GETTING INCORPORATED

Under the Associations Incorporation Act 1985 s 18(1) an association is eligible to be incorporated if formed for:

a religious, educational, charitable or benevolent purpose
promoting or encouraging literature, science or the arts
providing medical treatment or attention, or promoting the interests of people suffering from a particular physical, mental or intellectual incapacity
the purpose of sport, recreation or amusement
establishing, carrying on or improving a community centre or promoting the interests of a local community or a particular section of a local community
conserving resources or preserving any part of the environmental, historical or cultural heritage of the State
promoting the interests of students or staff of an educational institution
political purposes
promoting the common interests of people engaged or interested in, a business, trade or industry
administering a scheme or fund for paying superannuation or retirement benefits to members of any organisation or the employees of any incorporated body, firm or people (with the Minister's approval)
any other purpose approved by the Minister.

The Minister's approval is also required for the incorporation of an association that has a main object of making a profit for its members or to engage in trade or commerce. However many non profit associations engage in trade for ancillary fundraising purposes, and approval is not required for this.