[Caveat: as someone involved with ATEM for around 20 years, this history is filtered by my experience of the Association. I've received input from members and presidents, I've searched our archives and previous research on the Association. This snapshot is based on a presentation to the 2006 Members Forum - the presentation is available from the ATEM website. The interpretation is mine, and open to the interpretation of others. If you disagree with something here, write an entry on the ATEM history blog). All members are now creating ATEM's history, so take the opportunity to have your say.]

ATEM was established as the Australian Institute of College Administrators in 1975. At its first AGM in 1976, the Australian Institute of Tertiary Education Administrators was established, with a name change 20 years later in 1996 to ATEM. Originating in Victorian colleges of advanced education, ATEM has a sometimes painful birth in terms of its acceptance by universities:

"People connected with AITEA seem to have considerably more time to pursue their interests than any university administrator . I am of the opinion that much of the material AITEA is putting out is to say the least not only not useful to University administrators but harmful to the profession of university administration. There is a fundamental difference between the 'two' administrations [universities and colleges] and this must be clearly pointed out constantly and continuously. That the interests of a university administration may be best served by a separate and restricted organisation . Any university administrator who wishes to join (AITEA) may naturally do so but no encouragement should be given."
(Hugh McCredie, Deputy Registrar, University of Sydney, 1978).

ATEM was also established as a federation of branches, and a form of states' rights has dogged ATEM's history, creating a them and us divide which, at times, has become hostile. There has been much game playing during ATEM's history, which is not unusual for an association of this size. The current Council is moving ATEM beyond this them and us divide, but it is still present in conversations between members. The result of this divide is that ATEM has spent much of its history talking about the same things, and moving forward in very small steps.

Always a volunteer association, ATEM has relied on the goodwill of its members and their institutions to keep the association running. There have been a number of big personalities in ATEM, but progress has often been mired by ego and game-playing. Professional development has always been ATEM's core business, but it is notable that professional development was not directly mentioned in the original constitution. Our focus on professional development may no longer be sufficient for the future. The Association has attempted a broader role on a couple of occasions in the past, but we have not built those roles, and have quickly retreated when seen to be criticised by external groups such as the AVCC. Membership has been static for a number of years, and we have yet to decide whether this is our optimum membership level, or whether we need to make some adjustments to attract new members, both from administrative and academic ranks.

ATEM's history has been marked by 'inherent uncertainty' - in our role, our position in the sector, how loudly we can speak up in the sector, and what it is we offer the sector. We still do not have a codified knowledge base (standards to underpin our professional education and training program), and we have not decided whether we want to stake a claim in the division of labour in universities, or whether we are content to remain invisible in that context.

For the future, it is time to move beyond the focus on the detail that ATEM has been bogged down in for most of its history, and embrace the big picture and the ideals of ATEM's founders. It is time to be bold and articulate our value to the sector - as a group, not just as strong and passionate individuals. The core of our future has been with ATEM since its establishment in 1976: the professional interests of members; fellowship; and recognition of individuals and the profession.

As was written in 1991 during the future directions review:

"The expectations of membership revolve around professional development and fellowship, but there is a view that the Institute should do more for the recognition of administrators as professionals by promoting the importance of their role with higher education" (Future Directions paper, 29 July 1991).

How we will be viewed in our 50th anniversary is up to each of us as members, but it is time to move beyond inherent uncertainty, beyond the detail so that we can work out where it is that we fit in the sector now and into the future.

Maree Conway

Councillor at Large

Postscript from the ATEM Secretariat: Maree has pointed out that TAFE is very thin in ATEM. However, the New Zealand Polytechnics are well represented. We cannot work out what is going on there. If anyone has an explanation please let us know at atem1@bigpond.com

30th Anniversary History of AITEA/ATEM

Maree Conway has given these snippets from her 30th Anniversary History of AITEA/ATEM. They give one a sense of how ATEM is changing and what its future is.

Of the 58 responses 29% joined because someone recommended they join, 21% for networking, 19% to keep up to date with what is going on in the tertiary sector, 16% because of professional development, and 14% to join a professional association. One person joined by mistake!

When I did my survey for my Masters in 1995, most people joined to keep up to date with the sector and for professional development, with networking was cited as a reason by about 12% and to join a professional association about 6%). But I didn't offer the "recommendation" option in my survey.

Some reasons for joining ATEM:

• because of my concern for the management, treatment and isolation of general staff (Michael Whitley, University of Sydney)
• strong networking opportunities, the great conferences and workshops (Lydia Tarnowsky, University of Adelaide)
• to learn what was happening across other parts of the tertiary sector (Bessy Rasmussen, Massey University)
• I actually joined by mistake...must admit, I have not regretted that (Prasad Gita, University of Auckland)

Stories/impressions of ATEM:

• for me ATEM is about self-discovery. It offers...reflective practice. ATEM gives people the opportunity to take time to think about what they do, rather than just blindly do it (Giles Pickford, ATEM Ghost)
• I stay in ATEM...in order to try and help make it as productive, relevant and useful ... (Sam Jacob, University of South Australia)
• ATEM is all about groups of people coming together to learn, share ideas and provide support to others (Maureen Gillett, University of Western Sydney
• ATEM is about 'encouragement' (Manor Cooper, Charles Sturt University)
• I remember the rivalry, played out at National Council, between the States...(Robert Thomason, Melbourne Business School)
• the support I have received through ATEM membership and participation in ATEM events is a significant contribution to my working life in the HE sector (Kaye Hempsall, University of New England)
• it goes to the heart of how to make ATEM great, for me, which is that it will always be as great as its members, as great as the people who stand up (sit down) and get involved, and that ATEM is 'us', not 'other' (Sam Jacob, University of South Australia)
• I worked at Caulfield Institute of Technology whilst Maurie Blank was the Registrar. This was an era when the general office consisted of about 15 people - including student admin and payroll - when calculators had handles and students queued to pay their fees in cash which we took on a single cash register! (Joy Chirnside, Deakin University)
• ATEM provides a professional 'home' for administrators, it provides us with a vehicle for our voice and a say in matters which affect us and the issues that are important to us (Darlene Sebalj, University of Newcastle).

Now, before anyone says that most of the quotes come from Australian members, that's because only 17 of the 58 responses were from NZ.