Guide to using corporation information

The CATSI Act requires every corporation to prepare one or more reports every year and give them to members as well as lodge them for publishing on the Register of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporations. 

All corporations registered under the CATSI Act must lodge annual reports unless exempted by the Registrar. These are the reports required:

• All corporations, regardless of size and income, must lodge a general report. 
• Small corporations with income of $100,000 or more, medium and large corporations are required to also lodge a financial report and auditor’s report. 
• Large corporations, and any size corporation with income of $5 million or more must also lodge a directors’ report.

Where to find it

Register of corporations – corporation extract (download) > table of CATSI reporting

What it tells you

The table in the extract shows each type of report the corporation is required to lodge; whether the corporation has been granted an exemption for a required report; whether a report has or has not yet been lodged.

As income can change each year, the range of reports may change. 

Where to find it

Register of corporations – corporation extract (download) > table of CATSI reporting

oric.gov.au > List of corporations with reports not lodged 

What it tells you

The table in the extract shows if a corporation has not yet lodged a report for any reporting year. The word ‘required’ indicates a report is yet to be lodged.

The consolidated list shows names of corporations that have overdue reports for one or both most recent 2 reporting years.

Where to find it

Register of corporations – exemptions tab (on screen data)

What it tells you

A corporation has asked to be exempt from some aspect of reporting requirements under the CATSI Act. Whether the Registrar approved or refused the exemption.

Forms lodged after April 2025 detailing the exemption request and reason/s why are not published in the corporation’s documents. You will need to email info@oric.gov.au to ask for more information.

Where to find it

Register of corporations – documents tab > date modified (on screen data)

What it tells you

The date a report was published on the register. 

Note: A general report lodged via myCorp is published automatically when lodged, all other report types and general reports lodged manually are processed by ORIC before being published. 

Where to find it

Register of corporations – documents tab: 

• financial report 
• auditor’s report
• directors’ report

What it tells you

Each report should contain the date that the board passed a resolution to approve it.

The Registrar has a range of regulatory and enforcement powers under the CATSI Act. The Registrar exercises these powers in line with her regulatory compliance framework. Examples of using powers include:

• assessing the governance standards and financial health of corporations – examination
• seeking extra information about the corporation – notice to produce information
• issuing a directive or warning to a corporation that is not following the CATSI Act or their rule book – compliance notice or direction
• stepping in to help a corporation resolve serious governance or financial problems, but only if nothing else will work and specific criteria are met – special administration
• calling a general meeting of the corporation or interested persons to address a specific governance concern – notice of a general meeting or notice of a meeting of interested persons
• prosecuting a corporation or individual for an offence under the CATSI Act – prosecution outcome.

Repeated regulatory action tells you:

• the corporation has not remedied breaches to the Registrar’s satisfaction
• unresolved breaches are becoming more serious
• the corporation repeatedly falls back into non-compliance and is not able to sustain compliance or good governance and financial management.

Regulatory action typically involves a range of steps and interactions that are not publicly disclosed. The Registrar does not generally comment on or disclose whether a particular matter is under consideration, monitoring or investigation, except when reporting the outcome of a regulatory process. Premature disclosure may compromise the integrity of the process or prejudice the interests of those involved.

Where to find it

Register of corporations – documents tab:

•    Compliance notice …

What it tells you

The Registrar requires the corporation to remedy suspected breaches of the CATSI Act or its rule book, or other irregularities.

The Registrar believes that the corporation has the capacity, capability and willingness to resolve the issues.

Note: Some types of compliance notices (those issued under section 439-20(3) of the CATSI Act) are not displayed in the corporation’s public documents. 

Where to find it

Register of corporations – documents tab: 

• Compliance notice outcome letter

What it tells you

The Registrar has determined the corporation has met the requirements of the notice.

Where to find it

Register of corporations – documents tab: 

• Notice to produce …

What it tells you

ORIC requires a corporation or interested party (e.g. bookkeeper, accountant, bank) to provide documents to help understand a corporation’s governance or finances. 

