Become a Member of the Ballarat East Neighbourhood House

Purposes
Ballarat East Neighbourhood House Incorporated is a public institution which has the charitable purpose of advancing social and public welfare by:
(1) Advancing mental health and preventing social isolation;
(2) Providing a physical location where it supports individuals to undertake activities, or work on projects, in the company of others.

2026 - BENH Application for Membership

Members agree to abide by the Ballarat East Neighbourhood House Incorporated Rules of Association.

PART 3—MEMBERS, DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURES AND GRIEVANCES
Division 1—Membership
7. Minimum number of members

The Association must have at least 5 members.

8. Who is eligible to be a member

Any person who supports the purposes of the Association is eligible for membership and there are no particular criteria for membership of the Association.

9. Application for membership

(1) To apply to become a member of the Association, a person must submit a written application to a committee member stating that the person—
(a) wishes to become a member of the Association; and
(b) supports the purposes of the Association; and
(c) agrees to comply with these Rules.

(2) The application—
(a) must be signed by the applicant; and
(b) may be accompanied by the joining fee.

Note: The joining fee is the fee (if any) determined by the Association under rule 12(3).

10. Consideration of application

(1) As soon as practicable after an application for membership is received, the Committee must decide by resolution whether to accept or reject the application.
(2) The Committee must notify the applicant in writing of its decision as soon as practicable after the decision is made.
(3) If the Committee rejects the application, it must return any money accompanying the application to the applicant.
(4) The Committee is not required to provide reasons but must, upon request, be able to demonstrate that the rejection of any membership application was for reasons other than the personal characteristics of the applicant such as, without limitation, their age, race or background.

11. New membership

(1) If an application for membership is approved by the Committee—
(a) the resolution to accept the membership must be recorded in the minutes of the committee meeting; and
(b) the Secretary must, as soon as practicable, enter the name and address of the new member, and the date of becoming a member, in the register of members.

(2) A person becomes a member of the Association and, subject to rule 13(2), is entitled to exercise his or her rights of membership from the date, whichever is the later, on which—
(a) the Committee approves the person's membership; or
(b) the person pays the joining fee.

12. Annual subscription and fee on joining

(1) At each annual general meeting, the Association must determine—
(a) the amount of the annual subscription (if any) for the following financial year; and
(b) the date for payment of the annual subscription.

(2) The Association may determine that a lower annual subscription is payable by associate members.

(3) The Association may determine that any new member who joins after the start of a financial year must, for that financial year, pay a fee equal to—
(a) the full annual subscription; or
(b) a pro rata annual subscription based on the remaining part of the financial year; or
(c) a fixed amount determined from time to time by the Association.

(4) The rights of a member (including the right to vote) who has not paid the annual subscription by the due date are suspended until the subscription is paid.

13. General rights of members

(1) A member of the Association who is entitled to vote has the right—
(a) to receive notice of general meetings and of proposed special resolutions in the manner and time prescribed by these Rules; and
(b) to submit items of business for consideration at a general meeting; and
(c) to attend and be heard at general meetings; and
(d) to vote at a general meeting; and
(e) to have access to the minutes of general meetings and other documents of the Association as provided under rule 75; and
(f) to inspect the register of members.

(2) A member is entitled to vote if—
(a) the member is a member other than an associate member; and
(b) more than 10 business days have passed since he or she became a member of the Association; and
(c) the member's membership rights are not suspended for any reason.

14. Associate members

(1) Associate members of the Association include—
(a) any members under the age of 16 years; and
(b) any other category of member as determined by special resolution at a general meeting.

(2) An associate member must not vote but may have other rights as determined by the Committee or by resolution at a general meeting.

15. Rights not transferable

The rights of a member are not transferable and end when membership ceases.

16. Ceasing membership

(1) The membership of a person ceases on resignation, expulsion or death.
(2) If a person ceases to be a member of the Association, the Secretary must, as soon as practicable, enter the date the person ceased to be a member in the register of members.

17. Resigning as a member

(1) A member may resign by notice in writing given to the Association.

Note: Rule 74(3) sets out how notice may be given to the association. It includes by post or by handing the notice to a member of the committee.

(2) A member is taken to have resigned if—
(a) the member's annual subscription is more than 12 months in arrears; or
(b) where no annual subscription is payable—
(i) the Secretary has made a written request to the member to confirm that he or she wishes to remain a member; and
(ii) the member has not, within 3 months after receiving that request, confirmed in writing that he or she wishes to remain a member.

18. Register of members

(1) The Secretary must keep and maintain a register of members that includes—
(a) for each current member—
(i) the member's name;
(ii) the address for notice last given by the member;
(iii) the date of becoming a member;
(iv) if the member is an associate member, a note to that effect;
(v) any other information determined by the Committee; and
(b) for each former member, the date of ceasing to be a member.

(2) Any member may, at a reasonable time and free of charge, inspect the register of members.
Note: Under section 59 of the Act, access to the personal information of a person recorded in the register of members may be restricted in certain circumstances. Section 58 of the Act provides that it is an offence to make improper use of information about a person obtained from the Register of Members.

For more, see the full Ballarat East Neighbourhood House Incorporated Rules of Association - updated November 2022.