The Council of Australian Postgraduate Associations (CAPA) is the peak representative body for postgraduate students in Australia. CAPA's members are 33 postgraduate associations and the National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Postgraduate Association (NATSIPA). 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. In 2017, Australia had over 400,000 postgraduate students, representing one quarter of all tertiary students in Australia.^[1]

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 has an office located at the NTEU National office 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.

History

CAPA was founded in 1979 by a coalition of ten postgraduate organisations in order to protest taxation on postgraduate research scholarships.^[2] Historically, CAPA has been concerned with lobbying around fees on postgraduate degrees.

In 1998, a separate organisation, the National Indigenous Postgraduate Association (NIPA) was formed within CAPA.^[3] This association became the National Indigenous Postgraduate Association Aboriginal Corporation (NIPAAC) in 1999, and was later restructured as the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Postgraduate Association (NATSIPA) in 2015.

Structure

CAPA consists of elected representatives on three committees: the governing Executive Committee, the Equity committee, and the Engagement Committee. The NATSIPA President sits on all committees. Each committee meets on a monthly basis. New committee members are elected at the Annual Council Meeting, which is held in November.

2023 National representative committee ^[4]

National President- Nidzam Shah

Vice President-

General Secretary- Muhammad Bilal Shaikh

NATSIPA President - Dr Sharlene Leroy-Dyer

Media Officer-

Policy and Research Advisor-

International Officer- Vineet Prabhakar

Women's Officer-

Queer Officer-

Disabilities Officer-

2023 Board of directors ^[5]

Chair of the Board-

Secretary of the board-

Member of the board-

Member of the board- Member of the board-

Member of the board-

Member of the board- NATSIPA Board Representative- Dr Sharlene Leroy-Dyer

Past office bearers

National presidents

Vice presidents

General Secretary

International Officer

Treasurer

Executive and Research Officer - Policy and Research Officer

Media & Communications Officer