We've recently confirmed our membership with the Australian Web Industry Association (AWIA), and we wanted to take a moment to explain what that actually means for us, for our clients, and for the standard of work you can expect from a digital agency in Perth.

What Is AWIA?

The Australian Web Industry Association is a national, not-for-profit organisation that has represented Australia's web professionals since 2002. It brings together designers, developers, digital marketers, strategists, content creators, consultants and hosts under a single industry body.

AWIA is one of the largest dedicated web industry associations in the country, with members across Australia working in development, design, SEO, content and digital marketing. It's led by a board of directors drawn from across the industry, all professionals who convene regularly to plan events, advocate for standards, and organise the annual Australian Web Awards.

Why We Joined

AWIA exists to champion professional standards and support the people doing great work across the web. For us, joining was a deliberate decision to align OKMG with an organisation that takes the same things seriously that we do: ethical practice, documented processes, and work that holds up to scrutiny.

AWIA members adopt Widelines, a set of governing principles covering professionalism, honesty, integrity and transparency. These aren't vague aspirations. They include specific expectations: clearly outlining scope and costs in proposals, using documented testing procedures, maintaining source control for custom code, and never guaranteeing clients a #1 ranking in paid search.

Actually, we already operate this way. The membership just formalises it.

What the Membership Means in Practice

AWIA membership gives us access to a range of resources and connections that feed directly back into client work:

• Industry standards and best practice. AWIA keeps members up to date with web standards, industry news and resources. That means when we're building a website or running a campaign, we're working from a shared baseline of what good looks like.

• Networking with peers. AWIA runs member-only events and networking opportunities with industry leaders. For a Perth-based agency with Melbourne operations, that connection to the broader Australian web community matters. It's how we stay exposed to different approaches, different tools, and different ways of solving problems.

• Partner discounts that benefit clients. AWIA has negotiated exclusive offers with partners including Airwallex, GetTerms, Udemy and Cynch. Some of these flow through to client projects (i.e., free privacy policy packs and discounted client website terms from GetTerms).

• Insurance and risk management. AWIA members have access to tailored professional indemnity and public liability insurance through Gallagher, designed specifically for web industry businesses. This isn't the kind of thing clients think about day to day, but it's part of operating a professional agency responsibly.

• A seat at the table. AWIA is a member-based organisation. Members can join the committee and have voting entitlements at annual general meetings. We'd rather contribute to the standards conversation than complain about them from the sidelines.

What It Doesn't Mean

We want to be clear about this: AWIA membership is not a badge that makes a website better. It doesn't replace strategy, craft or accountability. What it does is signal that we've chosen to operate within a framework that values those things and that we’re willing to be held to a shared standard. It also means we're part of a community that celebrates excellence through the Australian Web Awards, supports events like NO/BS Conference and Women in Tech, and gives the web industry a collective voice on issues that affect everyone working in digital.

What This Means for You

If you're working with OKMG, nothing changes except that the professional standards we already follow are now backed by an industry body that exists specifically to uphold them. If you're considering working with us, the AWIA membership is one more piece of evidence that we take this industry seriously. 

You can view our member listing on the AWIA website, or get in touch if you'd like to talk about a project.