Clubs and associations by state

Beekeeping associations and clubs are the quickest way to meet people who keep bees in your area. This page lists the main state-wide bodies and national bodies, with a link to each one’s own website. For official rules or suspected pests, contact your state department instead (see the end of this page).

Why join a club or association

Associations describe a mix of benefits, and they differ from one group to the next. Those named by the associations themselves or by BeeAware include:

• field days and meetings, often run by local branches or clubs
• newsletters or journals
• biosecurity training
• education and training
• insurance for members (offered by some bodies)
• a way to put your views to governments, through the association
• a swarm collector list (for example through Amateur Beekeepers Australia, which the ACT Government also points to)

Check each group’s website for what it currently offers and what membership costs. Fees and benefits change.

National bodies

The Australian Honey Bee Industry Council (AHBIC) is the national peak body for the honey bee industry. It is made up of six state associations and four national associations, and it advocates for them at national level. It is a body for industry organisations, so most beekeepers join a state association or club rather than AHBIC itself.

Organisation	Who it is for	Website
Australian Honey Bee Industry Council	National peak body; its members are state and national associations	honeybee.org.au
Amateur Beekeepers Australia	Recreational beekeepers, through affiliated local clubs, including in NSW, QLD, NT and the ACT	beekeepers.asn.au
Crop Pollination Association of Australia	Beekeepers who provide pollination services	aussiepollination.com.au
Australian Queen Bee Breeders Association	Queen bee breeders	Contact via the AHBIC industry contacts page

You join Amateur Beekeepers Australia by joining one of its affiliated clubs. Use its Find a Club page to see the list.

New South Wales

Organisation	Who it is for	Website
NSW Apiarists’ Association	Hobby and commercial beekeepers	nswaa.com.au
Amateur Beekeepers Australia	Recreational beekeepers, through local clubs	beekeepers.asn.au

The NSW Apiarists’ Association represents hobby and commercial beekeepers in the state. Amateur Beekeepers Australia was founded in NSW, and its club list includes many NSW clubs.

Victoria

Organisation	Who it is for	Website
Victorian Apiarists’ Association	Commercial, semi-commercial and hobby beekeepers	vicbeekeepers.com.au

The Victorian Apiarists’ Association calls itself the peak beekeeping body for Victoria. For local clubs, ask the association or Agriculture Victoria.

Queensland

Organisation	Who it is for	Website
Queensland Beekeepers’ Association	Professional and amateur beekeepers	qbabees.org.au
Amateur Beekeepers Australia	Recreational beekeepers, through local clubs	beekeepers.asn.au

The Queensland Beekeepers’ Association describes itself as the industry body representing Queensland’s honey bee industry, and its website has a page of beekeeping clubs. Amateur Beekeepers Australia’s club list also includes several Queensland clubs.

South Australia

Organisation	Who it is for	Website
South Australian Apiarists’ Association	Commercial and recreational beekeepers	saaa.org.au

Its members include both commercial and amateur beekeepers.

Western Australia

Organisation	Who it is for	Website
Western Australian Apiarists’ Society (WAAS)	Hobby and commercial beekeepers	waas.org.au
Bee Industry Council of Western Australia (BICWA)	Peak body for registered commercial and recreational beekeepers	bicwa.com.au

BICWA is the peak body for beekeeping in Western Australia and the Western Australian member of AHBIC. The Western Australian Apiarists’ Society is the group most likely to suit a recreational beekeeper looking for meetings and other members. To find a local group, ask WAAS or BICWA.

Tasmania

Organisation	Who it is for	Website
Tasmanian Beekeepers’ Association	Beekeepers in Tasmania	Website not working when last checked; contact details are on the AHBIC industry contacts page

The Tasmanian Beekeepers’ Association is the state’s peak industry body and a member of AHBIC. Its website was not working when this page was last checked, so use the AHBIC contact details to ask how to join.

Northern Territory

AHBIC lists no state association for the Northern Territory. Amateur Beekeepers Australia has affiliated clubs in the Territory, and its club list includes the Alice Springs Beekeepers Association. For other groups, check the Amateur Beekeepers Australia club list.

Australian Capital Territory

AHBIC lists no ACT state association. The local club is Canberra Region Beekeepers, which is affiliated with Amateur Beekeepers Australia and appears on its club list. The ACT Government points people looking for a swarm collector to the Amateur Beekeepers Australia website.

Official questions: contact your state department

Clubs are good for practical advice, but they are not the authority on rules, registration or pests. For those, contact your state or territory department. Bee biosecurity officers are listed on the AHBIC industry contacts page.

• NSW: NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD)
• Victoria: Agriculture Victoria
• Queensland: Department of Primary Industries (DPI)
• South Australia: Department of Primary Industries and Regions (PIRSA)
• Western Australia: Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD)
• Tasmania: Biosecurity Tasmania (Department of Natural Resources and Environment)
• Northern Territory: Plant Biosecurity, NT Government (see the NT honey bees page)
• ACT: ACT Biosecurity (ACT Government)

For hive registration rules, see Registering your hives. For pests and diseases, see Pests, Diseases and Biosecurity. For terms used on this page, see the glossary.