Have ever you benefitted from the support and encouragement of other haiku poets, perhaps when you were new to haiku? Would you like to pay some of that kindness forward while connecting with many other poets and helping to shape the future of the Australian Haiku Society offers? What is this rare opportunity?
The Australian Haiku Society is seeking a dynamic and well-organised person to fill the significant role of Secretary. In this rewarding role you will be networking with other haiku poets across Australia and around the world, as well as helping to steer the society as a member of the Executive Committee.
The Executive Committee is responsible for the administration of the Society so that it can fulfill its mission. The Society exists to promote and support English-language haiku in Australia and encourage the enjoyment of this poetic form in the Australian community.
We are seeking someone with excellent written communication skills, relevant administrative experience and an aptitude for website and social media management (mainly Facebook currently). Capacity for tact and diplomacy is also important for serving our broad community of poets. An interest in contemporary haiku is essential.
Secretary Role Description
The Secretary has a primary role in administering the affairs of the society. This includes handling correspondence, participating in committee meetings and producing meeting minutes. The secretary has responsibility for being the first point of contact for enquiries from individual poets, editors and publishers, other organisations and the general public. The Secretary also has responsibility for receiving reports from Haiku groups and posting general news to the website. As a member of the committee, the Secretary contributes to strategy, planning and decision-making that supports the society in its mission. The Secretary works closely with the Web Manager to publish communications on the website and assist with maintaining the website.
This is a part-time role that typically requires a commitment of no more than 1-3 hours per week, and often less than 10 hours per month. However, higher demand levels do occur periodically. As the primary contact person for the society, the capacity to respond promptly to messages is important. The Executive Committee typically meets every 6-10 weeks for 1-2 hours. The Secretary’s term is usually for up to four years, in this case from ~ March 2026, ending by March 2030.
Some general eligibility criteria apply to be able to serve as an Office Bearer of the Australian Haiku Society: you should be an Australian citizen or permanent resident who is a currently actively practising haiku poet. What we mean by ‘actively practising’ is that, as a minimum, you compose original haiku and your haiku are published in journals or collections edited by others.
To submit an Expression of Interest, please use the Contact Secretary form. Your EoI should set out the skills, background, attributes and experience you would bring to the position of Secretary, as well as other contributions you would hope to make to running the society. Please include your full name and the city/town/regional area and State/Territory where you live. If you have any questions about the Secretary position, don’t hesitate to ask. The EOI period will close at 5pm on Saturday 28th February 2026.
Australian Haiku Society 