Often used to help determine whether regulatory action is or is not required.

Where to find it

Register of corporations – documents tab:

• Examination authority

What it tells you

ORIC has appointed an examiner to examine the corporation’s books.

Corporations may be selected for examination:

• as part of an annual rolling program, or
• where ORIC has identified signs of potential risks to the corporation.

The notice does not identify the reason for the examination.

Where to find it

Register of corporations – documents tab: 

• Examination outcome letter

What it tells you

The outcome of the examination and whether there are minor areas for improvement.

An examiner has found the corporation’s governance and financial health is generally of a high standard. 

An examination outcome letter is just one potential outcome from an examination.

Where to find it

oric.gov.au/prosecution-outcomes

What it tells you

Date of outcome

Name of the corporation or individual that was prosecuted. 

Name of the Court.

What provisions were breached.

The judge’s order.

Where to find it

Register of disqualified persons

What it tells you

Names of people who are disqualified from being on a board or in management of any corporation.

Where to find it

Register of corporations – corporation details tab (on screen data)

• corporation under administration? Yes 
• administrator’s name, appointment type and contact details

Register of corporations –documents tab:

• special administration determination and appointment
• A variety of special administrator newsletters, notices of meetings, and other reports

oric.gov.au/about-us/announcements-and-media Category filter ‘special administration’

• announcements of special administrations starting and ending

What it tells you

There is statutory action to protect the interests of the corporation and its members as whole. The special administrator’s role is to address whatever governance, management, compliance, or financial difficulties may exist, with the intention of returning control of an improved corporation to its members. 

In most special administrations, the board is temporarily replaced by the special administrator. 

Special administrators provide newsletters and hold community meetings to update members and other interested stakeholders about their work.

To discuss corporation affairs, contact the special administrator.

Indicators that a corporation is closing down may include winding-up and liquidation events. These actions reflect various stages in the process of bringing a corporation's affairs to an end.

Where to find it

Register of corporations – corporation details tab (on screen data)

• corporation name is appended with type of action

Register of corporations – documents tab:

• Form 520 – Declaration of solvency
• Form 205 – Notice of special resolution

What it tells you

A members' voluntary liquidation is used when a corporation can pay all its debts (it is solvent). The members decide to close the corporation and appoint a liquidator to collect and sell assets, pay any remaining debts, and distribute any surplus. 

The corporation is then deregistered.

Where to find it

Register of corporations – corporation details tab (on screen data)

• corporation name is appended with type of action

Register of corporations – documents tab:

• Form 520 – Declaration of solvency
• Form 205 – Notice of special resolution

What it tells you

A creditors' voluntary liquidation is used when the corporation is not able to pay its debts when they are due (it is insolvent). 

The members decide to close the corporation and appoint a liquidator. 

The liquidator takes control of the corporation, investigates its affairs, collects and sells its assets, and distributes any available funds to creditors. The corporation is then deregistered.

The corporation is then deregistered.

Where to find it

Register of corporations – corporation details tab (on screen data)

• corporation name is appended with type of action

Register of corporations – documents tab:

• Form 2 – Originating process
• Form 519 – Notification of Court Action/Making of Order
• Form 59 – Winding up Support Affidavit
• Form 7 – Winding up Statutory Demand failure

What it tells you

A court liquidation occurs when a court orders a corporation to be wound up, usually following an application by a creditor. This is generally used when the corporation cannot pay its debts and the court decides it should enter liquidation. 

The court appoints a liquidator to collect and sell assets, investigate the corporation's affairs, and distribute any available funds to creditors. 

The corporation is then deregistered.

Where to find it

Register of corporations – corporation details tab (on screen data)

• Corporation under administration? Yes
• administrator’s name, appointment type and contact details

Register of corporations – documents tab:

• Form 505 – Notification of appointment of external administrator
• A variety of notices and reports to creditors.

What it tells you

Liquidation is the process of closing a corporation by selling its assets, paying creditors where funds are available, investigating the corporation's affairs where required, and distributing any remaining funds. Once the liquidation is complete, the corporation is deregistered and ceases to exist.

