business.gov.au

Incorporation of an Association - South Australia

Description

Incorporation provides legal status to an association, allows an association to exercise certain rights and requires an association to fulfil certain responsibilities.

Your incorporated association may:

  • enter into contracts
  • sue and be sued
  • invest and borrow money
  • apply for grants
  • buy and sell property
  • protect members from personal liability
  • accept gifts, donations or bequests.

Incorporation is suitable for community-based and not-for-profit associations. Your association cannot be incorporated if its purpose is to engage in trade or commerce or make profit for its members.

Service type

Licence

A licence defines the need to obtain recognition / certification and registration to undertake a certain business activity.

Eligibility requirements

Only associations with an eligible purpose may apply for incorporation. An eligible purpose includes:

  • a religious, educational, charitable or benevolent purpose
  • providing medical treatment or promoting the interests of people suffering from a disability
  • promoting or encouraging science, literature or the arts
  • preserving environmental, historical or cultural heritage
  • for sport, recreation or amusement
  • promoting the interests of students or staff of an educational institution
  • for a community centre or promoting the interests of a community.

To apply for incorporation, your association must authorise a person to act on the association's behalf and appoint a public officer for your association to be the central contact person for the association.

Duration

Ongoing

Fees

Fees Details for this service in table format.

Task Type Business Structure Amount Description
Apply Application Incorporated Association $224.00

Fees for 2021-22

Forms

Other resources

Task Business Structure Resources
Comply Incorporated Association How to Incorporate - PDF (Opens in new window)
General Incorporated Association Checklist for the Proposed Rules or the Alteration of Rules of an Association - PDF (Opens in new window)

Lodgement process

Apply

Please lodge your completed application with:

  • your association's proposed rules (or constitution)
  • your completed checklist for the proposed rules
  • any trust documents connected to the rules, including documents establishing the trust.

Transfer

This licence cannot be transferred

Additional information

Please see the attached document for more information on:

  • why you may want to incorporate your association
  • if your association is eligible for incorporation
  • how you may incorporate your association
  • rules for incorporated associations.

You will need to be aware of other legislation and licensing which may affect your association's fundraising capacity.

Administering agency

Consumer and Business Services

Contact details

Contact Email, Phone and Address Details for this service in simple two column table format, header then data.

Please use these contact details for help or more information:

Associations and Cooperatives

Consumer and Business Services

 South Australia
Operating address: 91 Grenfell Street
Adelaide, South Australia 5000
Mailing address: GPO BOX 1719
Adelaide, South Australia 5001
Phone: 13 18 82
Email: associations@sa.gov.au
Website: Consumer and Business Services (Opens in new window)