Real change begins when communities take action, and action requires the right tools. The Heritage Australians Resources place power directly in your hands. With them, you can move from intention to organisation, from discussion to action, and from local beginnings to lasting representation.
These resources are more than documents. They are a complete framework for building community strength: clear guides that show you how to organise, templates that make participation simple, and proven methods that ensure every effort is lawful, effective, and enduring.
When you use them, you hold the means to organise your community with confidence and take your place in the movement for representation.
RESOURCES
What You Will Find in the Resources
- Community Organising Handbook – Practical guidance to make your Association active and effective:
- How to bring people together and form your initial group.
- How to identify local issues and craft effective campaigns.
- How to apply tactics that deliver results.
- How to remain lawful and compliant while being bold and effective.
- Heritage Australians Toolkit – A structured package for building your Local Association. Inside are:
- A model constitution tailored for local use.
- Step-by-step checklists to guide you from the first meeting through to ongoing activity.
- Templates for organisation and compliance.
- Role guides that make clear how committees function and how members can contribute.
Together, the Handbook and Toolkit form a complete roadmap for turning ideas into organised action.
These Resources are designed for one purpose: to empower you to organise. With them, any group of committed people can form a Local Association, connect to the wider movement, and create real representation.
The future will not build itself. Pick up the tools and start organising today.
How to Use the Resources
The Heritage Australians Toolkit includes:
- Constitutions tailored for each State and Territory
- Model constitutions and by-laws for Regional Associations
- A plain-English Explanatory Memorandum
- Membership and nomination forms
- Templates for meetings and minutes
- An annual compliance calendar
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Constitutional Toolkit?
It’s a complete package of documents that allows a community group to set up and run an association. It includes a professionally drafted Constitution and By-Laws, plus plain-English guides, checklists, and ready-to-use templates for meetings, forms, and record-keeping.
Who is it for?
The toolkit is designed for ordinary people — community leaders, families, or groups of neighbours — who want to organise locally without needing legal or professional help.
Do I need legal training to use it?
No. The toolkit explains everything in plain language. It includes a Quick Start Checklist and an Explanatory Memorandum that guide you step by step through forming and managing an association.
What can we do with it?
With this toolkit, you can hold an inaugural meeting, adopt a constitution, elect a committee, set membership fees, keep proper records, and begin organising community projects, events, or advocacy. It provides both the rules and the practical tools to administer the association.
Is it legally valid in my state or territory?
Yes. The Constitution and By-Laws have been prepared in line with the associations incorporation legislation of each state or territory. Your group can operate as an unincorporated association at first, and later choose to incorporate under the relevant law if needed.
What are the Appendices?
The Appendices are practical tools — templates for membership forms, nomination forms, AGM agendas, minutes, role summaries, registers, and financial records. They make administration simple and consistent, even for first-time committee members.
Can our group grow beyond the local level?
Yes. Local associations can connect with others across NSW to form a state body, and eventually contribute to a national voice for Heritage Australians. The toolkit is designed with that long-term pathway in mind.
What support does the toolkit give for day-to-day running?
It includes standard agendas, compliance calendars, and record-keeping templates, so committees know what to do and when to do it. It also includes summaries of each office-bearer’s role, so responsibilities are always clear.
How much does it cost to use the toolkit?
There is no licence fee — the toolkit is freely provided for communities to adopt and use. The only costs are your local decisions about membership fees or expenses such as hall hire, insurance, or incorporation fees (if and when your group chooses to incorporate).
How do we get started?
Download the toolkit, gather interested people, and follow the Quick Start Checklist at the front. This will walk you through the inaugural meeting, adoption of the constitution, and election of the committee. From that moment, your association is up and running.