Where to find it

Register of corporations – corporation details tab (on screen data) 

• Corporation under deregistration? Yes

Register of corporations –documents tab:

• Notice of proposed deregistration 

What it tells you

The corporation has not lodged:

• its annual reports for the past 6 months
• any documents with ORIC in the past 18 months, and
• the Registrar believes it is no longer carrying on business.

The Registrar is giving the corporation up to 60 days to explain why it should not be deregistered. 

If deregistration is finalised, the legal entity no longer exists.

Where to find it

Register of corporations – corporation details tab:

• Registration status: Deregistered
• Deregistered on: date

Register of corporations – documents tab:

• Notice of deregistration

What it tells you

The date from which the corporation no longer exists as a legal entity.

The corporation, creditors or a court may start or end an appointment of an external administrator, controller, or scheme administrator. 

The appointment may indicate a range of corporation circumstances – anything from attempting business turnaround, a creditor looking after their interests, or a winding-up and closing. The main categories are:

• rescue or restructure – voluntary administrator, deed administrator, scheme administrator
• protecting assets or creditor interests – receiver, receiver and manager, controller, managing controller
• winding up – various forms of liquidator (see previous section on closing a corporation).
   

Where to find it

Register of corporations – corporation details tab (on screen data)

• Corporation under administration? Yes
• administrator’s name, appointment type and contact details

Register of corporations – documents tab:

• Form 505 – Notification of appointment of external administrator

A variety of notices, returns or reports about the DOCA

What it tells you

A deed of company arrangement is a legally binding agreement between a corporation and its creditors. 

It is usually used when creditors believe they will receive a better outcome than an immediate liquidation. The deed sets out how the corporation's debts will be dealt with and is administered by a deed administrator until the arrangement is completed or terminated.

Where to find it

Register of corporations – corporation details tab (on screen data)

• Corporation under administration? Yes
• administrator’s name, appointment type and contact details

Register of corporations – documents tab:

• Form 505 – Notification of appointment of external administrator
• A variety of returns or report on company affairs

What it tells you

Receivership occurs when a secured creditor, or sometimes a court, appoints a receiver to take control of specific assets or part of the corporation's business. 

The receiver's role is to protect and realise those assets to repay secured debts. The corporation may continue to operate during the receivership, and directors may retain some responsibilities depending on the scope of the appointment.

Where to find it

Register of corporations – corporation details tab (on screen data)

• Corporation under administration? Yes
• administrator’s name, appointment type and contact details

Register of corporations – documents tab:

• Form 505 – Notification of appointment of external administrator
• A variety of returns or restructuring plans or reports to creditors

What it tells you

Small business restructuring allows an eligible small business corporation to restructure its debts while the directors remain in control of the day-to-day operations. 

A restructuring practitioner works with the corporation to develop a restructuring plan, which creditors can vote to accept or reject. If approved, the plan is implemented to help the corporation continue operating while repaying its debts.

The CATSI Act requires all corporations to present reports to their members at least once a year as part of the AGM business, and allow members to ask questions and make comments on the management of the corporation.

It also requires corporations to lodge reports with the Registrar within 6 months of the end of financial year end unless they’ve been exempted from reporting. 

The greater the corporation’s operations and risk (determined by registered size and the corporation’s income for the reporting period), the more reports they are required to prepare, present to members and lodge with the Registrar.

Where to find it

Register of corporations – documents tab: 

• General report

What it tells you

A general report covers 3 main groups of information about a corporation for the financial period:

• corporation details – name, size, addresses, contact details and activities
• people – contact person/secretary, directors and members
• basic financial and employee information – income, assets, deductible gift recipient status, number of employees

It also requires a board declaration about the report.

