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When I first stepped into PIPA, it wasn’t because I had any expertise. Something about the work just caught my interest, and when my home group formed a PIPA sub‑committee, I thought, why not give it a try.
When I first walked into the local police station and hospital on my own, full of enthusiasm and thinking I was about to “save the world,” people didn’t quite know what to make of me. It caught them off guard. One person suggested to meet with the Sergeant first, the other the Head Nurse, neither were available and I walked out feeling like I’d failed. Later I learned from other members that this is exactly why we lean on Tradition One and Tradition Two in PIPA work. When I act alone, without the unity, guidance, and group conscience of other members, the message can get muddled and the work becomes heavier than it needs to be. With the group behind me, shared planning, clear introductions, and a consistent approach the same visits became smoother, more effective, and much more in line with our primary purpose and the service structure described in Tradition Nine.
Someone suggested we look at the PIPA Guideline GL-07. That changed everything. We learned to approach institutions together and introduce ourselves by saying that were not here to represent AA, we’re simply AA members sharing information about what AA is and isn’t and how to contact us. Another member took on the job of arranging meetings with the right people before we turned up. Suddenly, doors started opening. Before long, we needed more material. Some places wanted extra copies. Others hadn’t put anything up and that was their choice. We started carrying blue tack, pins, tape measures even perspex stands. One organisation didn’t want literature at all; they preferred we volunteer at their meal service and simply be available if someone wanted to talk about alcohol. That was PI too.
We kept a logbook who we’d visited, what we’d delivered, when we needed to restock. It helped us stay organised and made it easy for new members to join in.
Around this time, a former group member created a set of posters for the National Office, which were later conference‑approved. That reminded us of Tradition One unity. We went back and replaced our earlier posters so everything we displayed was consistent with AA.
Our work expanded into secondary schools, guided by the pamphlet “Speaking at Non‑AA Meetings” Eventually, teachers began requesting AA speakers through the CSO, and some of us found ourselves talking to high school students and the ANU Medical School. Some talks were smooth; others involved gasps, giggles, and wide‑eyed teenagers. But every time, someone listened.
We also held a PI Public Meeting a small gathering of local professionals from medical, health, social, and religious organisations. We shared what AA is, how it works, and how we can cooperate. It was simple, honest, and surprisingly effective. Some of these people became strong non‑alcoholic supporters of AA and helped our Fellowship grow by directing alcoholics to us.
Later, one of our group members became the Area B Eastern Region PIPA Coordinator, and the work grew across the region. We were reminded that PIPA had a long history, and we were encouraged to revisit Guideline GL‑07 in the Australian AA Service Manual to stay grounded in established practice.
My PI and CPC service taught me how much smoother and more effective things become when we plan together, stay consistent, and let the group conscience guide the work. Those lessons, moving from doing things alone to working with structure, unity, and clear purpose are exactly what I hope to bring to the National Combined Services Forum 2026.
NCSF 2026 / 2 to 4 October 2026
