Features

Core capabilities

🎯 Membership management

AMS provides comprehensive membership management for both individual and organisation-based memberships. Configure multiple membership types with different pricing tiers and renewal cycles. Organisations can manage their allocated seats, inviting and removing members as needed. Custom profile fields allow you to collect association-specific information without requiring code changes.

The platform aims to handle the complete membership lifecycle. Automated email notifications keep administrators informed at each stage, while dashboard views show membership statistics and pending applications at a glance.

Key Features:

Individual and organisation membership models with seat allocation
Flexible membership types with configurable pricing and benefits
Custom profile fields for association-specific data collection
Member self-service for profile updates and organisation management
Membership status tracking with activity history
Bulk operations for membership administration

💳 Integrated billing

Native integration with Xero accounting software streamlines all billing operations. When a member applies, AMS automatically creates invoices in Xero, eliminating manual data entry and ensuring financial records remain accurate. Real-time synchronisation keeps payment status current in both systems.

The Xero integration provides secure, granular access without requiring shared passwords. Configurable pricing allows for special pricing for different membership categories.

Key Features:

Custom connection Xero integration for secure, automated invoice generation
Automatic invoice creation for applications and transactions
Real-time payment status synchronisation between AMS and Xero
Flexible pricing with support for tiered rates
Rate limiting and error handling for reliable API communication

📄 Content management system

Built on Wagtail, AMS provides a powerful yet user-friendly content management system that empowers non-technical staff to create and publish rich content. The StreamField architecture allows editors to build pages using reusable content blocks, maintaining consistency while providing creative flexibility.

Path-based multi-language routing enables associations to serve content in multiple languages—particularly valuable for New Zealand associations serving both English and Te Reo Māori speaking members. The preview and workflow features allow content to be drafted, reviewed, and scheduled for publication without technical intervention.

Key Features:

Wagtail CMS with intuitive editing interface
StreamField blocks for flexible, structured content creation
Multi-language content with path-based routing (e.g., /en/about, /mi/about)
Full support for English and Te Reo Māori
Draft, preview, and publish workflow with revision history
Scheduled publishing for time-sensitive content
Image management with automatic resizing and optimisation
Hierarchical page structure with customisable navigation

💬 Community forum

Seamless integration with Discourse forum platform provides a dedicated space for member discussions, peer support, and community building. Single sign-on (SSO) via OAuth2 means members use the same credentials across both AMS and the forum, eliminating the friction of separate accounts.

Access control is automatically synchronised with membership status. Active members gain forum access, while lapsed memberships result in automatic access deactivation.

Key Features:

Discourse forum integration with OAuth2 single sign-on
Automatic access control based on active membership status
Unified user credentials across AMS and forum
Consistent branding and navigation between platforms
Member profile synchronisation
Seamless transition between website and forum

📅 Events

AMS includes an optional events module for publishing and managing association events. When enabled, members can browse upcoming and past events, view event details with session schedules, and find event locations on an interactive map. Administrators manage events through the Django admin interface with support for series, locations, regions, and event duplication.

Key Features:

Event listings with upcoming and past event views
Event detail pages with session schedules
Location management with map integration
Event series for grouping related events
Registration link support
Featured events highlighting

📚 Resources

AMS includes an optional resources module for publishing downloadable materials on the website. When enabled, members can browse and search resources, view detail pages, and download files. Administrators manage resources through the Django admin interface, with support for private file uploads, rich descriptions, and a flexible two-level taxonomy.

Key Features:

Resource listing with latest published resources
Detail pages with downloadable components (files, links, or references to other resources)
Private file storage — files are served via authenticated URLs, never public hotlinks
Postgres full-text search with keyword ranking and websearch operator support
Admin-managed taxonomy with categories and tags for faceted filtering
Multiple component types auto-detected: PDF, document, spreadsheet, slideshow, video, audio, and more

🎨 Customisation and branding

AMS provides extensive customisation options without requiring code modifications, including enabling or disabling parts of the website such as the events module. Upload your association's logo, configure brand colours, and customise the visual theme to match your organisation's identity. The Bootstrap based design ensures responsive, modern styling across all devices.

