ACNC EXTERNAL CONDUCT STANDARDS:
- The Australian Charities and Not-for-Profit Commission [ACNC] External Conduct Standards have applied to ACNC registered charities managing overseas missions programs since July 2013
The Governance Standards are principle-based, and it is the responsibility of the charity to decide how it will meet these standards based on its size, complexity and the nature of its operations. (Read more on the ACNC Governance Standards)
For a typical ACNC registered church, there has never been any additional regulations, standards or restrictions around how they approach operating their overseas activities. Churches with a tax-deductible [DGR] charitable ministry may face some additional requirements.
The External Conduct Standards apply to all registered charities, including
Basic Religious Charities, when they are:
- Operating outside Australia, or
- Working with a third party operating outside Australia
The Standards may apply to a charity even if it only undertakes minor activities, or sends only a small amount of money or resources outside Australia.
- A charity does not have to be directly involved in an activity overseas to be considered operating outside Australia. It would generally be considered to be operating outside Australia even if it works with another organisation or individual to undertake overseas activities on its behalf.
- Activities that may be considered operating outside Australia include:
- sending money overseas
- sending resources overseas
- sending staff, volunteers, members or beneficiaries overseas
- conducting activities or working overseas
- buying goods and services from overseas suppliers (including online purchases)
- working with individuals or organisations located overseas
- It is important to note that the Standards also apply to activities conducted in Australia if those activities are closely related to matters that are outside of Australia. This may include, for example, managing an overseas project from Australia.
However, if a charity's activities overseas are directly related to a purpose intended to provide a benefit to people in Australia, and those activities are just an incidental part of its operations in Australia, the Standards may not apply.
To assist you navigate the compliances and connect you with an Brethren Agency that can assist the following documents are available to download.
CCCVAT External Conducts Standards Guidelines - The guideline is a synopsis of the standards including references to the complete standards and links to useful resources.
ACNC - Self Evaluation Tool - An ACNC tool to enable you to determine if your overseas ministry or activity is subject to the standards.
AMT - Agreement - The Australian Mission Tidings is an Australian registered charity with a purpose of assisting Australian Christian Brethren churches in their sending, supporting, maintaining and caring for missionaries who undertake cross-cultural mission work.
AMT - Partner Information Request - Self Explanatory.
AMT - Donor Information Request - Self Explanatory.
Disclaimer: Whilst all care has been taken in drafting these standards, CCCVaT Ministries Ltd accepts no responsibility for spelling or grammatical errors, omissions and failures to address applicable laws, by-laws and regulations or pertinent matters.
CCCVaT advises all intending to take up these standards, to seek advice from a lawyer or an appropriate expert, prior to adopting it.