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The Council of Australian Postgraduate Associations, or CAPA, is the peak representative body for postgraduate students in Australia. Founded in 1979, CAPA provides member associations with representation to the Federal government, and peak bodies such as the Australian Research Council and the Australian Vice-Chancellors' Committee, on issues affecting postgraduate students in Australia.

Recognising the dual roles of many postgraduate students, CAPA works closely in collaboration with the National Union of Students where matters impact on all students (such as voluntary student unionism and funding for higher education), and with the National Tertiary Education Union regarding issues of employment in the tertiary education sector.

CAPA's offices are in Melbourne, Victoria, and its Annual Council Meeting (ACM), where organisational issues and policy directives are decided, is hosted by a different constituent organisation each year.

Each year, at the ACM, the Council elects a nine-member Executive, consisting of the following:

• President (a full-time, paid position)
• Vice-President
• National Secretary
• Treasurer
• Women's Officer
• Indigenous People's Liaison Officer
• International Students' Officer
• Queer Officer
• Chair of the Equity Forum (with responsibility for areas not covered by the other portfolios)

CAPA employs five staff, a General Manager, Research Officer, Financial Officer, Portfolio Research Officer, and an Administrative Officer.

The National Indigenous Postgraduate Association Aboriginal Corporation (NIPAAC) is a separate constituent organisation, representing Indigenous students. NIPAAC employs an Indigenous Research Officer, based at the CAPA offices.

The Council is broken into five administrative Regions, each with its own Regional Council:

• South-Eastern (comprising Victoria and Tasmania), representing students from:
  • Deakin University
  • La Trobe University
  • Monash University
  • RMIT University
  • Swinburne University
  • University of Ballarat
  • University of Melbourne
  • Victoria University
  • University of Tasmania

• Eastern (New South Wales), representing students from:
  • Macquarie University
  • Charles Sturt University
  • University of Western Sydney
  • University of Newcastle
  • Southern Cross University
  • University of Sydney
  • University of New England
  • University of New South Wales
  • University of Technology, Sydney
  • University of Wollongong
  • Australian National University
  • University of Canberra

• Northern (Queensland and the Northern Territory), representing students from:
  • Charles Darwin University
  • Central Queensland University
  • Griffith University
  • James Cook University
  • Queensland University of Technology
  • University of Queensland
  • University of the Sunshine Coast

• Southern (South Australia), respresenting students from:
  • University of Adelaide
  • Flinders University
  • University of South Australia

• Western (Western Australia), representing students from:
  • Edith Cowan University
  • Curtin University of Technology
  • Murdoch University
  • University of Western Australia

• Education in Australia

• CAPA website