The Club Managers' Association Australia (CMAA) is registered as an industrial organisation of employees in the terms of the Fair Work Act, 2009. The CMAA is affiliated with the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU).

The CMAA, whilst a responsible union, is in the unique position of having its members as both employees, under the Federal Award, and also as employers in their day to day management and administration of Registered Licensed Clubs. Subsequently, the role of the Association extends beyond a purely industrial focus to include the advancement and professional growth of its members and the industry as a whole.

The Association represents professional managers of registered clubs nationally. In this capacity, they are required to be competent in a diverse range of administrative and managerial capacities including the provision of advice to directors and implementation of all aspects of the Registered Clubs Act, Corporations Laws and other relevant legislation. The necessary expertise is gained through the activities of the educational arm of the Association, Club Management Development Australia.

VISION:

To be the essential partner for Club Managers

MISSION:

To protect, support and develop our members.

Between the years 1955 and 1958 the number of clubs licensed jumped from 350 to 1050. Many of these were Leagues Clubs and with their unrestricted membership commenced waiting lists. With large patronage and huge profits they soon became the leaders in their communities. While many clubs were still operating with honorary managers the Leagues Clubs were mainly staffed by a professional manager.
During this time a fellowship was created between Leagues Club managers and a social association was formed to be named the Leagues Clubs Managers’ Association, with Mr Norman (Latchem) Robinson, secretary-manager of Balmain Leagues Club, as manager. These gentlemen met monthly, had lunch, discussed the club industry and usually finished with a game of bowls or golf.
It was proposed at a meeting on Tuesday January 20,1959 at Western Suburbs Leagues Club, Unanderra, that the Association seek registration as a trade union. The motion was carried by the 10 members present and this was the beginning of today’s Association.
The Club Managers’ Association of Australia (CMAA) was formed in 1959 to meet the industrial needs of secretary-managers within the club industry. This was achieved by forming a trade union which was ultimately registered on July 31, 1959. Application for registration as an industrial union of employees was made and was granted by the Industrial Registrar on October 8, 1959.
On September 20, 1960, members of the Association of Managers and Secretaries of Licensed Clubs were advised by their President, the Hon JM Concannon, that the CMAA had agreed to absorb its members and to form a federal organisation to protect their members.
Over the years the CMAA has expanded its membership eligibility guidelines to represent all managers above Level 6 of the Registered and Licensed Award (2020).

The CMAA has always been strongly focused on club manager professionalism through education. Formed in the 1980s, the CMDA is the education arm of the CMAA. Over many years club managers who otherwise had no formal tertiary education in hospitality management practices, were able through the Association to access courses, conferences and study tours to expand their knowledge in management and leadership.
Recognition of a member’s professional development through education, activity and experience helped create a recognition award unique to the industry that was based on the inaugural Fellow of the Institute of Catering Award (FICA) now called the Active Certified Club Manager Award (ACCM).
In 2001 the CMDA was registered as a nationally recognised Registered Training Organisation (RTO) which enabled the CMDA to offer and issue members nationally recognized qualifications in Club Management.
Years later the Federal Executive of the time determined that the enormous cost and work hours required to comply with the overarching compliance legislation for RTOs was prohibitive and unnecessary for the Association to continue with.
Since that time the CMDA has expanded its portfolio to include a range of staff, management and director training modules. The CMDA has recognised the need to embrace online learning modes of delivery of some its offering so that remote and regional members who cannot attend in-person course also have the opportunity to access education through the CMDA.
Currently the CMDA offers not only training courses at all levels of club personnel, it offers industry conferences and themed one day summits across management disciplines which are highly attended.