Custom profile fields allow you to collect and display information specific to your association's context. Whether you need to track certifications, specialisations, employment details, or any other member attributes, custom fields can be configured through the admin interface. Form-based configuration for membership types and pricing enable operational changes without developer involvement.

Key Features:

Logo upload and branding customisation
Theme colour configuration with live preview
Bootstrap and CSS variables for advanced styling
Custom profile fields with various field types (text, choice, date, etc.)
Configurable membership types and pricing
Multi-language content and interface text
Responsive design for mobile, tablet, and desktop

🌏 Multi-language support (in progress)

AMS provides comprehensive multi-language capabilities, with full support for both English and Te Reo Māori. Path-based routing allows content to be served in different languages (e.g., /en/membership vs /mi/membership), while the Wagtail CMS enables translation of all page content. Interface text, system emails, and form labels are managed through Django's translation system, allowing for complete localisation.

Key Features:

English and Te Reo Māori interface support
Path-based multi-language content routing
Translatable CMS pages with language-specific content
Localised system emails and notifications
Translatable form labels and help text
Language switcher for member convenience
Fallback language configuration

Who is AMS for?

Association administrators and operations staff

If you manage the day-to-day operations of a membership association, AMS streamlines your work. Automated billing eliminates manual invoice creation and payment tracking. Membership management dashboards provide at-a-glance views of applications and member statistics. The intuitive CMS allows you to publish content without technical assistance.

Benefits:

Reduce administrative overhead with automation
Access real-time membership and financial data
Manage content without developer dependency
Streamline member onboarding and renewals
Maintain accurate records across systems

IT teams and developers

Built on proven, well-documented technologies, AMS provides a solid foundation for technical teams. The Django framework, PostgreSQL database, and Docker-based deployment ensure reliability and scalability. Comprehensive documentation covers installation, configuration, and customisation. The open-source codebase allows for extension and modification to meet specific requirements.

Technical Benefits:

Modern Python/Django codebase with type hints
PostgreSQL database with Django ORM
Docker and Docker Compose for consistent deployment
Wagtail CMS for content management
Comprehensive test suite with pytest
CI/CD ready architecture
Extensive developer documentation

Association members

Members benefit from a unified, self-service platform. Update your profile, manage organisation memberships, track membership expiry dates, and access association content all in one place. Single sign-on provides seamless access to the community forum. Clear membership status information keeps members informed of where they stand.

Member Benefits:

Single account for all association services
Self-service profile and membership management
Clear visibility of membership status and benefits
Access to member-only content and forums
Mobile-friendly interface for on-the-go access
Multi-language content options

Why choose AMS?

Open Source: Full transparency, no vendor lock-in, and community-driven development. Review the code, understand how it works, and modify it to suit your needs. Benefit from community contributions and share improvements back to the ecosystem.

Self-Hosted: Complete control over your data and infrastructure. Host on your own servers or cloud platform of choice. Ensure data sovereignty and privacy compliance. No per-user fees or forced upgrades.

All-in-One: Eliminate the complexity of integrating multiple separate systems for membership, billing, content, and community. Single platform, single database, unified user experience. Reduce vendor management overhead and integration maintenance.

Built for NZ/AU: Native Xero integration for seamless accounting, configurable currency, and Te Reo Māori language support for New Zealand associations committed to bilingual service.

Modern Stack: Built on Django, Wagtail, PostgreSQL, and containerised with Docker. Benefit from mature, well-supported technologies with extensive documentation and active communities. Future-proof architecture with clear upgrade paths.

Active Development: Developed and maintained by DTTA for their own operational needs, ensuring continued evolution based on real-world association management requirements. Regular updates, bug fixes, and new features driven by practical experience.