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Commissioner's Column
It’s hard to believe the year is almost at an end, with December just around the corner and many charities preparing to host Annual General Meetings in the weeks ahead.
From my experience as a volunteer with a range of charities over the years, I know there are several things you can do to help your organisation run a successful AGM and prepare for a smooth handover if committee or board members are moving on.
Charity news and updates
Guidance and resources for charities
Take action to prevent cybercrime for your charity
A new report by the Australian Cyber Security Centre has advice for all types of organisations to build resilience against common threats.
Updated guidance for charities reporting to ORIC
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander corporations reporting to ORIC are encouraged to read the updated guide on annual general reports.
2025 Annual Information Statement
Charities that operate on a standard financial year (1 July to 30 June) must submit their 2025 Annual Information Statement prior to 31 January 2026.
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
Q: My charity is due to submit its Annual Information Statement (AIS) by 31 January 2026. We’ve got everything ready now — can we submit it early?
Absolutely — and it’s a great idea to do so.
You can submit your AIS any time before the due date, and the earlier, the better. Submitting early helps you avoid the last-minute rush, gives you peace of mind, and ensures your charity stays compliant.
Don’t wait until the deadline — log in to the ACNC Charity Portal and get it done today.
Q: The charity I’m involved with is holding an AGM. Do we need to send the ACNC minutes of our AGM afterwards?
No, you don’t need to send the ACNC the minutes of your AGM. However, it’s important to keep a clear record of what was discussed and decided so there's a record of who made decisions, when they were made and why.
This is especially important if there are changes to your charity’s governing document, Responsible People (like board or committee members) or legal name. You would need to notify the ACNC of any changes via the Charity Portal .
Small charities have 60 days to notify changes, while medium and large ones have 28 days.
Holding an AGM is also a good way to show your charity is meeting ACNC Governance Standards, particularly around accountability and transparency.
We have guidance and resources to support you to hold meetings, including templates for your agenda, minutes and meeting notice.
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.
