The Australian Journalists’ Association was formed in Melbourne in 1910.

A year later, 46 members started a Perth branch to represent local print journalists and Hansard Reporters at WA Parliament House.

The AJA quickly became a national media union with branches in every state.

Australia’s World War II Prime Minister John Curtin was President of the AJA’s WA District 1920-25 while editor (1917-28) of The Westralian Worker weekly newspaper.

His successors include ABC reporter Peter Kennedy, Sunday Times sub-editor Martin Saxon, former West sub-editor David Cusworth and – since 2003 – freelancer and journalism lecturer David Cohen.

The Western Australian Journalists’ Association (Incorporated) was formed in 1998 as an independent local professional body for WA media union members.

WAJA resources are used to fund or support:

• The annual WA Media Ball and Awards with cash prizes totalling $14,000
• Free speech projects such as the WA campaign for journalists’ shield laws
• Professional development events such as freelance tax seminars
• Interest-free loans to WAJA members in extreme financial difficulty
• Women In Media, Perth Press Club and this website
• Funeral benefits for recently deceased members’ families