Where to find it

Register of corporations – documents tab: 

• Financial report (if required to be lodged)

What it tells you

A financial report must contain:

• Financial statements that comply with all applicable accounting standards, including:
  • a statement of financial position
  • a statement of profit or loss and other comprehensive income
  • a statement of changes in equity
  • a statement of cash flows
• Notes to the financial statements and 
• A board declaration about the report

The report must include disclosure of:

• all transactions between the corporation and a related party, regardless of whether a price is charged
• key management personnel compensation

Where to find it

Register of corporations – documents tab: 

• Auditor’s report (if required to be lodged)

What it tells you

The auditor’s opinion on the financial report and any statements or disclosures required by the auditing standards.

Common audit opinions include: 

• unqualified (clean) opinion – the financial statements give a true and fair view. 
• qualified opinion – the auditor believes there is a problem or limitation affecting the financial report. 

Where to find it

Register of corporations – documents tab: 

• Directors’ report (if required to be lodged)

What it tells you

A directors’ report helps members understand the corporation’s business. 

The report should contain information such as:

• a detailed overview of a corporation’s business performance during the financial year
• reasons for the corporation’s results and financial position
• directors’ meetings and any sub-committees
• description of the corporation’s activities
• qualifications and experience of the corporation’s directors and secretary
• any court proceedings relevant to the corporation.

Any details already in the financial report don’t need to be repeated, but the directors’ report must say where to find it in the financial report. 

You can search for individuals that have been formally disqualified by a court from being a director or manager of a corporation. Note, the CATSI Act recognises that a person disqualified under the Corporations Act 2001 is also disqualified from managing corporations under the CATSI Act. These people can no longer be a director or manager of any corporation, and it is an offence to do so.

Note: The disqualified registers do not list people who are automatically disqualified (e.g. people who have breached a personal insolvency agreement, or been sentenced to 3 months or more imprisonment for an offence involving dishonesty).

At the time of their appointment or reappointment, a director is required to make a written declaration to the corporation that they are not disqualified, and agree that they will notify the corporation if they become disqualified during their term of appointment.

Where to find it

Register of Disqualified Officers (on screen data)

What it tells you

The disqualified person’s name, birth year and location.

Sections of the CATSI Act they breached.

When their disqualification will lift.

Where to find it

ASIC’s banned and disqualified people register

What it tells you

You can search for a person’s name to see if they have been disqualified or banned from roles in any corporation or company.

Where to find it

ACNC’s disqualified persons register

What it tells you

Names of individuals who have been disqualified as a responsible person under the Australian Charities and Not-for Profits Commission Act 2012. 

Note at the time of publishing the ACNC has not yet disqualified any responsible people.

A board of directors is a group of individual directors appointed by members to oversee a corporation's governance and performance for their term of appointment.

How to check if rules are being followed:

Read the corporation’s rules on directors, then compare it with director information on the register of corporations. If they don’t align, it may indicate a compliance issue or risk.

Examples:

• check the rule for director terms of appointment, compare this to appointment dates and terms of directors
• check the rule for director remuneration, compare this to disclosures in financial reports about payments to directors

Where to find it

Register of corporations – corporation details tab: 

• rule book

Register of corporations – documents tab: 

• rule book

What it tells you

The corporation’s eligibility criteria for individual directors. The CATSI Act requires a director to be at least 18 years old. They must also be a corporation member and Indigenous unless the corporation’s rules allow directors who are not: a member of the corporation; Indigenous.

The corporation’s rules for director appointments such as the maximum term of appointment; whether reappointment is allowed; whether the corporation has set a maximum period of service.

Whether the corporation’s members have agreed to pay remuneration (e.g. sitting fees) to directors.

Note: For remuneration, the actual amount for payments needs to be approved by members and recorded in the minutes of a general meeting (corporations are not required to lodge minutes of their meetings with ORIC).

Cross-check corporation is complying with its rules: Compare what the rules require with corporation records.

Where to find it

Register of corporations – corporation details tab: 

• rule book

Register of corporations –documents tab: 

• rule book

What it tells you

How many people the corporation requires on its board.

Whether the corporation has any specially allocated director positions e.g. a director must be independent and/or have specialist skills.

Whether the board has representation criteria e.g. gender, age, family groups.

