The Big Questions Answered: Everything You Need to Know About Member Jungle

If your committee is evaluating new software, you likely have a lot of questions about what Member Jungle is and how it works. This comprehensive Member Jungle FAQ covers everything from Member Jungle pricing to how our Australian membership management software keeps your data secure on local servers. Whether you are looking for a club/association software free trial to test the waters, or you want to know more about the dedicated Member Jungle support team that helps you set up a secure member database in Australia, we answer the biggest questions so you can make an informed decision for your organisation.

There are some questions so big or so complicated that we may never know the real answers to them.

Take the Fermi Paradox, for example. It asks, why, if there is a practically infinite number of planets in the universe, meaning a highly probable chance of intelligent life developing somewhere else, why haven't we seen any signs of them yet? Or what about the true nature of dark matter? It makes up a sizable chunk of the universe, yet we cannot see it or track it in any way; we only know it’s there because we can measure its gravitational effect on the matter we can observe. Or, how and why did human consciousness evolve, and to what extent do other animals experience it? Or where do peas come from? Are they just homeless beans?

All big, important, unanswerable questions.

However, today we are going to be looking at some distinctly more answerable questions.

If you’ve been looking for a digital system to help you run your club, association, or membership organisation better, and you’ve just stumbled across Member Jungle, you probably have a lot of questions about who we are and what we do. So, let's take some time today to answer a few of them.

Key Takeaways: Member Jungle at a Glance

• What it is: An all-in-one membership management system (MMS)  or sometimes referred to as (AMS) that replaces scattered systems by combining your database, website, event ticketing, communications and mobile app into one automated platform.
• Who we are: A fully Australian-owned company run by active club volunteers who understand the actual frustrations of committee life.
• Data Security: Your members' data is securely hosted on local Australian servers to ensure privacy compliance, with all payments safely processed by Stripe.
• Pricing & Access: Subscriptions range from $109 to $799 AUD a month, and committees can test the entire system risk-free with a 30-day free trial.

What Is A Membership Management System? 

Chances are you already know the answer to this one, but let’s go over it quickly to make sure we are all on the same page. 

Think of a Membership Management System (MMS) as a CRM (Customer Relationship Management) platform, but built specifically for members instead of standard retail customers. They are used by clubs, associations, and pretty much any organisation that relies on people signing up for free or paid memberships.

Instead of juggling five different spreadsheets, a messy email inbox, and a separate website builder, a good membership management system allows you to:

• Automate renewals and payments: Stop chasing people for direct deposits and let the system handle automatic reminders, secure online payments, and instant receipting.

• Centralise your database: Keep all your member details, historic vehicle logbooks, and membership tiers in one secure, easily searchable place.

• Streamline communication: Send targeted emails, newsletters, or mobile app push notifications directly to your members without needing a third-party platform.

• Manage events easily: Sell tickets, track RSVPs, and check people in at the door using QR codes on their phones.

• Give your members a digital home: Provide your members with a modern website and a dedicated mobile app so they can interact with your organisation from anywhere.

Ultimately, a membership management system takes all the tedious, manual admin work off your committee's plate so you can focus on actually running your organisation and enjoying your weekends.

What Is Member Jungle?

Member Jungle is an all-in-one membership management system that does all of the above and more. Instead of your committee having to make things work with a patched-together system of WordPress, Mailchimp, Eventbrite, and Excel spreadsheets, Member Jungle gives you everything in one single, fully integrated platform. We provide you with a customisable website, automated membership renewals, digital membership cards, a dedicated mobile app and much more, all designed specifically to make running a membership organisation as easy as possible.

Where Is Member Jungle Based? 

Member Jungle is a fully privately owned Australian company, proudly headquartered in Newcastle, NSW.

But why does that actually matter to your membership organisation? First, it means your members' data is securely stored right here on local Australian servers, keeping you safe and compliant. Second, it means that when you need support, you are dealing with a team that operates in your time zone and understands the specific needs, regulations, and culture of Australian and New Zealand associations.

Who Works At Member Jungle?

We are a tight-knit team based mostly around the greater Newcastle area, though a few of us are spread a bit further afield, including Queensland, New Zealand, and the Philippines.

Member Jungle was founded by Michael Barwell, Jeff Pond, and Leigh Clover, all of whom are still with the company today. As active committee members for their own local clubs and associations, they experienced firsthand just how frustrating and time-consuming traditional membership management could be.

