International post

The Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts, together with Australia Post, represents Australia at the Universal Postal Union (UPU). The UPU is the United Nations organisation that sets the rules and standards for the exchange of international mail between its 192 member countries.

Australia’s work in the UPU spans the global postal network, including its operations and development. Australia is also a member of the Asian-Pacific Postal Union (APPU), which facilitates cooperation within the Asia Pacific region. Australia has led the APPU’s Reform Working Group since 2022, working collaboratively with other member countries to update the APPU’s treaties to ensure they’re fit-for-purpose and set the APPU up for continued success.

Australia is a country of contrasts, with a population of 26 million people spread across over 7 million square kilometres. We understand the challenges of delivering a reliable postal service that meets the needs of our diverse citizens and businesses. Australia’s work in the UPU and APPU helps us ensure that no matter where our citizens are in Australia, they are connected to the global postal network.

Australia’s candidacies for the UPU Councils  

Australia is seeking election to the UPU’s Postal Operations Council (POC) and Council of Administration (CA) at the UPU Congress in Dubai, United Arab Emirates in September 2025.

Australia, through the Australian Government and Australia Post, plays an active role in the UPU through its current membership on the POC and its position as an observer on the CA.

Australia has a long history of active participation in the UPU, and has always worked in the interests of the Union and its membership.

  • In the POC, Australia has worked constructively to support sustainable changes to the UPU’s products and remuneration systems, and to find solutions to complex issues including on market development and supply chains.
  • In the CA, Australia has made a strong contribution to the regulatory, policy and supervisory agenda, participating in several Task Forces on key issues including customs and security requirements, and a sustainable contributions system for the UPU.

Australia supports an international postal service that is innovative, inclusive, integrated and sustainable, and is committed to support the UPU to reach these goals.

Australia champions gender equality at the UPU, in recognition that diversity of perspectives and experiences will make both the Union and our global postal sector more resilient in the face of rapid change. We are excited to support a Junior Professional Officer position at the UPU to help drive gender equality matters in alignment with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.

In the current Abidjan Cycle, Australia Post has also been contributing voluntarily to the UPU’s Climate Action Fund, which has supported the development of climate change initiatives. A global leader in sustainability, Australia has also been successfully sharing its expertise with other postal operators.

In the Asia-Pacific, Australia assists the development of postal services through the Asian-Pacific Postal Union (APPU), and through our Pacific Postal Development Partnership. We’re delighted to have worked together with 9 Pacific postal operators since 2022 to share information and to update their equipment to increase their operational efficiencies.

Australia has also supported postal leaders from the Pacific to attend critical postal meetings, including supporting Tonga Post to attend UPU Councils in 2023, Tuvalu Post to attend APPU Executive Council in 2023, and Samoa Post to attend UPU Councils in 2024.

Find out more

Please contact us via email if you are interested in learning more about Australia’s work on international post.