Steps to register a corporation with ORIC

You’ve decided to start a corporation under the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006 (CATSI Act) and you’re ready to take the next step, but where do you begin? Here is some information to help you get started.

Step 1: Fill in the application for registration form.
Step 2: Complete your proposed rule book.
Step 3: Hold a meeting of members.
Step 4: Fill out any applications for exemption under the CATSI Act, if applicable.
Step 5: Send your application form, rule book .igr file, exemption forms and resolution to ORIC.
What happens when you return your application?

Step 1: Fill in the application for registration form

FORM: Application for registration (General) [12pp, PDF 65Kb]
TIP: PDF files need to be printed out and filled in by hand.

Step 2: Complete your proposed rule book

Under the CATSI Act corporations must have a rule book agreed to by the members, which says how a corporation operates.

The rule book includes set laws which cannot be changed (rules that apply to all corporations) as well as:

rules that must be completed (special to that corporation)
rules that can be replaced
laws that can be changed
rules that are good governance ideas recommended by ORIC.

The rule book etool is a model that corporations can use to make their own rule book that complies with the CATSI Act and suits their needs. You can download the rule book etool here. Save your rule book in a safe spot on your computer, so you can send this file to ORIC.

When you save your rule book it will be a special file type (.igr) which can only be opened by using The rule book etool. If you need help using etool please contact ORIC.

Step 3: Hold a meeting of members

Hold a meeting of members to get their agreement to:

apply for registration
approve the proposed rule book
nominate the directors and
nominate the contact person or secretary.

You will need to provide evidence that at least 75% of people who have consented in writing to becoming members of the corporation have agreed to the above. This is called the pre-incorporation requirement. This evidence can be done in two ways:

minutes from the meeting—if the agreement was made at a meeting of the members, the minutes of that meeting showing the chairperson's declaration that the resolution was passed at the meeting and signed by the person chairing the meeting. There is an example chairperson’s declaration for minutes included as Attachment A of the fact sheet below.
a resolution document—a document signed by 75% of the members to show that each member has agreed to the resolution. There is an example resolution document included as Attachment B of the fact sheet below.

A fact sheet about resolutions—to adopt a new rule book and apply for registration—with two examples of suggested wording can be downloaded. Fact sheet—Resolution for new corporations to adopt rules under the CATSI Act [Word, 4pp]

Step 4: Fill out any applications for exemption under the CATSI Act, if applicable

If you think your corporation may have difficulty complying with some set laws under CATSI, you can apply to the Registrar for exemption from them. Application for exemption forms can be found on our forms page.

The Registrar will only give an exemption if satisfied the rule is inappropriate for your corporation or it imposes an unreasonable burden.

Step 5: Send your application form, resolution, rule book .igr file and exemption forms to ORIC

Below is a checklist of documents you will need to send to ORIC.

Application for registration form.
A copy of the proposed rule book (the .igr file from The rule book etool is best).
A resolution of members agreeing to apply for registration. This can be either:
- a signed resolution from your group that at least 75% of the members applying for registration have agreed to do so, OR
- if the decision to apply for registration was made at a meeting where the original members passed the required resolutions, the minutes of that meeting.
If applicable, any applications for exemption under the CATSI Act.

You can return your form and attachments either by email, fax or post. To post your .igr file save it onto a floppy disk. To email the documents, you will need to scan them first.

Email: info@oric.gov.au
Fax: 02 6281 2739
Post: Office of the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations
PO Box 2029
Woden ACT 2606

What happens when you return your application?

Your application will be checked to make sure it is filled in properly and that the requirements of the CATSI Act are met. If it is not complete we will write to the applicant and the additional information will need to be provided before the application can be registered.

ORIC will then:

send you a certificate of registration
send you a copy of the approved rule book and
put the details of your corporation on the Public Register of Indigenous Corporations.

If you would like more information about the new CATSI Act, please call 1800 622 431 or follow this link.

Page updated: 30 Apr 08