.
This idea was important in the mid to late 80s (when the PA was first conceived). For more information about how PA was conceived, see the article from Julie Phillips here A History of PA
Since then, we have continued to represent Pagan interests to government at all levels, to commercial organisations, and to the public.
The structure of the Pagan AllianceIn line with the concept of the Pagan Alliance as an alliance of Pagans in different regions, PA is structured as a group of branches. These branches meet together in a council known as the Council of States. Each state and territory has representatives (either representing the state as a whole, or else regions within the states). The Council makes decisions when necessary - such as when decisions would affect the whole organisation nationally. Even the smallest regions of the country are welcome to their own representation at the Council.
As well as the Council there is a National Office. The National Office serves to provide services, incorporation, and administration to empower and enables the branches. It consists of the Executive Officers (these are the people required by corporations law - the PA is a registered not-for-profit association - so these are The President, The Secretary, The Treasurer, and The Public Officer). The National Office also consists of the National Officers. These are people who do volunteer tasks which help with administration for the whole country. The National Officers currently include a The Editor of the Pagan Times (the journal of the Pagan Alliance), the Media Officer, the Web Manager, and the Facilities Officer. Both the Executive Officers and the National Officers also attend the Council and have a say in matters.
Pagan Alliance BranchesThe Pagan Alliance is structured as a national network of regional and state offices. These regional and state offices are largely independent but share the same basic philosophies and principles (all branches comply with the by-laws of The Pagan Alliance and must respond to the Executives as required at law). There is a branch office in every state and in the ACT and The Northern Territory. These branches are accompanied by regional offices in locations around the states. Regional representatives organise PA activities in their local region. Regional offices are headed up by Regional Coordinators, who are appointed by the Pagan Alliance Council.
The original intention is that each state and territory would be run by a committee of Regional Coordinators (RCs). However, over time it has been difficult in some states to maintain enough RCs to form a committee. So, depending on the particular state, the state branch is run by the Regional Coordinators (RCs) working together, or else if there are not enough RCs to form a committee for that state, a State Coordinator (SC) is appointed who will run the state.
RCs and SCs are appointed according to a standard process - but it simply works that a person who is interested in volunteering to represent PA in their region contacts PA. They introduce themselves with a short written explanation. The Council of the States then considers the application. It's simple process and usually is complete within a couple of weeks. For more information on being an RC or to make an application for your region, you can contact the
This means that RCs and SCs are appointed by the Council (everyone else who's a rep for PA around the country). Applicants accepted by the Council must also be endorsed by the Executives, however, to date, there has never been a veto of an applicant.
Organisational Values of Pagan AlliancePagan Alliance is comprised of its members. It uses its assets to provide benefits and services to the members and to the public where appropriate. It is run by volunteers who are elected to their positions. The organisation belongs to the members and is both an asset and a tradition for the Australian Pagan community.