Approved financial training

The Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Act 2009 (the RO Act) requires all office holders whose duties relate to financial management to:

  • undertake approved training within six months of taking office OR
  • obtain an exemption under s 293M within six months of taking office.

The requirement includes:

  • new office holders
  • office holders elected or appointed following casual vacancies
  • people who are already office holders who are elected to a new office (even if they were elected in different stages of the same election).

The training must cover each of the office holder's financial duties, and be approved by the General Manager of the Commission.

Approved training packages appear in the list below.

What if I want to create a training package?

An organisation, a peak council or a person or body with appropriate skills and expertise can get approval to deliver training.

Proposed training material can be emailed to the Commission at regorgs@fwc.gov.au.

The Commission will review the material to make sure it covers the topics outlined in the approved training checklist, including an evaluation component.

The applicant will be advised of the outcome of the review and (if required) invited to make alterations and submit a revised copy of the training material.

Once the final material is reviewed it will be forwarded to the General Manager for formal approval. If approved, a formal letter will be issued.

Details of the training package and the name of the provider will be published on this website. Approved training ranges in duration from a full day to a day and a half.

Approved training packages

To view the available training packages, click on each heading below.

  • ACTU Union Governance Course
    Provider: Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU)
    Contact: Scott Connolly; (03) 9664 7335; sconnolly@actu.org.au
    Please note: The ACTU can be contacted to see which of their affiliates are able to deliver this face-to face-training via video conferencing during COVID-19.

  • AWU Professional Training Program
    Provider: Australian Workers' Union (AWU)
    Contact: (02) 8005 3333; members@nat.awu.net.au
    Please note: During COVID-19 the AWU is able to deliver this face to face approved training course via video conferencing.

  • Governance of Registered Organisations
    Provider: Weston Woodley & Robertson Chartered Accountants & Consultants
    Contact: Dennis Robertson; (02) 9264 9144; dennisr@wwr.com.au
     
  • Governance of Registered Organisations
    Provider: Australian Hotels Association – Western Australian Chapter
    Contact: Antony Vlahov; (08) 9321 7701; finance@ahawa.asn.au
     
  • Governance Training
    Provider: National Electrical and Communications Association – Western Australian Branch
    Contact: Oliver Judd; (02) 9439 8523; oliver.judd@neca.asn.au
    Please note: During COVID-19 the NECA-WA is able to deliver this face to face approved training course via video conferencing
     
  • Governance Training for Registered Organisations
    Provider: Governance Mentors
    Contact: Derek Payne; 0413 483 012; derek@governancementors.com.au
     
  • Governance & Finance Training for Registered Organisations
    Provider: Associations Forum
    Contact: Steve Patterson; (02) 9904 8200; (M) 0409 185 272; steve@associations.net.au
                   John Peacock; (02) 9904 8200; (M) 0412 558 817; jpeacock@nfp.net.au
    Note: This course is available for delivery face-to-face or via video-conferencing
  • ACTU Union Governance Course
    Provider: Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU)
    Contact:  Emma Kingdon – ATUI Director (03) 9664 7333; atui@actu.org.au

  • Governance of Registered Organisations
    Provider: Australian Hotels Association – Western Australian Branch
    Contact: Antony Vlahov; (08) 9321 7701; finance@ahawa.asn.au

  • Governance of Registered Organisations 
    Provider: Weston Woodley & Robertson Chartered Accountants and Consultants
    Contact: Dennis Robertson; (02) 9264 9144; dennisr@wwr.com.au

  • NRA Financial Management of Registered Organisations
    Provider: National Retail Association Limited, Union of Employers (NRA)
    Contact: Sophie Goodall; (07) 3240 0100; s.goodall@nra.net.au

  • MGA Finance & Governance Training for Registered Organisations
    Provider: Master Grocers Australia Ltd
    Contact: Claire Wilson; (03) 9824 4111; training@mga.asn.au
     
  • Ai Group Training Package – Internal Ai Group Use Only
    Provider: Australian Industry Group
    Contact: Hayley Dobroszczyk; (08) 8394 0014

  • Financial Management Training – Internal AHA Use Only
    Provider: Australian Hotels Association
    Contact: Stephen Ferguson; (02) 6273 4007; ceo@aha.org.au  

  • Governance Online Training Course – Internal PFA Use Only
    Provider: Police Federation of Australia 
    Contact: Mark Burgess; (02) 6239 8900; pfa@pfa.org.au

  • Governance Training Package - Internal AHA-WA Use Only
    Provider: Australian Hotels Association – Western Australian Branch
    Contact: Antony Vlahov; (08) 9321 7701; finance@ahawa.asn.au

  • Governance Training Package – Internal APTIA Use Only
    Provider: Australian Public Transport Industrial Association
    Contact: Ian MacDonald; (02) 6247 5990; imacdonald@aptia.com.au

  • RO Act Training – Internal LGNSW Use Only 
    Provider: Local Government NSW
    Contact: Scott Phillips; (02) 9242 4011; lgsa@lgsa.org.au

  • NUW Governance and Financial Management Training – Internal UWU Use Only
    Provider: United Workers' Union (UWU)
    Contact: (03) 8627 6200; reporting@unitedworkers.org.au 

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How do I obtain an exemption for an officer?

An organisation or branch of an organisation may apply to the General Manager on behalf of an officer of the organisation under section 293M of the RO Act.

A request for an exemption must be in writing and can be made by emailing an exemption application form to regorgs@fwc.gov.au.

If you would like to apply for multiple officers, please contact the Commission before you complete the form.

The General Manager may grant the exemption if satisfied that the officer has a proper understanding of their financial duties within the organisation or branch, because of either:

    a) the officer's experience as a company director

    b) their experience as an officer of a registered organisation

    c) other professional qualifications and/or experience.

Applications for an exemption must address this criteria. The exemption application form assists organisations and branches to include relevant information in the application and allows the General Manager or their delegate to issue an informed decision.

The General Manager may grant the exemption subject to any condition considered appropriate in the circumstances.