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Introduction to charitable collections

The Charitable Collections Advisory Committee is appointed by the Governor and consists of five independent members including a chairperson. The Committee makes recommendations to the Minister for Commerce in regard to licensing charitable organisations and organisations wishing to collect monies or goods from the public for charitable purposes.

Who needs to be licensed?

Any organisation that collects money or goods from the public for:

  • the relief of the diseased, sick, infirm, incurable, poor, destitute, helpless or unemployed persons or their dependants;
  • the relief of distress occasioned by war and the support of persons who have been members of the armed forces;
  • the support of hospitals, infant health centres, schools, kindergartens and other activities of a social or welfare character; or
  • any benevolent philanthropic or patriotic purpose.

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Who does not need to be licensed?

Any organisation that collects and receives money from the public for non charitable purposes, such as for sporting clubs, conservation, environmental, animal welfare and schools or kindergartens that operate their own fund raising events.

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Raffles

The Charitable Collections Advisory Committee does not have a role in regard to raffles and all enquires regarding raffles should be directed to the Office of Racing, Gaming and Liquor on ++61 8 9425 1888.

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Street collections

Any organisation wanting to conduct a street collection in the Perth metropolitan area, whether or not licensed, under the Charitable Collections Act 1946, must have a separate street collection permit.

Street collections conducted under the Street Collections (Regulations) Act 1940 must be held on a Friday unless otherwise approved by the Minister for Commerce.

Application forms for street collections are available from:

The Administrative Officer
Charitable Collections Advisory Committee
Department of Commerce
Unit 4, 321 Selby Street
OSBORNE PARK WA 6017

  • Ph: +61 8 9282 4373
  • Fax: +61 8 9282 4337
  • Email

The Application for a street appeal within the Perth Metropolitan area (form 2) form is available in PDF format for you to view or download.You will need Acrobat PDF to view this form.

If you do not have the Adobe Acrobat Reader 3.0 or later, please visit the Adobe Site to download the latest program. To save the form to your computer, right-click the link and select 'save target as' (Mac users: click and hold the mouse down and select 'save this link as') .

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What does a licence cover?

  • the collection of monies and goods from the public by way of the sale of any disc, badge, token, flower or other device;
  • the conduct of any entertainment or function where admission is charged and all or part proceeds are said to go to a charitable purpose;
  • advertising that all or part proceeds from any event are to go to charitable purposes; and
  • the donation of goods ie the operation of clothing bins and op-shops for charitable purposes.

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Licensing requirements


To obtain a licence you will need to lodge with the Administrative Officer, Charitable Collections Advisory Committee:

  • A completed application form (form 1) available from the Administrative Officer;
  • Details of members of the management committee of the organisation;
  • Certified copies of certificate of incorporation and constitution or if a corporation memorandum and articles of association;
  • Audited financial returns for the last twelve months including income and expenditure statement plus balance sheet;
  • Information as to whether any other organisation is operating in the field for which you propose to fundraise and whether you have approached that organisation; and
  • Planning in regard to fundraising, including how much you intend to raise in the first year of operation.

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Fees payable to be licensed

Currently there are no fees to be paid to be licensed under the Charitable Collections Act 1946.

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Period of licence

Licences are issued for a period of three years and can be renewed after that time by the Minister for Commerce for another period of three years.

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Reporting requirements

All charities licensed under the Charitable Collections Act 1946 are required to submit to the Charitable Collections Advisory Committee audited financial statements within six months of the end of their financial year.

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Voluntary Code Of Practice for fundraising

Once an organisation becomes licensed it may choose to comply with the voluntary code of practice for public fundraising. The code sets out certain guidelines which are of benefit to charitable organisations that propose to raise monies from the community.

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Further information

If you require any further information or an application form please contact the

The Administrative Officer
Charitable Collections Advisory Committee
Department of Commerce
Unit 4, 321 Selby Street
OSBORNE PARK WA 6017

  • Ph: +61 8 9282 4373
  • Fax: +61 8 9282 4337
  • Email

This information should be read in conjunction with the Charitable Collections Act 1946.

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General information