2025 .au member survey: How member insights are shaping our work in 2026

.au members are the heart of what we do at auDA, helping us to champion an open, free, secure and interoperable internet, for the benefit of all Australians.

In 2026, we look forward to another strong year of collaboration with our members, and the delivery of a value-packed program that meets diverse member needs.

To understand these needs, last year we asked .au members to share their views on what’s working well, where we could improve, and what matters most to them. Member responses gave us valuable, practical insight, and in 2026 we’re turning that feedback into action.

Below is a snapshot of what we have in store.

The survey results are in, and our members want clear, relevant digital communications that are simple to read. Many highlighted the importance of receiving timely updates without information overload, particularly through key channels like the .au member newsletter.

In response, we revamped the .au member newsletter in January 2026. The refreshed format is more streamlined and accessible with clearer sections and a stronger focus on content that matters most to members. Priority updates are easier to find, and overall messaging is more concise and purposeful. Keep an eye out on your inbox for our next issue and let us know your thoughts on the new format.

We are also focused on improving the .au member portal. January 2026 marked the first stage of a refreshed format, focused on making the portal easier to use and ensuring it delivers value to members. Members can now more easily update their profile, contribute views via the portal polling feature and access the latest auDA informational videos. More updates are planned throughout the year to allow greater member engagement and participation in consultation activities.

We’ll keep refining our digital communications throughout 2026, using feedback and engagement insights to ensure our updates remain relevant, accessible and useful.

Members have told us they want more opportunities to be involved and to share their perspectives, particularly on policy and consultation matters.

Survey responses emphasised that flexibility is important, with different members preferring different ways to engage. To support this, we will continue offering a mix of in-person and online, as well as introducing hybrid events to reduce barriers to participation and ensure more members can participate.

This year, we are asking members to take part in a range of consultation opportunities. In the first half of 2026, a range of Licensing Rules Review consultation events will be held, with both in-person and online options available. This is a vital process to ensure the .au rules continue to reflect community expectations, and we encourage all members to get involved.

Throughout 2026, we also plan to introduce more internet governance and technology policy-focused events that bring members together for discussion, questions and active contribution, moving towards more meaningful engagement.

The survey reinforced that our membership is diverse, with varying interests, levels of experience and priorities.

In 2025, we maintained a strong focus on diversifying and strengthening the .au membership community. In 2026, this focus will continue as we use survey insights to help shape more tailored events and resources, ensuring they reflect the breadth of our membership.

Members identified the following as their most valued topics for auDA to provide information on:

• Online security (35%)
• Emerging technology (33%)
• Internet governance and technology policy (31%)
• Domain name best practices (30%)
• Small business support (24%)
• Data privacy (22%).

These topics will be more clearly reflected in our event programming, communications and consultation activities throughout 2026, helping ensure our work stays aligned with member interests. As our membership cohort continues to grow and evolve, we’ll keep refining how we design and deliver content to support different member groups and levels of engagement.

Member feedback doesn’t stop with a single survey. It’s an ongoing conversation that helps us improve how we support, engage and connect with our community. In 2026 we plan to implement ongoing check ins throughout the year via surveys and .au member portal polls .

We’re grateful to our members for their continued involvement in the .au membership program and to those who shared their feedback. If you’d like to get in touch with the auDA Membership Team, please email us at: membership@auda.org.au. We look forward to seeing you at an event or consultation soon.