Incorporated Associations

Abstract

Non-profit community groups such as sporting clubs, charities, interest groups and community associations can be formally incorporated and recognised by the law. More than 20,000 associations are already incorporated in Queensland, and about 1,000 more incorporate each year. The governing legislation is the Associations Incorporation Act 1981 (Qld) (the Act) and the Associations Incorporation Regulation 1999 (Qld) (the Regulation). The Queensland Department of Justice and Attorney-General is responsible for administering the Act and incorporating associations, and does so through the Office for Fair Trading.
This Chapter covers some of the basic concepts and procedures for incorporating an association under the Act. The Act and the Regulation are usually amended at least once a year and current materials are available on the Queensland Government Legislation website (www.legislation.qld.gov.au). The Office of Fair Trading maintains a website (www.fairtrading.qld.gov.au) with digital forms and fact sheets. Material is also available on the Queensland University of Technology’s Australian Centre for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Studies website (cpns.bus.qut.edu.au) and the Developing Your Organisation wiki (wiki.qut.edu.au/display/CPNS/CPNS+Wiki+Home).
Section references in this Chapter refer to the Act unless otherwise specified.