Newly Registered with the ACNC?

A number of Linkwest’s member Centres have recently been registered with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC). Congratulations!

While maintaining your registration with the ACNC is an ongoing process, it is straightforward and easily managed with a few calendar reminders to make sure you meet the reporting deadlines. Also, Centres registered with the ACNC only have to report to them (via their Annual Information Statement). Centres NOT registered with the ACNC, still have to report to DEMIRS via Associations Online.

Here are some requirements you should be aware of:

  • Charities must submit an Annual Information Statement every year, which is due six months after the end of a charity's reporting period and is submitted online in the ACNC Charity Portal. Some charities are also required to submit an annual financial report.
  • You must comply with the ACNC Governance Standards. These standards set out a minimum standard of governance, to help promote public trust and confidence in charities.
  • You must keep financial and operational records. A charity's financial records need to correctly record and explain its transactions and financial position. These records must also allow the charity to prepare true and fair financial statements.
  • You must notify the ACNC of any changes to your association’s:
    • Legal name
    • Address
    • Governing document (i.e. your constitution). Updating your constitution is still done through DEMIRS and your Associations Online profile, but once your new constitution is approved, you must also notify the ACNC.
    • Responsible People. The term Responsible Person refers to someone responsible for governing a charity – i.e. your management committee members. Responsible People are important because they make decisions about how a charity is run. To add or remove a Responsible Person, log into the ACNC Charity Portal. Note that as your management committee members are likely to change after your Annual General Meeting (AGM), it’s a good idea to log into the portal after your AGM to make sure that the list of Responsible People is up-to-date. Also note that "Responsible People" includes all your committee members (not just office bearers or executive committee). When you add a new Responsible Person, you will be asked to provide the following details: full name, date of birth, other names they are known by, residential address, contact numbers and email, and position they hold and the date they became a Responsible Person. Note that only their name and position will appear on the register.

The ACNC provides more information on these requirements. The ACNC also have a training library of helpful videos, if you’d like to learn more about information statements, governance standards, and more. You can also contact the ACNC if you have any questions.