The management committee is authorised to exercise the powers and functions of the association and to manage its affairs. This chapter describes the role, functions and structure of management committees of incorporated associations under the Act.

Key points

• The management of an incorporated association’s affairs is the responsibility of the management committee.
• The committee must comply with the requirements of the Act, the rules and any other legal obligations of the association.
• Individual committee members have a duty to act in good faith and in the best interests of the association.
• The committee also have a duty of care to ensure that the activities of the association are conducted with reasonable care, skill and diligence.

Most associations refer to their managing body as ‘the committee’, but it may also be called the board, council, governing body or some other name specified in its rules. The rules need to be clear about the powers of the committee and the functions it is permitted to be carried out.  The rules must also include provisions about:

• the election or appointment of committee members;
• terms of office of committee members;
• how the office of a committee member will become vacant;
• filling casual vacancies on the committee;
• the quorum and procedure at meetings of the committee; and
• the making and keeping of records of meetings.

If the rules do not include provisions for these matters then the relevant clauses of the prescribed model rules are deemed to apply to the association until action is taken to correct the rules (Refer to Consumer Protection’s website for more information).