The Beginners’ Meeting aims to help AA newcomers gain sobriety and grow in the program. It’s run by different Groups from across the ACT / Queanbeyan Region.
Hosting the Beginners’ Meeting is an excellent way for Groups to do service and support the local fellowship. It follows a set format over a six week period. Groups can choose to host a series of 3 or 6 meetings.
Meetings run from 10:00AM to 11:30AM on Saturday mornings at The Salvation Army, Braddon.
Call out for Groups to host
A new roster for 2026 is underway, so now is the time to put your hand up to host.
All Groups across the ACT/Queanbeyan Region are invited to host either a 3-week or 6-week series. Spots are allocated on a ‘first come, first serve’ basis – so get in quick!
What’s involved?
When you host the meeting, your group agrees to provide 2-3 people who can:
- Help set-up
- Greet people and take names
- Chair the meeting (2 people) – there is a script to follow
- Bring milk and top-up tea, coffee, biscuits etc
- Handle 7th tradition takings
- Help pack-up
How to sign up
It’s easy! Groups can either:
The Beginners Coordinator (Vic T) is on hand to support groups and answer any questions.
- Email the Beginners’ Coordinator at [email protected] including:
- the Group’s name
- a contact person (first name + phone number or email address), and
- preference to host a 3-week or 6-week series.
- or submit an online form
Guidelines for running the Beginners’ Meeting
The meetings are split between two topics with a 10-minute break. Topics are listed in the guide located at the venue and in GL-01. The meeting format is also in the guide located at the venue and here.
The week before your group is due to start, a group member needs to attend the Beginners’ Meeting to collect the $20 float from the outgoing group and be shown where the banners, literature etc. are stored.
The rostered group is responsible for ensuring there’s an adequate supply of literature, including the Meetings List, at each meeting; for supplying tea, coffee, sugar and milk for each meeting; and for cleaning up the venue after the meeting.
Handover procedure
Please have a $20 float ready to hand over to the incoming group. It is better to have a single $20 note rather than offer to take it out of the Seventh Tradition basket.
Please ensure that you are passing on an adequate stock of literature, at least two copies of the major titles: Big Book, pocket Big Book, pocket 12&12, Living Sober and Daily Reflections. This is so that the float can be used for milk, tea, coffee and biscuits and avoids the group going into the red before they even start!
After deducting payment for these supplies, all contributions should be held by the group until its rostered six weeks is complete, after which the total amount should be handed in or forwarded by cheque/money order to the CSO, marked as a donation from the Beginners’ Meeting. The donation needs to be accompanied by a note which sets out 7th Tradition donations received and expenses incurred by the Group. Cheques/Money Orders need to be made payable to ACT & Region Central Service Office.
If your group is unable to run the meeting as scheduled, please contact the Beginners’ Meeting Coordinator as soon as possible to allow for alternative arrangements to be made. Roster changes will be notified to relevant Groups.
Please ensure the incoming group is aware of these procedures