Established 1949 Key people Mike Watson, President Headquarters Sydney, Australia Type of business Professional association | Region served Australia Website www.pria.com.au Founded 1949 | |
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Membership 2,200 (as at November 2014) | ||
Public relations institute of australia pria ceo ray shaw visits the pria act division
The Public Relations Institute of Australia (PRIA) is a peak body for public relations and communication professionals in Australia. It promotes high ethical standards in the public relations and communication industry through accredited membership, resources, training, and recognition.
Contents
- Public relations institute of australia pria ceo ray shaw visits the pria act division
- Projects
- Course accreditations
- Partnerships and sponsorships
- History
- Presidents
- References
PRIA was founded in 1949. It sponsors the open access Asia Pacific Public Relations Journal. The organisation is a member of the Global Alliance for Public Relations and Communication Management.
Projects
In 2014, PRIA projects included advising on lobbyist legislation, increasing the use of valid measurement in PR, and offering career development and professional support resources to practitioners. PRIA also offers member training and professional development, runs a consultancy registration scheme, organises conferences and networking events, and presents annual awards for outstanding programs (the Golden Target Awards).
Course accreditations
PRIA introduced accreditation of Australian public relations courses in the late 1980s and 1990s. It identifies three core benefits to accreditation:
PRIA continues to accredit courses for a five-year rolling period, but the Australian Government has not chartered the association and PRIA does not demand degrees from its members.
Partnerships and sponsorships
When Deakin University began publishing the Asia Pacific Public Relations Journal in 1999, PRIA became a sponsor of the publication, and it continues its support today.
PRIA is one of 25 founding members of the Global Alliance for Public Relations and Communication Management.
In September 2014, PRIA announced a partnership with the International Special Events Society to enable PRIA members to earn professional development points by attending ISES events.
History
When PRIA was established in 1949, Asher Joel was one of its founding members.
PRIA established the annual Golden Target Awards in 1976, to recognise excellence in Australian public relations. The University of Western Sydney's Ward Library is home to the winners collection which dates from 1998.
Jon Bisset was appointed CEO of PRIA in July 2009, departing in December 2012.
When the Public Relations Council was formed in 2012, PR practitioners discussed whether Australia's PR industry was big enough for two peak bodies, generally concluding that the market could embrace both organisations.
In 2013, PRIA announced a new membership structure breaking down organisational membership into four categories: government, corporate, not-for-profit, and tertiary education.
In February 2014, Mike Watson was appointed president of PRIA. At the same time as his appointment, the entire PRIA national board stepped down—with the exception of its Western Australian representative. Watson told media he planned to take the organisation in a new direction.
Jennifer Muir was the only nominee for the role of President in February 2016. She was elected unopposed to the role of president and at the same time Jacquie Ray was made the deputy president.
Presidents
The following persons have been presidents of PRIA: