The upcoming changes reflect the need for balance between maintaining affordability and protecting the organisation’s long-term health.
We’re sharing this update early so you have plenty of notice and time to plan.
Ad-hoc fee increases amid rising operating costs
IPEd has always worked hard to keep membership accessible. Over the past decade, student membership has risen by just A$25, and professional membership by A$80. In some years, we’ve applied a small increase. In others, including 2025–26, fees have remained unchanged.
Unfortunately, operating costs continue to rise across the sector – and IPEd’s responsibilities have expanded significantly since 2016. As you know, in supporting the profession, the organisation delivers:
- the accreditation scheme
- advocacy on pay and conditions
- policy and guidance on AI and emerging technologies
- a busy program of professional development
- regular conferences
- branch engagement and mentoring initiatives.
A clearer plan going forward
To move away from ad-hoc yearly increases and enable longer term planning, the Board has agreed on a new, clearer model for fees. This includes:
- a once-off increase reflecting the time since the previous increase
- an annual increase of 5% or in line with the CPI (whichever is greater) from 2027–28 onwards.
We are also simplifying certain fee categories.
The aim is to provide stability and avoid sharper or unexpected changes down the track.
What this means for members
The revised fees will apply from the 2026–27 membership year.
From 1 July 2026:
- Professional membership will increase from A$260 to A$300 (approximately NZ$280–NZ$320, based on exchange rates in March 2026).
- Associate membership will increase from A$190 to A$220 (approximately NZ$205–NZ$235, based on exchange rates in March 2026).
- Student membership will remain at A$90 (approximately NZ$95–NZ$100, based on exchange rates in March 2026).
Other membership categories and organisational rates will be updated in line with the revised structure.
Supporting emerging editors
In the past, student membership has been deliberately buffered compared with other categories. Supporting new and emerging editors remains a priority for IPEd, and you’ll note that the new model continues that approach.
Future increases to student fees will be staged and modest relative to professional tiers. The Board is also exploring additional ways to support new entrants, including potential discounted first-year membership.
IPEd remains committed to keeping membership accessible while ensuring the organisation can continue supporting editors across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand.
If you have questions or would like to talk through the changes, please feel free to contact the IPEd office.