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Hi Friends my name is Lauren A, I am an Alcoholic and a member of the Bright Spot Womens AA Group in Jordan Springs, we meet on Tuesdays 7pm. I am also the Eastern Region Area H Delegate (third year, Panel 66) and your elected 2026 Conference Chair.
The Conference Steering Committee (CSC) has selected the 2026 Conference Theme, Alcoholics Anonymous Australia Comes of Age.
Back in March 1967, Bill W. wrote a letter about the book AA Comes of Age, he wrote the purpose of the book, “to throw special emphasis on our A.A legacies of Recovery, Unity and Service by telling the stories of those crucial developments of the fellowship” (in the USA / Canada).
Bill notes that some wondered about the title, because it conveyed the idea that we A.A’s really think we have “grown up” and achieved great emotional maturity. In reality the expression “comes of age” is used in a different sense, we simply say that we have arrived at the time of life when adult responsibilities have to be faced and dealt with as best as we are able.
Here in Australia, we have been going through that same kind of growing up process. Having just celebrated 80 years of A.A in Australia, a massive milestone for us erstwhile erratic alcoholics, living far away from where our Society began. Over the years, our experiences have taught us a great deal, especially to try to rely upon ourselves and on God, to move into action for the next phase of our development.
A major turning point in this journey came in 2023 with the Advisory Action 001/2023, which introduced a new Conference Committee System, to ensure broader participation across all Regions, improve Delegate engagement with a sense of “ownership” and to distribute the workload more equitably. As a result of this change, the CSC was born and charged with the task of organising the General Service Conference (GSC). This change also meant the General Service Board (GSB) would alter its structure, taking responsibility for actions required arising from Conference resolutions.
Working Groups have been formed to develop new literature, including pamphlets, from local A.A members experience which means now it’s not just the Board and Delegates doing the work. That’s where the Skills Register has come in, skilled members of the fellowship can provide their experience for the good of A.A. Fellowship members are being utilised in a cost effective way for their skill set via the Skills Register. Every time an A.A member with the right skills and experience is permitted the freedom to manage, or assist in managing a project, we’re not just helping out A.A Australia in a specific way, we are also growing A.A Australia in a more general, selfless and spiritual way inline with our three legacies.
The Australian Service Manual is under construction with the initiative to revise and remove content that isn’t relevant and focus on the Australian General Service Structure as it is today and how it will be going forward. Creating a Service Manual that reflects our country, our fellowship, and the way we function.
3rd year delegates play a real leadership role in the CSC, supported by 2 Board Trustees and the Conference Administration Team. The first point of business this year for the CSC has been to review the scope of work for this year’s conference and develop a timeline to achieve this. We have taken inventory of the 2025 General Service Conference (GSC), something the fellowship has requested for many years.
In April 2026 the CSC will conduct a Delegate Onboarding to assist a smoother transition for rotating Delegates for continued support and later this year the CSC will review the Conference Topics submitted by our fellowship as to their suitability and merit to take up conference agenda time.
The Board’s regular reporting to the fellowship provides transparency on the true financial position along with the outcome of more deliberate decisions being made. With information now being shared with the fellowship through the Delegates, who are using Google Docs to preserve and distribute our history, the transfer of information between rotating Delegates has become more inclusive, accessible, and reliable for everyone. This approach supports stronger collaboration and communication to help the flow of information across the fellowship, which was identified as a key priority in the 2025 Members Survey.
The fellowship has moved into modern access for our future members with the establishment of the Chat Now function on our website, initiated by our very own members. This function has supported more than 50,000 people seeking information, reassurance, or connection with A.A Australia.
An in-depth review of our 1300 help line number has been undertaken to ensure all calls made to the National A.A helpline get answered. This review may see inclusion of national volunteers added to existing rosters, CSO’s or A.A phone service in each state or region be the default answer line for unanswered calls.
I have been a member of an A.A Group in the Fellowship prior to all these developments over the past few years, a committee member of Area H when these changes were implemented and now a voting member of the GSC for the last 2 years. I often reflect on what ways does this new structure best support our future? Does this help our primary purpose as individual members and members of groups? Does this impact our Areas, District and Regional members?
This year, we look forward to hearing at the GSC all the conversations from all of the Regions about this theme Alcoholics Anonymous Australia Comes of Age. Does this inspire enthusiasm grounded in God and expressed through active participation in the A.A. Spirit?
As A.A. leaders, can we continue this conversation in our Local Area Meetings, Service Forums, Rallies, and Conventions over the year and Delegates report back how your Area, District and Region are supporting the future growth of A.A in Australia? How do you embrace all of the great Twelve Traditions of our Society, Alcoholics Anonymous, the only thing that has worked to arrest our alcoholism.
PS Don’t forget!!! closing date for 2026 Conference Topics 11:59 1 May 2026 https://members.aa.org.au/topic-for-conference-form/
