Non-Profit Fact Sheets

Cooperatives in Australia: What are they?

Co-operatives in Australia come in several different forms. The co-op organisational structure may be the right one for you if your goal is to produce goods and services in an isolated community where the middleman is making it difficult for businesses to thrive or people to access affordable services. Co-ops in Australia may vary since each has its own unique purpose and membership. An organisation’s legal structure will determine the types of activities you are legally able to carry out and which government bodies it is required to seek registration from or report to.

What is a Company Limited by Guarantee?

When establishing your non-profit organisation, you have several legal structure options to choose from, including an incorporated or unincorporated association, a cooperative, a charitable trust, or a company limited by guarantee (CLG). As a founder, the choice you make will determine the types of activities you can legally carry out. An organisation’s legal structure will inform the way reports and registration requirements are determined and regulated by government bodies and must be made clear during the registration process.

What is a board?

“Board” is one of several names used to signify the group of people assigned the responsibility to govern an organisation, company or other similar entity. A board is a legal requirement of a number of different forms of for-profit and non-profit organisations. Your organisation’s board might be called the board of directors, board of trustees, committee, management committee, council, governing body, responsible entity, or one of a variety of other names, depending on your organisation’s legal form or constitutions.

What is a Director Identification Number?

The Australian Government is working to modernise the Australian Business Register. As part of this project, as of November 1st 2021, The Australian Government has introduced the Director Identification Number (DIN) system. Table of Contents What is a Director ID? What are Director IDs For? Why have Director IDs been introduced? Why do I need a Director ID? What is the format of a Director ID? Who needs a Director ID?

What is the difference between a not-for-profit and a non-profit organisation?

There is no difference between a non-profit organisation and a not-for-profit organisation. These two terms are simply different ways of describing the same type of entity. There are several more terms that are sometimes used to describe these types of organisations and the sector they constitute, these include: for-purpose, third sector, community business, civil society, non-governmental, social-benefit. The abbreviations for these terms are also used, including: NFPs (not-for-profits), NGOs (non-governmental organisations), NPOs (non-profit organisations), NPIs (non-profit institutes).