Instead of just putting up with the endless spreadsheets and manual renewals, they combined their decades of tech experience to build a system that actually solves the problems they knew all too well.

If you want to dive deeper into how it all started, you can read the full background here: Our Story: Built by Club Volunteers, For Club Volunteers.

How Much Does Member Jungle Cost? 

Member Jungle is a subscription-based service, and the cost ultimately depends on the specific features you need and the number of active members you need to manage.

Our pricing structure consists of a one-off setup fee to get your shiny new system up and running, followed by an ongoing monthly or annual subscription ranging from $109 to $799 AUD a month, depending on your needs. You can check out all the Member Jungle setup options to see what each package includes, and choose whether you want to do it yourself or have us handle the entire process for you. 

Is There A Free Trial Of Member Jungle? 

Yes, with Member Jungle, you can have a 30-day free trial to test out the system and see if it works for you before you commit. The free trial can be completely set up and customised to fit your organisation’s preferences. This trial allows you to explore all of Member Jungle's features and work out whether they meet the needs of your club or association. If you find they do, you can simply pay, and your trial site will launch as your official website.

You can see everything you will need to know about the Member Jungle Free Trial at 30 Day Free Trial Resources. 

What If We Need Help Setting It Up?

Starting with a new system can feel a bit like trying to climb a very steep mountain, especially for volunteer committees. The good news is that you don't have to climb it alone.

Member Jungle is designed to be easy to set up yourself, but if you don’t have the time or you just want the experts to handle it, you can opt for our Accelerator package. With this, one of our project managers will actually meet with you, build your website, set up your membership structures, and migrate your data over for you. Once everything is perfect and ready to launch, they will even sit down with your committee for a dedicated training session so you know exactly how to run the show.

Is Our Members' Data Safe?

In a world of constant data breaches, this is a very valid question. At Member Jungle, we take your data security incredibly seriously.

Because we are locally based, your members' data is hosted right here on secure Australian servers, ensuring you remain compliant with local privacy laws. When it comes to taking payments for memberships or event tickets, Member Jungle integrates directly with Stripe, one of the world's most secure and trusted payment gateways. Stripe handles all sensitive credit card data, keeping your members safe, and integrates seamlessly with accounting software like Xero to keep your treasurer happy.

Will Our Less Tech-Savvy Members Be Able To Use It?

The short answer is yes. The Member Jungle system has been built from the ground up so that everyone, regardless of their age or technical ability, can use it with confidence. To put it into perspective, we currently have active committee members in their 90s successfully using the system to run their organisations!

However, we know there will always be a small percentage of people who simply refuse to touch a smartphone or a computer. For that 5%, Member Jungle still allows your administrators to manually process cash payments, print out physical invoices, and update details on their behalf.

You don't have to force every single member into the digital age; you just need to automate the process for the 95% who do want to be online, which frees up your time to help the few who don't.

What Support Does Member Jungle Offer?

Member Jungle is designed to be simple and intuitive, but we know that learning a new system will always bring up questions. That is why we don't just hand you a login and disappear. We offer three distinct types of support to ensure your committee gets exactly the help they need:

• A Comprehensive Help Portal: We have a massive online library filled with step-by-step articles and video tutorials that guide you through every feature and help you troubleshoot at your own pace.

• Ongoing Training: We offer both free and paid training sessions with our team members to ensure your entire admin team feels completely confident using the system.

• Dedicated Support Tickets: If you get stuck on something specific, simply raise a support ticket. A real member of our local support team will get in touch and help you resolve the issue.

TL;DR: The Short Answer

If you scrolled all the way to the bottom (we get it, committee members are busy), here is the cheat sheet. 

Member Jungle is an Australian-based, all-in-one membership management system built by volunteers, for volunteers. It automates your renewals, centralises your database, and is designed to be incredibly easy to use, even for members in their 90s. Your data is kept highly secure on local servers, and we offer hands-on local support, setup assistance, and a free 30-day trial so your committee can test it out completely risk-free.

Ready To Get Started?

I may not be able to tell you if there are aliens out there or explain the true nature of peas, but I can show you exactly how to make running your membership organisation a whole lot easier.

If you are ready to see the system in action, you can Book A Free Demo with our team or dive right into a 30-Day Free Trial today.