Justice Connect’s submission to the Australian Charities and Not-for-Profits Commission (ACNC) on its draft template constitution highlights key gaps affecting small charities using the company limited by guarantee structure. Submitted on the 15th of May 2025, the submission draws on direct experience supporting hundreds of community organisations. The submission explains that the current template is not yet simple or practical enough for volunteer-run groups. Justice Connect stresses that these organisations need governance documents that are easy to understand, navigate and use without legal support.

The submission supports the ACNC’s intent to improve accessibility through plain language and built-in guidance, but recommends clearer structure, shorter content and more consistent design. It calls for the template to focus solely on registered charities, with guidance that is concise and linked to further resources. Justice Connect also raises concerns about long clauses, unclear formatting and areas where users may struggle to apply the document in real-world governance situations.

Justice Connect makes practical recommendations to strengthen usability, including clearer guidance on annual general meetings, improved options for technology-enabled governance, and better signposting throughout the document. These changes would help charities make informed decisions, improve compliance and build stronger governance foundations, especially for small organisations with limited resources.

Read the full submission: