About Us

Working to promote a dynamic and popular new research approach...

The action research-learning-process or constructivist paradigm is currently taking off worldwide, as conditions of change, diversity and conflict make it a methodology of choice to initiate constant cycles of participatory inquiry between stakeholders and deliver new understanding, more accurate theory and deeper, more resonant change.

across a diverse and widespread field of practice...

ALARA embraces people working across the immensely diverse range of methodologies, theory and substantive areas, methods and techniques that make up this new paradigm of research or inquiry: action research, action learning, inquiry process-facilitation and process management, systems thinking, developmental evaluation, collaborative inquiry, action science, participatory research, rural self-appraisal, auto ethnography, appreciative inquiry, and many other methods such as most significant change, open space technology, deliberative surveying, restorative justice and critical narrative just to name some of the more than 100 that can be identified.

We are a strategic network of people interested or involved in using these kinds of approaches to transform a wide range of settings including: workplaces, schools, colleges and universities, health and human services, rural, urban and other communities, voluntary organisations, government, business, management, the environment, agriculture, engineering, community development, information technology, evaluation and quality improvement, self help and social change groups, the environment, feminist concerns and in developing countries.

ALARA one of the earliest associations of practitioners...

ALARA started life as ALARPM, the Action Learning Action Research and Process Management Association. one of the earliest grassroots international action research associations to form globally - alongside the PAR Network at Cornell University (USA), CARN the AR network in the UK, and PRIA Participatory Research In Asia (India). In 1991 ALARPM hosted the first of the World Congresses which are held every two or three years in different countries around the world. For the past few years ALARPM has extended its Committee of Management to represent 7 countries and its membership which is drawn from 21 countries.

Our values, purpose and vision for 'transforming tomorrow today'

Our core values are on inquiry-in-action characterised by inclusion, collaboration, reflection, appreciation of diversity, questioning and respect for differing ways of knowing.

Our purpose is to assist people using these diverse yet related processes to come together to collaborate to achieve synergistic outcomes and to energise each other; and to promote by all available means their study, practice, research and teaching. While incorporated as an association, our way of organising has been to network in order to form communities of practice, and to build links with groups and organisations that have congruent interests and values, to progress our work collectively.

One key intention is to encourage development that crosses geographic boundaries as well as those of traditional disciplines, communities, professions and contexts, and to recognise the common elements across all these various 'strands, streams, settings and variants'.

Our core vision is that action learning, action research & related processes and approaches are widely used and publicly shared by individuals and groups creating local and global change for the achievement of a more equitable, just, joyful, productive, peaceful and sustainable society.

Our core activities - world congresses, journal, conferences, other local organising activities, website, newsletters and publications - are all devoted to these values, purposes and vision.

Governance

ALARA has an international membership, and is incorporated in Australia as a voluntary association.

Members from all over the world give their time, skills, energy and knowledge to progress the work of the association as a whole, or their particular region or area of interest by taking a turn on the committee or by being involved in local or other association organising activities.

Membership is in three categories - individual, organisational (affiliate and associate), and life. Life membership is awarded from time to time for outstanding service to the work of the association. ALARA has a membership-elected committee of management . Members nominate to be involved on the Committee for one, two, three or more years in various capacities.

Within the membership, there is a core group elected to the Management Committee. Each year, individuals volunteer for key roles within the organisation. The current Management Committee list is attached below.

See the Work Program ("Balls in the Air" below) example of what committee members do on behalf of the organisation.

Affiliates

ALARA has affiliate relationships with organisations interested in action learning and action research. The organisation pays an annual fee which gives its members access to ALARA’s website so that action research and learning capabilities are developed informally through interactions with members, and more formally through participation in our workshops, conferences, publications and management. Affiliate relationships entitle organisations to market their activities on our website and to open up sustained and strategic dialogue with other affiliate status organisations in the interests of action learning and research within a specific domain of activity.