Note: The CATSI Act requires that a majority of directors: must be Indigenous; must live in Australia; must be members of the corporation; and cannot be employees.

Cross-check corporation is complying with its rules: Check size and composition rules against the list of directors in the register and directors’ report.

Where to find it

Register of corporations – directors tab:

• Director names (on screen data)

Register of corporations – corporation extract (download):

• Directors table

What it tells you

Who is authorised to represent the corporation. 

How many directors are currently appointed.

The name of each director.

The type of director position held by each person.

Whether the corporation has provided a director ID or the person does not have one.

The date each director was appointed and for how long they were appointed.

Note: Corporations have up to 28 days to update their records about director appointments, reappointments, removals and changes to current director details. 

Cross-check corporation is complying with its rules: Check director information against rules for director eligibility, board size and composition.

Where to find it

Register of corporations – documents tab: 

• General report

What it tells you

The names of directors who held office on the last day of the reporting period (30 June for most corporations).

Note: Director information in a general report is as at 30 June. Therefore, directors listed in the general report may no longer hold office.

Where to find it

Register of corporations – documents tab: 

• Directors’ report (if required to be lodged)

What it tells you

The name, qualifications, experience and term of service for each director who served during the reporting period.

Where to find it

Register of corporations – corporation extract (download): 

• Form submissions table ‘FRM… - Change of officers 

What it tells you

The frequency and timing of changes to officer information. 

Limitation: The change may or may not have been to a director. Officers include directors as well as other roles. 

These forms indicate there was a change to either a director, secretary or contact person. The change may have been a new appointment or re-appointment, a ceased appointment, or a change to the personal details of a current appointee. 

For forms lodged after April 2025, only the form title is shown; the nature of the change and to what role is not shown. You will need to email info@oric.gov.au to ask for more information.

Where to find it

Register of corporations –corporation details tab: 

• rule book

Register of corporations – documents tab: 

• rule book

What it tells you

How often the board is required to meet.

Cross-check corporation is complying with its rules: Compare the required frequency of director meetings against actual meeting dates disclosed in a directors’ report (if required to lodge).

Where to find it

Register of corporations – documents tab: 

• Directors’ report (if required to lodge)

What it tells you

The number of board meetings held during the year.

How many board meetings each director attended.

Cross-check corporation is complying with its rules: Were board meetings held at the required frequency set in the rule book? Are directors attending?

Where to find it

Register of corporations – documents tab: 

• Financial report (if required to lodge)

What it tells you

The notes to the financial statements should include payments to key management personnel and transactions with related parties.

Corporations are required to hold at least one general meeting each year – the annual general meeting. The CATSI Act requires certain business to be covered at each AGM, such as checking accuracy of the register of members, providing reports to members, allowing members to ask questions about the corporation’s performance and management, and appointing directors.

Where to find it

Register of corporations – exemptions tab (on screen data):

• Exemption from AGM
• Extension of time for holding AGM

What it tells you

The corporation has asked to either not hold an AGM at all, or for extra time to hold their AGM.

Whether the Registrar approved or refused the exemption.

Forms lodged after April 2025 detailing the exemption request and reason/s why, are not published in the corporation’s documents. You will need to email info@oric.gov.au to ask for more information.

Where to find it

Register of corporations – documents tab: 

• Notice of general meeting initiated by the Registrar

What it tells you

The Registrar has used her power under the CATSI Act to call and hold a general meeting. The notice will include the purpose (business) of the general meeting.

Where to find it

Register of corporations –corporation details tab (on screen data): 

• corporation name

Register of corporations – corporation extract (download)

• corporation name
• former name/s
• form submissions table

Register of corporations – documents tab:
•    Certificate of registration
•    Certificate of registration of corporation specifying change of name

Data.gov.au dataset (download)

• Corporation name

What it tells you

The legal name of the corporation and any changes to its name

Where to find it

Register of corporations –corporation details tab (on screen data): 

• Registration status
• Corporation under deregistration?

