The Association’s purpose is:
- to encourage women to participate and actively pursue their interests in art, science, literature, music, education, philanthropy, social or public service, journalism and the learned professions ("the disciplines") for the advancement of the disciplines to encourage and foster the interest of women in the disciplines and to foster the friendship and association of clubs made up of women of all nations, who are dedicated to or actively interested in the disciplines
- to establish and maintain a national association comprised of the Lyceum Clubs in Australia
- to establish a national association to comply with the requirements of the International Association of Lyceum Clubs and a Secretariat to facilitate this
- to organise and convene a triennial conference, having a theme in the fields of art, music, science or literature and related fields, select a theme considered appropriate and arrange all aspects of the conference. This conference is to be held in the State in which the secretariat is located
- to provide grants or scholarships as and if appropriate to encourage members of Australian Lyceum Clubs to pursue research or studies in the disciplines
- to act as trustee of trust funds and trusts which The Association may establish for the purpose of these objects. (adapted from the AALC Constitution)
The Australian Association of Lyceum Clubs Incorporated (AALC) has five member Clubs which are based in Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney. The total Australian membership is about 2000.
Each Club is represented by a delegate at an Annual General Meeting when the activities of the Association are reviewed and new proposals are discussed.
The affairs of the AALC are administered by a secretariat for a three year term. The secretariat moves to a mamber club in a different state on a rotational basis.
The President of the AALC is the Australian representative on the International Central Bureau which is the executive body of the International Association of Lyceum Clubs.