Before you start
So, you are thinking about setting up a new community organisation? You might be thinking about organising a fundraising event for an environmental conservation project or the activities you are going to run for a group of disadvantaged young people in your local area...
Whatever your planned activity, the resources on this webportal are designed to help your group comply with the laws that apply to not-for-profit community organisations.
Some important decisions need to be made before you even begin your work.
The way you decide to organise may be one of the most important decisions your group ever makes because, with the right legal structure, your group will:
- be able carry out its activities effectively, and in a way that complies with the law
- minimise the chance the group will run into legal difficulties (and costs) as it grows or changes, and
- be in a better position to deal with legal issues if they do occur.
So let's start at the start! The resources PilchConnect has created are designed to help you think about some of the key issues involved in starting a new community organisation:
Checklist: Questions about your group
This checklist sets out some important questions you should consider before starting up your new community group. It is worth spending a quick 15 minutes to answer the questions now, because the answers will help you with further information on our webportal - particularly whether you need to incorporate, the most appropriate legal structure and, later, eligibility for tax concessions. Also, if your group needs legal help, answering these questions will allow our experienced PilchConnect lawyers to assess whether your group is eligible for a referral for pro bono (free) legal assistance.
Fact sheet: What does ‘not-for-profit’ mean?
There is often confusion about what 'not-for-profit' means - lots of people assume it means you can't make a profit, but that's not the case.
So, read our information sheet sheet and decide whether you want to set up a not-for profit group.
If you do want to be a not-for-profit organisation, you have come to the right place because this PilchConnect webportal can help with your legal questions along the way.
If, after you have read our information, you decide you want to set up a 'for-profit' organisation, we can't help but there are links in the Resources section to websites which will help.
Being auspiced by another organisation
Sometimes small groups, or those working on a specific (time limited) project, consider being ‘auspiced' by another organisation rather than registering a new, separate legal body. There are pros and cons to this arrangement.
For information about auspicing, and tips for those wanting to be auspiced, and those being ask to auspice another group, go to our page on working with other organisations.
Queensland University of Technology (QUT)
Australian Taxation Office (ATO)
For people wanting to set up 'for profit' organisations (businesses)
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If you want to start up a 'for-profit' organisation, this Victorian State Government website has information to help start up a business in Victoria.
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This Federal Government website provides information for people wanting to start up businesses in Australia.