View the latest law and policy updates, resources, webinars, training and news from our sector.
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What's in the April 2026 update?

  • Webinar tomorrow: Current issues for the board agenda
  • Law and policy updates: New ACNC general guidance supports charities to invest responsibly, Children’s Online Privacy Code, NSW: fundraising reforms for charities and fundraisers, and WA: incorporated associations at risk of being deregistered
  • Updated resources: Disaster-related resources, and responsibilities of the board and committee members
  • Upcoming webinars:
    • Not-for-profit Risk: Current Issues for the Board Agenda
    • Social Media and the Law
    • How to Draft an MOU
    • Setting up a Social Enterprise
  • Customised training: Keep pace with privacy protection
  • News in our sector: ACNC releases key findings of work to understand how charities manage risks of terrorism financing, new ATO guidance on financial controls, nominations open for ATO's Not-for-profit Stewardship Group, and NSW: Portable Long Service Leave update

Webinar tomorrow: Current issues for the board agenda

As a board member or not-for-profit leader, it can be hard to stay across key legal risks. Sometimes there seems to be constant changes to laws and regulations.  We’re here to help you get up to speed.


Join our webinar (Thursday, 30 April at 12:45 PM AEST) where we’ll provide a short, sharp overview of some current legal issues to keep in mind when setting the board agenda in your not-for-profit, including psychosocial hazards, privacy, cyber security and artificial intelligence.

We'll cover:

  • Guidance about how to approach risk management
  • Key takeaways and top tips to help your board address some of the current risk issues
  • Understanding director liability and protections

Here is what past participants thought of this webinar:

  • “The content was relevant and clearly articulated with useful examples.”
  • “Very comprehensive and explained in clear English. Great inclusion of resources into the slides.”
  • “Very well put together - very well explained in plain English and easy to understand, great tips and even though we are doing a lot of these things, I always get something out of the sessions, even if it's a check-up.”
Register now

Law and policy updates

New ACNC general guidance supports charities to invest responsibly

The Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) has released new guidance to help charities that wish to invest money for a financial return. It outlines important steps charities should consider if looking to invest funds, including processes around decision-making, record-keeping, risk management and developing an investment policy.
Read more

Children’s Online Privacy Code

The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) has published an exposure draft of the landmark Children’s Online Privacy Code 2026, which crystallises expectations around how personal information of children must be collected and handled under the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) (Privacy Act).

The OAIC is seeking feedback on the draft Code from children, young people, parents and carers, as well as industry stakeholders, civil society, academia and other interested parties. Consultations are open until 5 June 2026. The OAIC is hosting a webinar on the Children’s Online Privacy Code Public Consultation on 13 May 2026. Register here.
Read more

NSW: Fundraising reforms for charities and fundraisers

In NSW, changes have been made to NSW fundraising laws by the Customer Service Legislation Amendment Act 2024 and the Customer Service Legislation Amendment Regulation 2026. From 1 April 2026, the National Fundraising Principles apply to all organisations that hold a fundraising authority in NSW, regardless of whether they are registered charities with the ACNC.

Here are resources that may be useful:
  • Last month, we published an article about the changes.
  • NSW Fair Trading has published information on their website.
  • The ACNC has shared an article.

WA: Incorporated associations at risk of being deregistered

Nearly 5,000 incorporated associations in Western Australia are at risk of being deregistered for failing to provide information required under law. Consumer Protection has published a list of the associations that need to submit their overdue Annual Information Statements (AIS) or face having their registration revoked.

Groups that are still operating need to complete their outstanding AIS immediately or Consumer Protection may take further action issuing a Show Cause Notice under the Associations Incorporation Act 2015 (WA) to start cancellation.
Read more

Resources

Disaster-related resources 

If your organisation is navigating the impacts of a disaster or disruption, we want to make sure you know about the free legal support available for not‑for‑profits.

Our Disaster Legal Toolkit may be able to help your organisation navigate any disaster-related legal issues. We have free, online legal information on issues like managing workers (including employees and volunteers), operational interruptions, insurance, funding, working with others, and other concerns that can arise after a disaster.

Please share this information with anyone who might find it helpful.

We also run customised training sessions for not-for-profit organisations. Speak to our team to find out about how we can customise our Safety, risk and insurance training module for not-for-profit organisations navigating disasters.

Responsibilities of the board and committee members

Insolvency for incorporated associations and companies limited by guarantee

Upcoming webinars

Not-for-profit Risk: Current Issues for the Board Agenda

📅 Thursday, 30 April
🕒 12:45 - 2pm (AEST)
💻 Online via Zoom
➡️ Register now

As a board member or not-for-profit leader, it can be hard to stay across key legal risks. Sometimes there seems to be constant changes to laws and regulations. We’re here to help you get up to speed. 

In this webinar, we’ll provide a short, sharp overview of some current legal risks to keep in mind when setting the board agenda in your not-for-profit. We’ll highlight critical changes, key trends and regulatory priorities to give you confidence in the decisions you make in governing and running your organisation to sustainably achieve your purpose. 