Register of corporations – corporation extract (download)

• Current corporation details

What it tells you

Whether the corporation is registered or deregistered under the CATSI Act, or in the process of being deregistered.

Where to find it

Register of corporations– corporation extract (download)

Register of corporations– documents tab: 

• Certificate of registration

Data.gov.au dataset (download)

• Registration status

What it tells you

When the corporation was registered

When the corporation was registered

Note: If a corporation was deregistered and later reinstated, the corporation is considered as being in existence the entire time.

Where to find it

Register of corporations – corporation details (on screen data)

• Deregistered on date

Register of corporations – documents tab (download):

• Notice of deregistration

Data.gov.au dataset (download)

• Registration status

What it tells you

If the corporation has been deregistered, the date it was deregistered.

Note: If a corporation was deregistered and later reinstated, the corporation is considered as never having been deregistered.

Notices of reinstatement are not published in the corporation’s documents.

Where to find it

Register of corporations –corporation details tab (on screen data)

Register of corporations – corporation extract (download):

• Current corporation details
• Notification of a change to corporation address and/or contact details

What it tells you

Main place of business

Registered office address (if the corporation is large) or document access address (if the corporation is medium or small).

Email address

Phone number

Where to find it

Register of corporations –corporation details tab (on screen data)

Register of corporations – corporation extract (download)

Data.gov.au dataset (download)

What it tells you

Whether the corporation’s registered size is large, medium or small.

Note: Size is determined using thresholds for income, assets and number of employees.

Where to find it

Register of corporations – corporation details tab (on screen data)

Register of corporations – corporation extract (download)

What it tells you

Who is the key contact point for receiving messages for the corporation’s board of directors.

Large corporations have a secretary; medium and small corporations have a contact person

Role: Regardless of appointment type both roles have the same legal obligation to pass on all communications to at least one of the corporation's directors within 14 days. 

The CATSI Act requires every corporation to have internal governance rules. We call this a ‘rule book’ for short. 
It’s the key governing document that sets things such as: what a corporation is set up to do; whether its not-for-profit or for-profit; who is eligible to be involved; who has authority for what and how they’re accountable for it; the processes for making decisions. 
The process to approve the corporation’s rule book or changes to it requires members to pass a special resolution.

Where to find it

Register of corporations – corporation details tab (on screen data)

• rule book

Register of corporations – documents tab: 

• rule book

What it tells you

The corporation’s latest rule book.

Where to find it

Register of corporations –corporation details tab (on screen data)

• rule book

Register of corporations – documents tab: 

• rule book

What it tells you

The date the corporation’s rule book was most recently registered by ORIC and came into force.

Note: A rule book must be agreed to by the members passing a special resolution before ORIC will register it.

Where to find it

Register of corporations – corporation extract (download):

• Form submissions table:
  • Request to change the corporation’s rule book
  • Notice by the Registrar to a change to a rule book
  • Notice by the Registrar to refuse to register a rule book

Register of corporations – documents tab:

• Outcome letter – rule book change

What it tells you

When the corporation has lodged a request to change its rules and how often it changes its rule book
Whether the Registrar approved or refused the request.

Where to find it

Register of corporations – documents tab: 

• Notice of a change to a rule book initiated by the Registrar

What it tells you

When the Registrar has used her powers to change the corporation’s rule book – members have not passed a special resolution to approve the rule changes.

Where to find it

Register of corporations – exemptions tab (on screen data):

• exemption from rules

What it tells you

The corporation has asked for an exemption from a CATSI Act rule requirement such as minimum number of members, maximum number of director, director terms, or reporting obligations. 

Whether the Registrar approved or refused the exemption.

Forms lodged after April 2025 detailing the exemption request and reason/s why are not published in the corporation’s documents. You will need to email info@oric.gov.au to ask for more information.

Every corporation is required to state its objectives in its rule book. It is also required to report on the activities it undertook in each reporting period through its annual reports.

The objectives define the scope within which a corporation can operate. A corporation shouldn’t engage in activities that are outside its objectives, especially if it is a requirement for other registrations such as being a charity.

