Brief chronology

1983 David Sless, our current CEO, undertook a feasibility study funded by Flinders University on setting up such an institution.

1985 The Camberra College of Advanced Education (now University of Canberra) invited David Sless to set up the new institution under its umbrella. Seed funding was provided by the Australia Council. The institution was named the Communication Advisory and Research Enterprise (CARE)

1987 After 18 months incubation, the institution became an independent not-for-profit Registered Research Agency and relocated to the Campus of the Australian National University. It was renamed the Communication Research Institute of Australia (CRIA). By this stage it had become self-funding through its membership, practical research projects, grants, training programs, and publications.

2004 The Institute relocated its Head Office, Library and Archives to Melbourne, and began a process of changing its Constitution to better reflect its changing role and mission for the future.

2006 The Institute was reincorporated and renamed the Communication Research Institute Limited (CRI). It retained its status as a not-for-profit Registered Research Agency, and began a new international Fellowship program to ensure the continuity of the Institute's work into the future.