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- Champion Jockeys Join Forces with Australia's Elite Athletes
- Streamlined Jockeys' Licences
- Jockey John Keating and the "Baby Boom" Inquiry
- New President for Queensland Jockeys’ Association
- Annual Racing Fraternity Mass 2010
- National Jockeys Celebration Day, March 2010
- AJA appoints a National Jockeys' Trust fundraising, event promotion and administration manager
- Damien Oliver
- AJA appoints new National OH&S officer
- Rider Penalty Guidelines for Whip Rule breaches
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Membership
The Australian Jockeys Association was incorporated in 2005 and a Board of Directors appointed to represent jockeys across Australia via a state-based Association system.
The support from Jockeys throughout Australia has been overwhelming with a clear mandate given to the AJA to represent their interests through a national peak body. Each state jockeys association is affiliated with the national body, and membership of the AJA is provided to all Australian jockeys under its constitution, provided jockeys are members of their state associations.
In 2009, the national body represents all 860 professional jockeys (including apprentices and jumps riders) in Australia across the eight (8) States and the ACT; Northern Territory jockeys are expected to have established an Association by early 2010 and subsequently become affiliated with the AJA, as the others have done. It will then receive the support of the AJA, although jockeys are receiving significant benefits already, eg PL and PA insurances.
Apprenticeships
Apprentices currently make up some 27% of membership across Australia; they are a major contributor to the sustainability of racing in Australia, since jockey numbers have declined by over 40% in the last 10 years. Further with the increased focus on this career opportunity by the industry and improved terms and conditions, training and education, the increased intake has helped stabilise the decline in numbers. Further, with EEO there are increased number of female riders entering the industry such that now some 20% of the total jockey populations are female.
The AJA has long lobbied for improved terms and conditions for jockeys, especially education and financial counselling, since a jockey’s career is short with most jockeys retiring in their late 30’s or early 40’s. Of course, through injury this can be further foreshortened.
The ARB and State Principal Racing Authorities are developing Centres of Excellence for Training and pursuing other necessary goals for providing apprentice jockeys with life skills over and above racing. Historically, many jockeys entered riding without finishing their school education and without other qualifications; this has led to extreme difficulties for jockeys and their families, when they retire. With the initiatives now in place, the new riders will not face the same challenges when they reach retirement age.