Membership & Support

Your Typhon membership

As a member of the USS Typhon, you can take part in chapter activities, get to know fellow crew and contribute in ways that suit your interests and circumstances. Your Department Chief is a good first contact for questions about your department, activities or your place on the roster. If you have not chosen a department or rank track, ask a Chief or Command Staff to talk through the options with you.

Please keep your ship's roster profile and crew photo current where practical. If you cannot access your account or are unsure what to update, ask your Department Chief or Command Staff for help. You do not need to share more personal information than the roster requires.

Younger crew and families

The Typhon welcomes members of all ages. Younger members usually take part with their families, though they can be members in their own right. STARFLEET International has no general minimum age for membership. Some families register their children from infancy. Members can also explore opportunities with Fleet related departments, although particular roles may have minimum-age or years of service requirements. If a young person is joining an activity, their parent or guardian should check the arrangements with the organiser before the event.

We encourage crew and Department Chiefs who work with younger members to hold a current Working with Children Check. A check is one part of looking after younger crew, not a substitute for appropriate supervision and event arrangements.

Taking a break and returning

Real life sometimes leaves little time for chapter activities. You can step back without having to explain your personal circumstances. If you can, let your Department Chief or Command Staff know that you would like to stay connected, even if you cannot take part for a while. If you hold a position or have agreed to help with an event or project, please let them know when you need to pause so the crew can make other arrangements.

Department Chief is an active leadership role, not a title to hold without doing the work. Chiefs are expected to stay in contact with Command Staff and carry out their department responsibilities. We encourage each Chief to identify a deputy who can help keep the department running during an absence and be prepared to step up if the Chief can no longer serve. If you need to step back, tell Command Staff promptly so we can arrange a handover. If a Chief repeatedly neglects their duties or becomes unreachable, Command Staff will act to replace them rather than leave the department without leadership. Stepping down as Chief does not, by itself, mean leaving the crew.

When you are ready to return, contact your Department Chief or Command Staff. They can help you catch up with current activities, check your roster details and discuss a role that suits your availability. If you have questions about how a break affects your roster status, rank or recorded points, ask Command Staff rather than assuming that any of these change automatically.

STARFLEET membership

The Typhon is your home chapter, and STARFLEET International connects you with a wider community of Star Trek fans. For an introduction to the organisation and our place in Region 11, read STARFLEET International. We encourage crew to consider joining SFI so they can explore the people, programmes and opportunities beyond our ship. You can stay focused on Typhon activities or become more involved across the Region and Fleet. What you get out of STARFLEET often grows with what you choose to put into it.

Fleet involvement can take many forms. Members contribute to events, education, publications, science and medical programmes, technical work and regional projects. Some take on formal roles that help STARFLEET serve its chapters. You do not need to seek a title to make a valuable contribution.

Our Commanding Officer's path is one example. Before serving as Regional Coordinator for the Australia and New Zealand fleet, he spent a decade as Fleet Webmaster in the Department of CompOps, later renamed Informational Services. That work contributed to his service record and eventual promotion to Admiral. As Regional Coordinator, he now represents the Region on STARFLEET's Admiralty Board. Another member of the Australia and New Zealand fleet has served with Fleet Science and Medical and recently achieved the rank of Fleet Captain.

For members interested in greater responsibility, service beyond the chapter can help build the experience and record considered for senior and flag ranks. It is a pathway, not a guaranteed promotion. SFI membership status and the requirements for particular roles or ranks should be checked with Command Staff. For current membership options and a link to join, visit STARFLEET's membership page.

SFI members can take Officer Training School (OTS) and Officer Command College (OCC) at their own pace, whether they are interested in learning or working towards greater responsibility. If you hope to become a Department Chief, Deputy Chief or Shuttle Commander, speak with Command Staff about the requirements before taking on the role. These appointments require the relevant training, including the STARFLEET Data Protection Policy (SFDPP) course, to be completed before appointment and before access to other members' personal information is granted. Read more about the courses in STARFLEET Programs.

Supporting the chapter

You can help by joining activities, welcoming new crew, sharing your skills, working on a project or organising an event. Some of these contributions can earn points towards your next promotion. See Ways to Earn Points for the recorded activities, values and limits.

Financial contributions are voluntary. No one should feel pressured to donate or buy merchandise. If you would like to contribute money, materials or equipment, speak with Command Staff first so the chapter can confirm what is needed and arrange appropriate approval and records. Do not collect or spend money on behalf of the Typhon without authorisation.