Where to find it

Register of corporations – documents tab: 

• rule book

What it tells you

The corporation’s objectives – why it was established, who it serves, what it aims to do. 

Where to find it

Register of corporations – documents tab: 

• General report

Register of corporations – corporation details tab (on screen data):

• industries

Register of corporations – corporation extract (download):

• industries

Data.gov.au dataset (download)

What it tells you

In the general report a corporation must indicate what industries it operated in for the reporting period. This data is used to populate the other data entries.

Note: This information is self-reported by corporations. ORIC does not validate it.

Where to find it

Register of corporations – documents tab: 

• Financial report (if required to lodge)

What it tells you

In the financial report, corporations must include main business activities of the corporation for the reporting period.

Where to find it

Register of corporations – corporation details tab:

• Corporation registered with ACNC?

Charity details (ACNC website)

What it tells you

If the corporation is also registered as a charity.

For the charity subtype and to see if the corporation is registered for certain tax concessions, follow the link to the ACNC registration and view the history tab https://www.acnc.gov.au/charity/

Where to find it

Register of corporations – corporation details tab:

• Corporation name: includes 'RNTBC'
• RNTBC status: Currently RNTBC

National Native Title Register – search

What it tells you

If the corporation is a registered native title body corporate under the Native Title Act 1993.

Corporations registered under the CATSI Act are member owned and controlled. The CATSI Act requires that at all times the membership be a majority of an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people.

Where to find it

Register of corporations – documents tab: 

• rule book

What it tells you

The eligibility criteria set by the corporation for who can be a member.

The CATSI Act requires that a majority of members be Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people. 

Cross-check: If a corporation allows in its rule book for a non-Indigenous person to become a member, they are required to declare on their register of members whether a member is non-Indigenous. 

Where to find it

Register of corporations – members tab (on screen data

Register of corporations – corporation extract (download):

• members

Register of corporations – documents tab: 

• general report

What it tells you

Who the corporation’s members were on the date the corporation last lodged the list. 

Note: The date last lodged is the most recent of:

• a general report, noting this includes members as at 30 June of that reporting period, or 
• a members list, reflected as the date modified – only lists lodged before April 2025 are available to download from the register. For lists lodged after this date please email info@oric.gov.au.

Note: A list may differ from the official register of members which is kept by the corporation due to members being added or removed after the date the list was lodged.

An officer of a corporation is someone who:

• is involved in making decisions that affect the business of the corporation
• can greatly affect the corporation’s financial standing.

Directors are officers, but corporations have other officers too such as a secretary if their registered size is large. 

Corporations are required to notify ORIC of appointments and changes to officers (including directors and secretaries) but not management roles, although these roles are usually also officers of a corporation. Learn more: oric.gov.au/for-corporations/roles-and-responsibilities/officers

Only corporations that are large in size are required to have a secretary. Secretaries have legal duties under the CATSI Act. Learn more: oric.gov.au/for-corporations/roles-and-responsibilities/contact-person-and-secretary

Where to find it

Register of corporations – corporation details (on screen data)

• Name of secretary and their contact details

Register of corporations –corporation extract

• Name of secretary and their contact details, role

What it tells you

Name and contact details of the current secretary (if the corporation's registered size is large).

Note: Small and medium corporations are not required to have a secretary. They are required to have a contact person instead.

Where to find it

Register of corporations – corporation extract

• Form submissions table ‘FRM… - Change of officers’

What it tells you

There may or may not have been a change to a secretary. 

Limitation: These forms indicate there was a change to either a director, secretary or contact person. The change may have been a new appointment or re-appointment, a ceased appointment, or a change to the personal details of a current appointee. 

Forms lodged after April 2025, only the form title is shown; the nature of the change and to what role is not shown. You will need to email info@oric.gov.au to ask for more information.
 

Where to find it

Register of corporations – documents tab: 

• Directors’ report (if required to be lodged)

What it tells you

The name, qualifications and experience of the corporation’s secretary.