YWCA Australia is a member-based organisation and has always been – from our earliest days our members have been our greatest supports, a legacy that continues to this day.

YWCA’s membership has been free for all members since 2018 and we are grateful for the impact that this has had on our membership base. In 2025, however, YWCA Australia will be introducing a biennial fee for membership, in line with Article 19 of the YWCA Australia Constitution.

Per the Constitution, the Board of YWCA Australia may, from time to time, require the payment of Fees by Members of any amount, on any terms and at any times as the Board resolves.

On May 1 2025, Ordinary Members of YWCA Australia who have been a member for two years (since 1 May 2023) will be issued with a fee notice. Life Members are exempt from the requirement to pay any form of membership fees.

This membership fee only relates to an individual’s status as a Member of YWCA Australia and does not impact any other services or activities they may be receiving from YWCA Australia.

We know and recognise that our history is as a member-based organisation and that members are a vital part of grassroots advocacy, and the DNA of the organisation itself.  

We also know that things change. Personal and professional circumstances change, people move house or change their email. They may have joined YWCA Australia as a member at a certain point in their life, and over time don’t have the same connection to the mission or movement.  

We currently have over 4000 members, a significant number of whom we cannot get into contact with, or who don’t even remember that they’re members of YWCA Australia. Under the Corporations Act it is a requirement that members receive notification of certain information relating to their membership, but we rely on members advising us of changes in contact information.  

We’ve reached out to members in the past to ask that they do this, but we haven’t been able to catch everyone and each year we have a growing number of emails that bounce back and letters that are returned to us.  

Without a means of renewing or opting into membership on a regular basis, YWCA Australia’s member register risks being outdated.  

If you need to update your email address, postal address or any other contact preferences, you can log into our Member Portal and change them there. If you’re not sure how to access the portal, or are having any issues with it, please contact membership@ywca.org.au for support.  

The fee will be $5 for 24 months of membership.  

YWCA Australia will not charge processing fees on this amount.  

However, there is fee relief available. Please see further details below

You will receive your fee notice on 1 May. Fees will become due on 29 May and if they remain unpaid after a two-month period ending 30 July, the Board will resolve to issue a notice of default, after which you won’t be entitled to any of the rights or privileges of membership.  

If you miss the 29 May deadline, fees paid after that and within the two-month period will be honoured with no changes or interruptions to your membership.  

Ordinary (voting Members) as defined in the Constitution, who joined YWCA Australia prior to 1 May 2023. 

Life members and associate members are excluded from the membership fee.  

It is true that this has not been the case in the past. However, when you join YWCA Australia you are bound by the Constitution, which allows for the Board to resolve to require the payment of Fees by Members of any amount, on any terms and at any times as the Board resolves. Please refer to Article 19 of the YWCA Australia Constitution.

Absolutely. We know that times are tough for a lot of people. You might be a young person without disposable income, be feeling the negative effects of the cost-of-living crisis or have your own reasons for not being able to pay a fee in order to be a member of YWCA Australia.   

If you are unable to pay a fee to be a Member, but still want to engage with what YWCA Australia does, you should request relief. You’ll find information on how to request relief in each communication. You can request to have your fee waived at any time until 30 July – the end of the two-month period.  

If you’re unable to pay, for whatever reason, YWCA Australia will not request evidence or proof to grant a request for relief.  

Not at all, which is why we have made sure that fees are low and there is an option to request relief from the fees. 

We pride ourselves on being an accessible organisation and providing pathways to Young Womens leadership in our advocacy campaigns to support our strategy outcomes.   

This is about having an accurate register of members. Any fees paid will go towards member communication. 

If you’re considering paying the fee but want to get more out of your membership and support our purpose, we encourage you to join the Digital Activist Community for access to exclusive opportunities to build your skills, your networks and help inform the future of YWCA Australia’s advocacy.  

Please see the attached bank account verification letter from our finance team

You can do so via this document 

YWCA Australia does not retain any personal payment information and the secure third-party payment processing system that we use (Stripe), does not retain this information either.  

We maintain your contact information in our membership database for the purposes of contacting you for member related communication only. You can view and update your personal information in the member portal at any time and view our privacy policy here https://www.ywca.org.au/privacy-policy 

Should you wish to resign your membership, you can advise YWCA Australia in writing that you intend to resign your membership and you will receive no further communications from us. You can do this via the Membership Portal, via email or via posted mail at the address below.  

If you have questions, you can contact us at:  

 Email: membership@ywca.org.au  

• Phone: 07 3230 3466 

• Mail: YWCA Australia - Att: Company Secretary 

           Level 1, 210 Kings Way, South Melbourne VIC 3205