The Australian Forest Contractors Association Ltd (AFCA) was established in 2002 to look after the interests of the harvesting and haulage contractors within the timber industry across Australia. At the time it was felt that there was a need to establish a national body which would facilitate their long term viability and welfare.The Association registered as a company Limited by Guarantee in November of 2002.

Membership is made up of both Associations of Contractors within the various states, and also individual Contractors from across Australia.

AFCA is governed by a Board of Directors elected by members at an Annual General Meeting each year. The Directors Charter is to focus on Coporate Governance, Association Policies and Direction, and Finance, and to supervise the general day to day management of the organisation.

The Association employs a Manager whose primary role is to manage the day to day affairs of the organisation, to increase the levels of Membership by Contractors, to maintain, and continue to increase the range of products and services that it provides for members, to further develop and maintain partnerships with other stakeholders within the timber industry, to represent the Association at a range of forums, meetings and conferences and to advocate on behalf of the Contractor members as and where appropiate. It also employs administrative staff to manage a range of tasks, and a part time field Officer in Western Australia whose role is a liaise with members in that area.

Already in its short history, the Association has achieved a number of significant milestones. These include obtaining and maintaining positions on a number of Federal Government Committees and Councils and other bodies set up to manage the industry. It also has regular contructive input into the future policy and direction of many of the country's major timber industry activities and initiatives.

The members, through the Association, have access to a wide range of products and services including Business Viability and planning through a specialist Consultant provided by AFCA and a number of others includingContract rate planning and tendering, industry recruitmant and training and occupational health and safety.

The Association also has a number of future initiatives it is currently exploring which will further increase the range of products and services is can provide both for it's existing members and the potential new members who may come from other industry sites across the States and territories.

These include the updating and relaunching of the AFCA Website to further the circulation of information and build on the weekly "Log" and "Woodweek" Newsletters which are currently circulated. We also intend to continue to establish partnerships with additional companies within the corporate and business worlds whereby additional mutual benefits can be achieved, and also to expand on the range of products and services that we currently provide for our members.

AFCA will also continue to identify what role it can play in assisting its members through facilitating and conducting a range of training courses, workshops and seminars, all designed to assist them to improve their business situations.

During 2007 , as one of it's most major contributions to the timber industry. AFCA purchased the rights to "Austimber" an international event which is designed to inform and demonstrate, the latest range of harvesting, haulage and processing equipment. It now facilitates the conduct of this event on a four year cycle with a range of other events and seminars planned to be conducted in the intervening years.

AFCA has also recently announced that it will host an annual prestigious function at which Harvesting and Haulage Contractors who have given outstanding service to the industry will be admitted to the "Contractors Hall of Fame". This exciting new initiative is designed to recognise and appreciate the contribution made to the timber industry by Contractors.