The Council of Australian Postgraduate Associations, or CAPA, is the peak representative body for postgraduate students in Australia. Founded in 1979, CAPA provides member associations with representation to the Federal government, and peak bodies such as the Australian Research Council and Universities Australia, on issues affecting postgraduate students in Australia.
Recognising the dual roles of many postgraduate students, CAPA works in collaboration with the National Union of Students where matters impact on all students (such as voluntary student unionism and funding for higher education), and with the National Tertiary Education Union regarding issues of employment in the tertiary education sector, particularly on the casualisation of the academic workforce.
CAPA works remotely, but has a PO Box in Melbourne, Victoria. Its Annual Council Meeting (ACM), where organisational issues and policy directives are decided, is hosted by a different constituent organisation each year.
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Each year, at the Annual Council Meeting, the Council elects office bearers. For 2011, these office bearers are:
There is an Executive Committee, consisting of the President (chair), Vice-President (National Operations), Vice-President (Equity), National Secretary, Treasurer, Policy and Research Officer, Indigenous People's Liaison Officer, and one nominee from the Equity Committee and one from the National Operations Committee.
The Equity Committee, chaired by the Vice-President (Equity), consists of the President, Women's Officer, International Officers, Disability Officer, Indigenous Officer and the Queer Officer.
The National Operations Committee, chaired by the Vice-President (National Operations), consists of the President, Vice-President (Equity) and all of the Regional Secretaries.
CAPA employs one staff member, a Project Officer (Organisational Development and Research Support).
The National Indigenous Postgraduate Association Aboriginal Corporation (NIPAAC) is a separate constituent organisation, representing Indigenous students. NIPAAC employs an Indigenous Research Officer, based at the CAPA offices.
The Council is broken into five administrative Regions, each with its own Regional Secretary:
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