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Secretary — Other Legal Obligations

The Associations Incorporation Act 1981 is the primary law governing your role, but it is not the only one. Several other Queensland and Commonwealth laws impose obligations that touch the secretary's work. This page summarises what applies and points you to the relevant authority for each.

Volunteer protection — Civil Liability Act 2003 (Qld)

Section 39 provides volunteers acting in good faith as office holders with statutory immunity from personal civil liability. If you act honestly, with care and diligence, and in the club's best interests, you cannot be sued personally for decisions made in your role.

This protection applies automatically. You do not need to do anything to activate it — but good minutes are the evidence that proves you acted in good faith.

What removes protection: Acting dishonestly, recklessly, or outside the scope of the club's authority. Being wrong doesn't remove protection. Acting in bad faith does.

For the full protection framework, see Volunteer Protection and Volunteer Protection in Queensland — Legal & Practical Guide.

Source: Civil Liability Act 2003 (Qld) s.39 — legislation.qld.gov.au

Child safety — Child Safe Organisations Act 2024 (Qld)

Since 1 April 2026, sport and recreation organisations that deliver activities primarily for children must comply with 10 Child Safe Standards. This includes croquet clubs that run junior programs, school visits, or Come & Try sessions involving children.

What this means for the secretary:

  • The club's leadership (including committee members) must ensure systems are in place for preventing, reporting, and responding to child safety concerns
  • The club must embed child safety into its governance and culture
  • Adults in positions of responsibility must reduce known risks

Does this apply to your club? If your club offers any activities involving children (junior coaching, school programs, intergenerational events), it likely applies. If your club has no junior activities, the obligations are minimal — but the committee should document that assessment.

Self-assessment tool: The Queensland Family and Child Commission provides guidance and a self-assessment at qfcc.qld.gov.au/childsafe.

Source: Child Safe Organisations Act 2024 (Qld) — legislation.qld.gov.au; Department of Sport guidance

Blue cards — Working with Children Check

A blue card is required if the club provides regulated services for children. Committee members — including the secretary — of a community sporting club that provides regulated children's services must hold a current blue card.

When is a blue card required? If the club runs any junior coaching, junior competitions, school visit programs, or activities specifically designed for children.

When is a blue card NOT required? If the club has no junior programs and does not provide any regulated services for children.

Changes from 20 September 2025: Blue card requirements were expanded. If your club has any doubt, contact Blue Card Services directly.

Blue Card Services: 1800 113 611 — qld.gov.au/bluecard

Workplace health and safety — Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Qld)

If the club is a "person conducting a business or undertaking" (PCBU) — which most clubs are if they have volunteers, employees, or open their premises to visitors — officers must exercise due diligence to ensure the club complies with its health and safety duties.

What this means for the secretary: You should be aware of safety risks at the club (condition of courts, equipment, facilities) and ensure the committee is managing them. You do not need to be a safety expert, but you should not ignore known hazards.

Source: Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Qld) — legislation.qld.gov.au; WorkSafe QLD

Privacy — Privacy Act 1988 (Cth)

The Commonwealth Privacy Act 1988 applies to organisations with annual turnover over $3 million, or to any organisation that holds health information.

Most croquet clubs are exempt from the Privacy Act because their turnover is well below $3 million. However, if your club collects health information (injury records with medical details, disability information for accessibility), that collection triggers obligations under the Australian Privacy Principles regardless of turnover.

Best practice regardless of the threshold: Collect only the member information you need. Store it securely. Don't share it without consent.

Source: Privacy Act 1988 (Cth); OAIC guidance for sporting clubs

Anti-discrimination — Anti-Discrimination Act 1991 (Qld)

Club membership and club affairs are listed as areas where discrimination is unlawful. The secretary, as a representative of the club, must not discriminate in membership decisions or club affairs based on protected attributes (race, sex, age, disability, religion, sexuality, gender identity, and others).

What this means in practice: Membership applications and club decisions must be based on legitimate criteria, not protected attributes. If a membership dispute arises, document the reasons for the decision clearly.

Source: Anti-Discrimination Act 1991 (Qld) — legislation.qld.gov.au; Queensland Human Rights Commission

Sources

All legislation referenced above is current as of April 2026. Penalty unit values update annually — check qld.gov.au for the current value.

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