Australian Powerlifting Alliance

The Australian Powerlifting Alliance (APA) is the Australian affiliate of the International Powerlifting Federation (IPF).

The APA was created on 07 December 2023 after the Australian Powerlifting Union elected to cease affiliation with the IPF and was accepted as a provisional member at the 2024 IPF General Assembly.

Structure
The APA is a public company limited by guarantee.

The APA has a board of directors with 14x committees managing day-to-day business of the organisation:
 * Sports Science, Sports Medicine
 * Business Development
 * Membership Services
 * Competition Scheduling
 * Qualifying & Progression Eligibility
 * Technical Committee
 * International Representation & Pathways
 * Financial, Audit & Reporting
 * Marketing & PR
 * Digital Systems
 * 2024 Nationals Committee
 * Volunteer Program
 * Coaching Committee
 * Records and Results

Within the APA
The APA has affiliated clubs in 6 Australian States and Territories (all states & territories excluding the ACT).

Within Australia
The APA does not meet all Australian Sports Commission criteria for recognition as a National Sporting Organisation (NSO).

Internationally
The APA is the recognised International Powerlifting Federation affiliate for Australia, as a successor to Powerlifting Australia and the Australian Powerlifting Union. The IPF is itself a recognised member of SportAccord, the successor organisation to the Global Association of International Sports Federations.

Australia is also a member of the IPF's Oceania region, and as such the APA is recognised as a member of the Oceania Regional Powerlifting Federation (ORPF).

Australia is a member of the Commonwealth, and as such the APA is a member of the Commonwealth Powerlifting Federation (CPF).

First local competition
The first competition hosted by the APA was the "Real McCloy Bench Press Only", held at Penrith NSW on 17 February 2024.

First National Competition
The Australian Powerlifting Union did not host a national championship in 2023, meaning lifters had no pathway for qualification for international events in 2024. As a result, the APA scheduled the 2024 national championships earlier in the year to facilitate qualification for international events. Specific eligibility criteria were established for 2024 noting that the organisation had no history and lifters were moving into the APA from other federations. The first national competition was the 2024 National Series: Open Classic held at Newcastle, NSW on 01-03 March 2024. 137 lifters across all genders and weight classes participated.

First international team
The first APA team to represent Australia at an international competition will consist of 13 lifters (5 women and 8 men), to compete at the 2024 IPF World Bench Press Championships held at Austin Texas on 21 May - 1 June 2024.

International competition
As a member of the IPF, the ORPF and the Commonwealth Powerlifting Federation (CPF), athletes in the APA may participate in regional and international competitions including:
 * IPF World Classic Championships
 * IPF World Equipped Championships
 * IPF Junior (14-23) Championships
 * IPF Masters (40+) Championships
 * Oceania Regional Championships
 * Commonwealth Championships
 * The Arnold Sports Festival
 * The FISU University Games