Sydney. A recent survey of over 1,000 current AA participants across Australia has explored in detail how AA supports its members in their recovery from addiction. The results also emphasise the "ordinary" nature of AA membership, being broadly consistent with the general Australian demography.
8 Key Details.
- Membership was almost equally divided between men and women, with 3% of members identifying as First Nations.
- 46% reported as holding a University Bachelor's degree or above.
- Only 3.9% of respondents reported as being unemployed, with almost 60% employed and 34% retired.
- 29% reported as living in rural or remote areas compared with 29% living in city areas.
- Over 26% reported that they were self-motivated to join AA, with another 25% being recommended by a Treatment or Rehabilitation Centre. Others were encouraged to join by a health professional, by family, friends, and still more by an existing member of AA member.
- Direct contact with AA was then mostly initiated simply by attending an AA meeting (69%), with another 21% finding AA by calling 1300 22 22 22 (1300 AA AA AA).
- Respondents reported a surprising number of aspects of AA which have contributed significantly to their journey of recovery from alcohol. These include the support from simply attending regular meetings, having a "home group", working through the 12-step recovery program, having the support of an AA sponsor, having a spiritual connection, by doing service and helping others in their AA group.
- Across time, the average length of sobriety has grown steadily – from around 6 years in 1966 to approximately 17 years in 2025.
About the Survey:
The survey was conducted anonymously, gathering input from participants via both written and online questionnaires. It was designed to respect AA's tradition of anonymity while contributing to a deeper understanding of membership the key success factors impacting recovery.
"Hearing directly from AA members allows us to appreciate the power of shared experience," said Grant T. "It's a reminder that recovery is not one-size-fits-all, and that community-based models like AA play such a vital role."
