The Australian Society of Authors (ASA) was formed in 1963 as the organisation to promote and protect the rights of Australia's authors and illustrators. The Fellowship of Australian Writers played a key role it its establishment. The organisation established Public Lending Right (PLR) in 1975 and Educational Lending Right (ELR) in 2000. The ASA was also instrumental in setting up Copyright Agency, the Australian Copyright Council and the International Authors Forum.
The ASA provides information and advice on all aspects of writing and publishing. It administers several awards, including the ASA Medal, the Barbara Jefferis Award, the ASA/HQ Commercial Fiction Prize, Blake-Beckett Trust Scholarship, and the Varuna Ray Koppe Young Writers Residency.