Registration as an Incorporated Association - Victoria

Description

You will require this application if you intend to incorporate an association. Incorporation is a voluntary process which allows a not-for-profit club or community group to apply to become its own legal entity. The benefits of incorporation include:

  • protection of the members and office holders against personal liability for debts and other legal obligations of the organisation
  • the ability to invest and borrow money and buy and sell property in the name of the organisation
  • the ability to accept gifts or bequests
  • greater certainty and acceptability to potential contracting parties such as lenders, employees and suppliers of goods and services
  • the ability to sue and be sued in the name of the association
  • greater eligibility to apply for grants.

Alternative options for non-profit organisations include incorporating as either:

  • a company limited by guarantee under the Corporations Law
  • an Indigenous Incorporated Association under the Aboriginal Councils and Associations Act 1976 (for Indigenous associations only).

For-profit businesses cannot incorporate as an association. Businesses should instead apply to register a company with ASIC.

Service type

Licence

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

Eligibility requirements

To be eligible you will need to:

  • be a not-for-profit association
  • have at least five members
  • have the support of the majority of your members
  • make a resolution in accordance with the rules of your organisation to apply for incorporation
  • nominate a person as first secretary who is at least eighteen years old
  • have a suitable name, written statement of purposes and set of rules
  • submit to the incorporation process as described in detail on the Consumer Affairs Victoria website
  • make your application in the approved form, with accompanying documentation
  • pay any required fees.

Duration

Ongoing

Fees

Fees Details for this service in table format.

Task Type Business Structure Amount Description
Apply Application All $38.20 Application for Incorporation of an Association - Model Rules. Fees for 2022-23
Apply Application All $221.70

Application for Incorporation of an Association - Own Rules. Fees for 2022-23

Apply Application All $61.20

Application for Incorporation of a Registrable Body - Model Rules. Fees for 2022-23

Apply Application All $244.60

Application for Incorporation of a Registrable Body - Own Rules. Fees for 2022-23

Forms

Act(s) name

Associations Incorporation Reform Act 2012 Victoria

Regulation(s) name

Associations Incorporation Reform Regulations 2012 Victoria

Application process

Apply

The person authorised to apply for incorporation must complete the application form and lodge it with the Registrar, along with:

  • a copy of the proposed statement of purposes;
  • a copy of the proposed rules of the association (unless you are adopting the Model Rules unmodified);
  • copies of any trusts that may affect the association; and
  • the application fee.

Administering agency

Department of Justice and Community Safety

Consumer Affairs Victoria

Contact details

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