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The Charitable Purpose
ACNC monthly e-newsletter
November 2024
Commissioner's Column
I recently travelled to England with ACNC Assistant Commissioner - General Counsel, Natasha Sekulic, where we had the privilege of meeting with fellow charity regulators from Canada, England and Wales, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Singapore. We were also joined by an observing representative from the United States. Our purpose was to discuss how we can strengthen and support the global charity sector as it faces emerging challenges.
Charity news and updates
Guidance and resources for charities
OAIC updates privacy guidance
The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) has updated its privacy guidelines for charities. Your charity may have obligations under the Privacy Act and Australian Privacy Principles when collecting and handling personal information. This essential read will help protect your charity and the people you serve.
Webinar: reporting to ACNC for the first time
Are you new to charity reporting? Our recent webinar focused on first-time reporting to the ACNC. We discussed charity reporting obligations, various reporting periods, and how to submit the Annual Information Statement in the ACNC Charity Portal. Watch the recording today.
Simplified accounting requirements
The Australian Accounting Standards Board (AASB) is working on creating simpler accounting rules for smaller not-for-profit organisations. They have released two drafts outlining these proposed changes and are inviting feedback from the public until 28 February 2025.
Webinar on terrorism financing risks
AUSTRAC are holding a webinar on November 29, discussing terrorism financing risks for charities. It covers key findings from a national risk assessment, including what terrorism financing is, its stages, methods, scope, vulnerabilities in the sector and case studies. The event aims to raise awareness and provide insights.
2024 Annual Information Statement
Charities that operate on a standard financial year (1 July to 30 June) must submit their 2024 Annual Information Statement prior to 31 January 2025.
Remember that there are questions requiring you to report your charity's dealings with related parties. You can learn more about the questions, and what you need to know before completing your charity's AIS on the AIS Hub.
Get in early, beat the rush and submit via the Portal now
Answering your questions
A few of the most common questions we have been hearing from charities recently...
Q. How can I protect my charity from cyber attacks?
There are four steps that every charity can take to help protect against cyber incidents:
- Identify and assess the risks.
- Prevent incidents and mitigate risks.
- Engage people in the charity and relevant third parties to help manage risks.
- Take action and respond effectively when concerns, suspicion or complaints arise.
Our ACNC Governance Toolkit: Cyber Security has tips and various resources for every charity to help protect against threats.
Q. What should we include in a cyber security training program for our staff and volunteers?
To protect your charity's digital assets, it's essential to provide staff and volunteers with basic cyber security training. This training should cover common cyber risks, such as phishing scams, malware, and unauthorised data access. It should also include best practices for creating strong passwords, recognising suspicious emails, and securely handling personal information.
Your charity can use our cyber security assessment tool to the cyber security knowledge of your staff and volunteers.
Resources for newly-registered charities
Charities must meet ongoing obligations to retain registration. You must notify us each time a Responsible Person (a committee or board member or trustee) commences or resigns from a position. Learn more.
Holding an annual general meeting is a good way to be accountable to your members. Read more about AGMs and view our free resources.
Stay up to date
The ACNC acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respects to them and their cultures and elders past and present.
