Charity Law Association of Australia and New Zealand

The Charity Law Association of Australia and New Zealand (CLAANZ) is a professional organisation dedicated to advancing the understanding and development of charity law within Australia and New Zealand. Established originally in 2009 as the Australian Charity Law Association, it expanded its scope and membership to include New Zealand in 2015, reflecting the shared legal and regulatory interests of the two countries’ charity sectors. CLAANZ operates as a registered charity and serves as a key platform for legal professionals, academics, regulators, and others interested in the governance and regulation of charities and not-for-profit organisations.

Mission and Vision

CLAANZ’s mission is to advance education in charity law for its members and the wider public, and to improve the administration of charities by contributing to legal reform and best practice development. Its vision is to foster a well-informed, accountable, and effective charity sector supported by sound legal frameworks and professional expertise.

Main Objectives

• Educate members and the public about charity law and regulatory developments.
• Promote legal reform and improvements in charity law administration.
• Facilitate professional networking and knowledge sharing among charity law practitioners and stakeholders.
• Support the development of high-quality, accountable legal services for the charity and not-for-profit sectors.

Benefiting Groups

• Legal professionals specialising in charity and not-for-profit law.
• Charity and not-for-profit organisations seeking guidance on legal compliance and governance.
• Regulators and policymakers involved in charity law and sector oversight.
• Academics and students interested in charity law and sector regulation.
• The broader community benefiting from effective and well-governed charitable organisations.

Types of Services and Activities

• Hosting conferences, seminars, and webinars on current charity law issues and reforms.
• Publishing resources, submissions, and thought leadership on charity law topics.
• Providing forums for discussion and collaboration among members and stakeholders.
• Offering membership benefits including updates on legislative changes and discounted event fees.
• Engaging in advocacy and consultation to influence charity law policy and regulation.