Resources about co‑ops in Australia
Laws, regulators, peak bodies, and learning materials.
Resources about co‑ops in Australia
Laws, regulators, peak bodies, and learning materials.
Resources about co‑ops in Australia
Laws, regulators, peak bodies, and learning materials.
Australian Government overview
https://business.gov.au/planning/business-structures-and-types/business-structures/co-operative
- What a co‑op is and how they differ from other structures.
- Minimum members, voting, limited liability, and active membership.
- Difference between distributing and non‑distributing co‑ops.
- Links to state and territory regulators, including the Northern Territory.
Northern Territory government overview
https://nt.gov.au/industry/start-a-business/cooperatives
- Requirements for registering co-ops in the NT
- Ongoing compliance for maintaining co‑ops
- Merging two separate co-ops into one
- Taking over part of all of other co-ops
- Winding up and closing co-ops
The Co‑op Federation
- Peak body for co‑operatives in Australia.
- Provides guidance, education, and connections across sectors, including worker co‑ops.
Business Council of Co‑operatives and Mutuals
- National body representing co‑ops and mutuals.
- Offers resources on starting and running co‑ops, including the Co‑op Builder tool for drafting rules and disclosure statements.
Care Together Program
- Provides tools and case studies for setting up co‑operatives
- Provides a free constitution and disclosure statement builder.
Co‑operatives in Australia: A Manual
https://fed.coop/co-operatives-in-australia-a-manual/
- Comprehensive guide to starting and running a co‑op in Australia.
- Covers feasibility, business planning, rules, disclosure statement, formation meetings, registration, and governance.
Establishing A Co‑operative In Australia
https://sprintlaw.com.au/articles/establishing-cooperative-australia-ultimate-setup-guide
- Concise legal‑style guide to the setup process
- Guidance on choosing a co‑op type, drafting rules (constitution), formation meetings, and registration steps.
Employee Ownership Australia: Worker Cooperatives
https://employeeownership.com.au/coops-mutuals/worker-cooperatives/
- Overview focused on worker‑owned co‑ops.
- Covers what they are, how they differ from other structures, and key considerations for implementing employee ownership.
Rules and disclosure statements
- Sample constitutions and disclosure statement for distributing and non‑distributing co‑ops.
- Covers membership provisions, share rights, meetings, financial projections, pre‑registration contracts, voting, board, and profit distribution.
Western Australia: https://www.consumerprotection.wa.gov.au/register-co-operative
New South Wales: https://www.nsw.gov.au/business-and-economy/co-operatives/starting-a-co-operative/sample-disclosure-statement-for-formation-of-a-co-operative
Constitution and disclosure tools
- Free online tools to help draft co‑op rules (constitution) and disclosure statements tailored to particular situations.
BCCM: https://bccm.coop/help-advice/start-your-co-op/
Care Together: https://caretogether.coop/news-resources/constitution-builder/