About AFRAUSN
A directory and a network. Nothing more, nothing less.
AFRAUSN — The Africa-Australia Community Network — exists because dozens of African-Australian community organisations operate in isolation, with no shared identity, no central directory, and no neutral channel for embassies, foundations, or government to consult them. Earlier diaspora-wide initiatives tried to represent the community and collapsed. AFRAUSN takes the opposite approach: it represents no one. It only connects.
How we operate
Free and voluntary
No membership fees. Any African-Australian community organisation meeting the eligibility criteria may join by signing the charter. You may leave at any time.
Non-representative
AFRAUSN never speaks for its members. There are no elections, no spokespeople, no policy positions. Each organisation continues to represent itself.
Low-administration
A simple platform. A monthly digest. A small admin team at the Malak Foundation. We do not generate noise.
Hosted by the Malak Foundation
The Malak Foundation provides administrative and fiscal hosting. It has no authority to admit, remove, or speak for any member beyond applying the charter eligibility criteria.
Governance
AFRAUSN is administered by the Malak Foundation. A small admin team reviews applications, moderates content for charter compliance, and coordinates with government and embassies on consultation requests.
When AFRAUSN reaches 30 participating organisations, a multi-organisation Steering Group of three to five community figures will be convened in an advisory capacity. The Steering Group does not speak for any member and has no executive authority over the platform.
The full governance terms, including the eligibility criteria and the participation mark’s permitted uses, are set out in the Charter.
Frequently asked questions
Is AFRAUSN a representative body?
No. AFRAUSN is a directory and network. It does not speak for, endorse, or bind any of its participating organisations. Each organisation continues to represent itself.
Who pays for this?
AFRAUSN is operated on volunteer time and free-tier infrastructure (under AU$5/month). The Malak Foundation hosts the platform. Any future funding received will be disclosed transparently.
Can my organisation join if we don't have an ABN?
Yes. The Community Group application path is for unincorporated groups with at least six months of public activity. We may ask for a short phone or video call to confirm legitimacy. The participation mark and directory listing are the same as for registered organisations.
Will my information be shared with government?
Only with your explicit per-instance permission. AFRAUSN never default-shares member data with any government agency or third party. Your data is hosted in Australia.
What if we decide to leave?
You can withdraw at any time. There are no fees, no exit obligations, and no penalty. A one-click account deletion with a 30-day grace period removes all your data from the platform.
How does AFRAUSN relate to FECCA, AAAC, AMHAUS, etc.?
AFRAUSN does not duplicate or compete with any existing body. It lists organisations and links to them. Your participation in AFRAUSN is independent of any other network you belong to.
Who reviews applications?
The Malak Foundation team reviews each application against the eligibility criteria in the charter. Standard turnaround is seven working days. Declines may be appealed in writing.
What happened to PAADN?
The earlier Pan African-Australasian Diaspora Network was an AU-led initiative that sought to represent the diaspora. It struggled with internal disputes about legitimacy and provided limited concrete value to member organisations. AFRAUSN is designed to avoid every one of those failure modes.
Ready to join?
Two simple paths — one for registered organisations, one for community groups without formal registration. Free, voluntary, non-representative.