We'll cover:

  • Guidance about how to approach risk management
  • Key takeaways and top tips to help your board address some of the current risk issues
  • Understanding director liability and protections
Register now

Social Media and the Law

📅 Thursday, 14 May
🕒 12:45 - 2pm (AEST)
💻 Online via Zoom
➡️ Register now

Social media is a powerful tool for not-for-profits. It helps us reach more people, spark conversations, build connections, and raise awareness. But with all those benefits come some legal risks. If we don’t manage them well, they can cause problems for both the organisation and the people involved.

In our popular social media and the law webinar, we’ll step you through some key legal risks for not-for-profit organisations that engage with social media, as well as our top tips for managing these risks.



We'll cover:

  • Social media and its key legal risks, including:
    • Defamation
    • Australian Consumer Law
    • Confidentiality and privacy
    • Intellectual property
  • A framework for monitoring and responding to social media posts
  • Top tips for managing key risks, including the importance of a social media policy
Register now

How to Draft an MOU

📅 Thursday, 28 May
🕒 12:45 - 2pm (AEST)
💻 Online via Zoom
➡️ Register now

Working with other organisations can be a great way to share knowledge, reduce costs, or broaden your reach. A memorandum of understanding (MOU) is one way for not-for-profits to work together and typically sets out a framework of that collaboration. But when should you use an MOU and what clauses do you include?

This webinar is an interactive how-to guide for drafting an effective MOU. You’ll come away more confident in how to use our handy MOU template or draft your own.

We'll cover:

  • What is an MOU?  
  • When to use an MOU, and when not to
  • Is an MOU legal binding?  
  • What your MOU should cover, including a guide to key common clauses
Register now

Setting up a Social Enterprise

📅 Thursday, 11 June
🕒 12:45 - 2pm (AEST)
💻 Online via Zoom
➡️ Register now

Are you thinking of starting a social enterprise to tackle a social problem, or tacking on a fee-earning component to help fund your existing not-for-profit? Perhaps you have an existing social enterprise and want to make sure you’re doing it ‘right’.

Wherever you are in the journey, this introductory webinar will give you an overview of the legal issues and options available for structuring your social enterprise. You'll learn about the key choices you need to make to ensure that the model you choose has the greatest impact to achieve your purpose and financial goals.



We'll cover:

  • What is a social enterprise?  
  • Five issues to consider in setting up your social enterprise  
  • Overview of different legal structures available  
  • Charity status and tax concessions - what these are and how to get them 
Register now

Customised training

Keep pace with privacy protection...our training can help.
Privacy Awareness Week is around the corner and it’s a timely reminder that privacy protection isn’t just a governance issue - it’s part of everyone’s day-to-day. With human error accounting for over one third of data breaches, it’s essential that staff and volunteers of not-for-profits understand the organisation’s privacy obligations, and what their responsibilities are in meeting them.

 
Our Privacy and Data Laws training is tailored to your organisation and delivered in an interactive and engaging way using case studies, real life examples and activities. The session is delivered by a lawyer with experience working with not-for-profits. They’ll update you about key changes to privacy laws, highlight the systems you need to have in place, and walk you through the personal information lifecycle and your obligations along the way: from collection of data, through to use and disclosure, storage and access, and finally how to address a privacy complaint or data breach.

Here’s what participants have to say about our privacy training:
  • “The training was so relevant and clear. Excellent presenter. Very switched on and responsive. One of the best I have encountered in online training situations.”
  • “It is a very complicated topic, and this was explained in easy-to-understand terms.”
  • “The trainer did an excellent job in providing information and anecdotes that would have appeared very dry, in a clear and concise way.”
  • “The trainers provided a space where participants could engage really well in the subject matter, ask questions and work through scenarios.”
Find out more

News in our sector

ACNC releases key findings of work to understand how charities manage risks of terrorism financing

The ACNC has released key findings from work to better understand how charities manage the risks of funds being misused, including for terrorism financing. The work focused on small charities that operate overseas to examine how they protect funds and assets, in line with obligations set out in External Conduct Standard 1. 

ATO guidance on financial controls to protect your organisation

The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has released guidance for not-for-profit organisations on financial controls. The measures include maintaining clear responsibilities, strengthening financial controls, updating records and doing regular reviews to reduce risk, safeguard funding and stay focused on your organisation's purposes.

Nominations open for ATO's Not-for-profit Stewardship Group

The Not-for-profit Stewardship Group (NFPSG) is one of the ATO's 9 stewardship groups. It's a critical forum for the ATO's strategic discussion and collaboration with the not-for-profit sector, supporting the continuous improvement of Australia’s taxation and superannuation systems. Expressions of interest (EOI) are now open for new members to join the NFPSG. EOIs close 31 May 2026. 

NSW: Portable Long Service Leave update

There has been an update on the NSW Community Services Industry (CSI) portable long service leave scheme and the upcoming service return arrangements. Following ongoing collaboration with the NSW Government, sector peak bodies, employers and unions, additional time has been provided to allow sector feedback to be fully considered and to support readiness for this next phase of implementation. The revised key dates are as follows:
  • Service returns commence: 29 April 2026
  • Service return period (covering 1 July 2025 – 31 March 2026): 29 April – 13 May 2026
  • Deadline for initial levy contributions: 31 May 2026

 

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Justice Connect, PO BOX 16013 Melbourne VIC


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