Th ACCN has just received this enquiry via our accn@accn.com.au email

Hi there,
as you have explained on your site yours is a celebancy support network, will I still need to join another organisation eg-Aust Fed Civil Celebrants to satisfy my obligations as a celebrant?
thanking you,
J L

1. Our ACCN celebrancy support network is run by celebrants, with the aim of bringing celebrants together whatever their celebrant association affiliation (or none).
2. Our aim is to support celebrants in promoting a range of ceremonies to the Australian community, and you would be most welcome to join.
3. There is no rule that says a marriage celebrant must join a celebrant association. However, there are benefits to doing so:

* a listing in their directory - check your Google searches as if you were a couple trying to find a celebrant in your area. Are there some associations websites coming up on the 1st page better than others ?
* do they hold local networking meetings that are easy for you to attend. State associations may this better than national ones
* does the association include Professional Indemnity / Public Liability in their membership fee, or is it extra?
* does the association include copyright licence in their membership ?
* do they organise local OPD for members ?
* do they have a hard copy newsletter? or an e-news letter
* do they have an active members forum - yahoo or other ?
* how do their fees compare with others in terms of what they provide ?

Then with that information, here are a couple of ways to assess what association is best for you:

* email / ask other celebrants ( local ones and/ or those you trained with) what associations they belong to, and what they think of their services

* attend some association meetings as a visitor to see for yourself what they have on offer.

You can also find some initial information on:
http://www.accn.com.au/celebrant-associations

Finally remember that the associations, like the ACCN, depend on the good will of members to support them, and to do what they can to contribute to their services.

Hope this helps.

Kind regards
rona