AUUG is the Australian UNIX and Open Systems Users Group, a professional association for end users, corporations, developers and vendors that provides UNIX® and related systems, including Linux and BSD. AUUG is a national body with chapters that organize local activities in most capital cities.

AUUG dates back to 1975, making it the oldest or second-oldest UNIX user group in the world, probably after USENIX, which has its roots in the same year. Computer historian Peter Salus quotes former AUUG Secretary Peter Barnes on page 70 of his book ``A Quarter Century of UNIX'':

The Australian Unix systems User Group, or AUUG, was formally constituted on the 27th August 1984 at a meeting of Unix users held on the campus of Melbourne University, after nine years of informal existence... The first AUUG meeting was held in 1975 at the University of New South Wales. (Peter Barnes, Secretary, AUUG).

AUUG's aims, as stated in the constitution, are: "To promote knowledge and understanding of Open Systems including but not restricted to the UNIX system, networking, graphics, user interfaces and programming and development environments, and related standards."

However, Michael Paddon (AUUG President 1994-1998) captured the flavour of AUUG better when he described it as, "a bunch of people who gather together to talk about the cool stuff they're doing - preferably over a beer."

AUUG is formally incorporated in the state of Victoria (registered number A0016636N), but runs events nationally, and has chapters in most states and territories that organise local events.

More Information about AUUG


How to join AUUG

Join now using our online membership form.

You can register for free to get updates on AUUG activities.

Or you can join AUUG in three easy steps.

  1. Determine the type of membership you require.
  2. Load and print the appropriate membership form.
  3. Fill it in and send it to AUUG.

Types of membership

Ordinary Membership
Also known as Individual Membership, this is for any person who wants to join AUUG and enjoy the benefits of membership. Members of the AUUG Management Committee must be Ordinary Members.

Institutional Membership
Where an organisation subscribes to the aims of AUUG, the organisation may become an Intitutional Member of AUUG. Usually, two people in the organisation can make use of the member benefits, although others can be added to the membership for additional fees.

Student Membership
A student in full time study may become a Student Member of AUUG. Student members may not vote in the AUUG Elections.

Honorary Life Member
You can not apply to be an Honorary Life Member of AUUG. However, those who have given some special service to AUUG or to the Open Systems community may be elected as Life Members.

Newsletter Subscription
This is not really a membership at all. But non-members (usually libraries) that want to receive the AUUG journal - AUUGN - may take out a subscription.

Membership Forms

Please choose the appropiate link, then print the form you receive.

Send it to AUUG

When you have completed your membership form, please send it, with payment, to AUUG Inc.

by mail:
AUUG Incorporated
PO Box 7071
Baulkham Hills BC    NSW    2153
AUSTRALIA

or by fax:
(02) 8824 9522 (in Australia) or +61 2 8824 9522 (International)

Remember: payment must accompany your membership application, which means a cheque or credit card details if mailing your application, or credit card details if sending a fax.