The Library
MyCroquet

Governance

Running meetings, managing finances, strategic planning, volunteers, grants, and everything else a committee handles. Sourced from ClubIQ (Sport and Recreation QLD) and the Oxford Croquet library.


What must a club secretary do by law? The answer is more precise than most people think.

Secretary Legal Duties — The Bare Minimum the Law Requires

Six topic pages covering eligibility, records and meetings, annual compliance, officer duties, protections, and other legislation. Every requirement cites the specific section of law.

For the practical handbook (onboarding, templates, step-by-step guides), see The Secretary's Handbook.


Treasurer — Financial duties

What must a club treasurer do by law? The financial obligations are more specific than most people realise — and the penalties for getting them wrong apply to every committee member.

Treasurer Legal Duties — The Bare Minimum the Law Requires

Five topic pages covering eligibility, financial records, verification and audit tiers, annual compliance, and officer duties. Every requirement cites the specific section of law.


What must a club president do by law? Most of the president's obligations come from the Model Rules, not the Act itself — chairing meetings, casting the deciding vote, and signing confirmed minutes.

President Legal Duties — The Bare Minimum the Law Requires

Five topic pages covering eligibility, chairing and meetings, financial obligations, and officer duties. Includes the Model Rules rule numbers for every procedural obligation.


How the committee works

The Act, the Model Rules, and your constitution form a three-layer framework. Understanding how they fit together — and what the committee is collectively responsible for vs what each named officer does — makes everything else clearer.

How the Committee Works — System Design

Delegation & Task Sharing — Who Does What

Committee — Shared Legal Duties (applies to every committee member)


Anyone elected to the management committee who does not hold a named office (president, secretary, or treasurer) — including the vice president — has the same legal obligations: the four officer duties, conflict of interest rules, and eligibility requirements. No unique statutory duties.

Committee Member Legal Duties — What the Law Requires


The VP is not a position required by law. The Act and the Model Rules do not mention vice president at all. If your club has a VP, the role is defined entirely by your own constitution.

Vice President Legal Duties — What Applies When the Law Is Silent

One page covering what the Act and Model Rules say (nothing), what obligations apply to the VP as a committee officer, and why there is no automatic right to chair meetings under the Model Rules.


Legislation & constitution

The law behind every obligation on this page.

The Associations Incorporation Act 1981 (Qld) — what the Act is, what it requires, key sections at a glance

The Model Rules — Reference — full rule index, what each section covers

Civil Liability Act 2003 — Volunteer Protection — how s.39 protects committee members personally


Why adopt the Model Rules?

These position guides are built on the assumption that your club uses the QLD Model Rules. Clubs with custom constitutions may have different procedures. Understanding why the Model Rules are worth adopting — and what you risk by departing from them — matters for every committee.

Why Clubs Should Adopt the Model Rules


ClubIQ guides

Sport and Recreation QLD's comprehensive club management resource. Ten guides covering every governance area:

Guide What it covers
Governance Committee structure, constitutions, decision-making
Meetings Running effective meetings, minutes, AGMs
Financial Management Budgeting, financial basics, reporting
Grants & Revenue Finding and applying for grants, alternative revenue
Facilities & Grounds Managing club facilities and grounds
Event Management Planning and running club events
Volunteers & Helpers Recruiting, retaining, and managing volunteers
Safety & Risk Risk assessment, safety management
Member Growth & Marketing Growing membership, marketing the club
Planning for the Future Strategic planning, succession, long-term thinking

Australian governance resources

Two free Australian resources that go deeper than ClubIQ on specific governance topics:

Not-for-Profit Law — Justice Connect (nfplaw.org.au) Free legal fact sheets and guides specifically for Australian incorporated associations. Covers constitutions, volunteer agreements, disputes, contracts, and directors' duties — with QLD-specific guidance. Useful when the legal question is more complex than what OFT covers.

ICDA — Institute of Community Directors Australia (communitydirectors.com.au) Free governance resources for community organisations, including a dedicated Good Governance for Community Sports guide, editable policy templates, and help sheets on committee roles, conflicts, and AGMs. Free membership gives full access.


QLD Government resources

Sport and Recreation QLD also publishes web resources on governance, financial management, strategic planning, and volunteer management. These are archived in resources/clubiq/ (the www_qld_gov_au_*.txt files).


  • ← Club Support
  • Legal & Risk — volunteer protection and insurance