The "official" part of forming a Corporation is about complying with the legislation and getting to know the legislation. Luckily the Department of Fair Trading has a lot of online resources, and we happily confess that we used them wherever we needed these resources. This page is a copy of the Department's Guidelines to Incorporation.
Project SafeCom became incorporated on December 7, 2001. It's now officially called Project SafeCom Inc. You can see the Certificate by clicking here.
Surf to the Department of Consumer and Employment Protection's Information sheet and guidelines here.
Note about this page: several of the legal requirements for an Incorporated Body in Western Australia have changed, or relaxed, since this page was constructed in 2001, also and especially following the 2007 Review of the WA Incorporations Act. We've left this page in place as a "token page" for our compliance with The Act.
Below are the Chapter Titles of the Guidelines. Click on any of these to read the particular section.
An association is eligible for incorporation if it has more than 5 members and is formed
Section 4 of the Act also sets out those associations which are ineligible for incorporation.
Subject to the provisions of the Act and its rules, an incorporated association may
An officer, trustee or a member of an incorporated association is not by reason only of his being such an officer, trustee or member liable in respect of the liabilities of the association. However officers, trustees or members of incorporated associations are not protected from liability for their own negligence or other illegal acts committed by them.
The persons who under the rules of an association have the power to manage the affairs of an association constitute the committee of the association. The committee is responsible for keeping proper books of accounts and records in accordance with the provisions laid down in the Act. If a member of a committee of an incorporated association fails to take all reasonable steps to ensure compliance by the association with its obligations under the Act, the member commits an offence and is liable to a fine of AU$500.00. The members of the committee are required to disclose any interest they may have in any contract or proposed contract, entered into or to be entered into by the committee on behalf of the association. The penalty for non-disclosure is a fine of AU$500.00
It is not the function of the Ministry of Fair Trading to intervene in the internal disputes of an association nor to provide legal advice or to interpret the rules. Those are matters for the committee and members to decide upon.
Every incorporated association must keep such accounting records that correctly show the financial transactions and position of the association. The accounting records must be kept in such a way as will enable true and fair accounts to be prepared at any time and that they can be conveniently and properly audited. Accounts of every association must be submitted to members at the Annual General Meeting (A.G.M.). An A.G.M. shall be held in every calendar year and within 4 months after the end of the association's financial year (or such longer period as the Commissioner may allow in a particular case). However, an incorporated association may hold its first A.G.M. at any time within 18 months after incorporation.
An incorporated association shall keep and maintain in an up to date condition
All of the abovementioned records must be made available to any member on request and that member may copy or take an extract from the records but shall have no right to remove the records for that purpose.
The Act and Regulations also provide for the following matters:
Before an applicant advertises in a newspaper, the intention to apply for Incorporation of an Association, it is suggested that the applicant write to the Business Names Branch requesting verification that the name of the intended association will be available for registration in Western Australia under Section 8 (1).
An applicant for incorporation must cause an advertisement of intended Application for incorporation (Form 2) to be published once in a newspaper circulating in the area where the association is situated or conducts its affairs. The advertisement must be published NOT LESS THAN ONE MONTH NOR MORE THAN THREE MONTHS BEFORE the application for incorporation is made to the Commissioner. Please note a copy of the advertisement need not be lodged with the Commissioner.
Before applying for incorporation, an applicant should be satisfied that the objects of an association which is seeking incorporation, come within the meaning of the Act. (refer to Eligibility for Incorporation on previous page). Otherwise refer to Step 5 of this pamphlet. An Application for Incorporation (Form 1) together with one copy of the Rules of the Association and the Applicant's Certificate under Section 5 (2) (b), should be lodged with the Business Names Branch. (In preparing the Applicant's Certificate, ensure the name of the newspaper and the exact date of publication is inserted). The applicants fee of AU$80.00 must accompany these documents.
If the Commissioner is satisfied that
the Commissioner shall incorporate the association by the issue to the Association of a Certificate of Incorporation (Form 3) under Section 9 (1). However, the Commissioner is not permitted to incorporate the association if he thinks that:
If the purpose of an association which is seeking incorporation, is not one which is specified in Section 4 (1) (a) to (e), an application may be made to the Commissioner to approve the purpose under Section 4 (1) (f). A copy of the Rules of the Association must also be lodged along with the application fee of AU$24.00.
Where approval under Section 4 (1) (f) is given, the applicant should then proceed to advertise the intention to incorporate the association (Step 2) and make application (Step 3).
If the Commissioner refuses to
the applicant may, within one month of receiving notice of the refusal:
Any request to the Minister to review the decision of the Commissioner should he accompanied by the application fee of AU$24.00 and addressed to the
The Minister's decision shall be final and the Commissioner shall give effect to it accordingly and advise the applicant in writing.
Section 17 of the Act deals with an incorporated association amending its rules by special resolution. Within one month of the passing of a special resolution to amend its rules, the association shall lodge with the Commissioner, a Notice of the Special Resolution setting out particulars of the alteration together with a certificate given by a member of the committee certifying that the resolution was duly passed as a special resolution and that the rules of the association as so altered conform to the requirements of the Act. The filing fee of AU$13.00 must accompany the notice. A copy of a draft notice of special resolution is available from this office.
Section 18 deals with a change in the name of an association. This requires the passing of a special resolution to amend the rules of the association. A special resolution must be passed and a Notice of Special Resolution must be lodged with the Commissioner together with the filing fee of AU$13.00. The Commissioner has a discretion as to whether or not the new name is approved. The Commissioner may require the association to advertise its intention to change its name. After approval for the change of name has been given by the Commissioner, a further fee of AU$13.00 is payable and a Certificate of Change of Name will then be issued. If approval is not given, the association may appeal to the Minister as set out in Step 6.
Section 19 deals with the alteration of the objects or purpose of an association. This requires the passing of a special resolution to amend the rules of the association. A Notice of Special Resolution must be lodged with the Commissioner together with the filing fee AU$13.00 The Commissioner has a discretion as to whether or not the amended objects are approved. The Commissioner may require the association to advertise its intention to change its objects. On approval of the change of objects, a further fee of AU$13.00 is payable. If approval is not given, the association may appeal to the Minister as set out in Step 6.
Any alteration of the rules of an association, including those mentioned in Steps 8 and 9, has no effect until the Notice of Special Resolution is lodged and any approval, if required, is given. No receipt of fees will be issued by the Office unless it is actually lodged at the public counter. A letter advising the Association that the Notice of Special Resolution has been lodged with the Commissioner will be forwarded to the lodging party.
Schedule 1 of the Act lists the matters to be provided for in the rules of an incorporated association.
A copy of Standard Rules for an Association is available from this of office. These rules are issued as a guide but may be adopted by your association. They meet the basic requirements specified in Schedule 1 of the Act. Rigid adherence to these rules when drafting provisions of your own constitution is not required, providing that no provision is at variance with the Act.
Written enquiries should be addressed to the
Enquiries may also be made by calling at the Public Counter, 219 St George's Terrace, Perth Western Australia, by telephoning 1300 30 40 14, or by sending an email to
online@mft.wa.gov.au.
The objects or purposes of the incorporated association, including a provision in, or substantially in, the following terms
