Australian International Movers Association Information

The Australian International Movers Association (AIMA), was established in 1975 as a professional forum for the international removal industry, within the framework of which its members work towards continuous improvement of the industry's standards and thus the service provided to the public. Why does the association exist? Most industries have their own professional industry organisation; AIMA provides a means for the international removal industry in Australia to govern itself, improve services, deal as one in its relations with Government Departments such as Customs and Quarantine, to provide an independent disputes tribunal and to protect the interests of the public. AIMA is recognised as the FIDI Association in Australia. Who can be a member? To join AIMA, a moving company must either be an affiliate of FIDI (Federation Internationale Des Demenageurs Internationaux) or otherwise have satisfied the AIMA membership criteria, which includes a requirement for independently certified proof of financial integrity. FIDI affiliate members are certified as a FIDI Accredited International Mover (FAIM). FAIM is the only internationally recognised quality standard, being a benchmark for the moving industry; it is awarded based upon the results of initial and then regular audits by a leading international management consulting firm. This is to ensure that only moving companies with specialist knowledge, resources and experience are able to join. Australian moving companies without FAIM are still eligible for membership of AIMA but must satisfy criteria which measures their specialist knowledge, resources, experience and financial position. AIMA can thus differentiate its members from those movers whose standards and experience are insufficient to enable them either to be FAIM certified or have chosen not to participate in the AIMA quality audit process. Only AIMA members are bound by the AIMA disputes tribunal process. What benefit do clients gain from AIMA? 'Membership of AIMA is a benchmark for the moving industry. In selecting a member of AIMA to handle an international removal a client may be confident that the member is recognised within Australia and around the world as an established international mover. The public may then differentiate AIMA members as movers whose standards and experience are benchmarked and sufficient to enable them to meet the AIMA membership criteria. Additionally, as AIMA members are bound by the AIMA disputes tribunal process, clients of AIMA members are assured that any complaint will be adjudicated and acted upon. What is FIDI and how is AIMA connected with it? FIDI is a professional body to which over 500 specialist international removal companies from around the world are affiliated. The primary aim of FIDI is to ensure that all affiliated moving companies perform to recognised standards of service and this is measured by the FAIM quality standard. Removal companies which wish to join or remain in FIDI must pass the strict criteria which benchmarks the international moving industry. Australian movers which belong to FIDI are qualified to join AIMA but must still adhere to the strict AIMA Disputes Tribunal process; Australian movers which have elected not to join FIDI but wish to join AIMA, must satisfy AIMA's strict membership criteria which includes verification of operational capabilities and financial integrity. AIMA represents the FIDI affiliated movers in Australia as the 'FIDI Association' and sends delegates to the FIDI Congress and General Assembly held annually. Why should an AIMA member be selected? Selecting a mover to whom treasured and valuable belongings are to be entrusted is not an easy decision. A removal service is an intangible purchase and so it can be difficult to identify recognised standards of service in advance of receiving them. The financial stability of a mover is also an important consideration before advance payment is made for any service: membership of AIMA therefore readily identifies those international movers which are capable, efficient and judged to be financially sound. AIMA members are all bound by the Dispute Resolution process. Members of the public who select an AIMA member to carry out their international removal may therefore do so with confidence that the mover is qualified to undertake the task.