Making your WAG a legal entity?

Incorporation

Deciding whether to incorporate can be a significant decision for your group. Incorporation is voluntary, so it’s something your group could decide to do at any time, or decide never to do.

Put briefly, incorporating registers your group with the Victorian Government (through Consumer Affairs Victoria). Incorporated groups have legal rights and responsibilities that other groups don’t have, including:

• a legal entity separated from its members, which makes it easier to sign leases and agreements at arm’s length; and
• some protection for members from debts and liabilities incurred by the group.

Our Community has some great, clear information about the benefits and drawbacks of incorporation, and some tips about how to go about it.

Insurance

Another issue you’ll need to think about is whether you need to be covered by insurance. Your group is not likely to have assets or buildings, so things like contents or building insurance aren’t going to be needed.

But whether you incorporate or not, it is sensible to think through any risks involved in doing what you plan to do. Make sure that the people who are helping you are covered for any possible issues that may arise.

The kinds of insurance that are particularly relevant are Public Liability and Volunteer Insurance. Our Community also has good information about the different types of insurance available and issues you need to consider.

Insurance can be expensive, so another way of approaching this is to see if you can find another organisation to auspice your group – and therefore be covered under their insurance. One example is your local Neighbourhood House (sometimes these are known as learning centres or community houses).

Neighbourhood houses are local community organisations providing a range of low-cost social, education and recreation programs. They have a strong focus on programs that bring people together and build stronger communities and may be very willing to register your group as a volunteer organisation under their auspice.