2009
- Strategic Initiative of CAUDIT (Member investment + seed funding)
- Established the basis of the trust framework and technology
- Inc. association
- 4 Project staff
Our History
From secure access to national impact
Since 2009, the AAF has helped connect and protect Australia’s research and higher education sector through trust, collaboration and shared purpose.
What began as a vision to make access to online resources simpler and more secure has grown into critical national infrastructure that supports research, education and innovation across the country.
Working in partnership with universities, research organisations, government agencies and industry partners, AAF has helped build the trusted digital foundations that enable people to access the services, infrastructure and information they need, when they need it.
AAF’s story has always been about more than technology. It is about helping students securely access the learning environments, online resources, and services they rely on throughout their studies.
It is also about enabling researchers to accelerate discovery, supporting industry and government to collaborate with confidence, strengthening cybersecurity across the research sector, and enabling the responsible sharing of sensitive information. By connecting people, institutions, and services through trusted digital infrastructure, AAF helps ensure Australia remains globally connected while maintaining sovereign control over critical digital capabilities.
At its heart, AAF is about bringing people together, removing barriers and creating opportunities. By investing in trusted access, Australia invests in the foundations of the future through education and research, enabling innovation, knowledge creation and national prosperity.