The initial core group of members of People, Purpose, Place came from the economic and building industry sectors. Our goal was to understand the housing crisis and its impact on housing affordability. After speaking with those affected, we grasped the depth of the challenges posed by the housing crisis. We realised the most important aspect was the people deeply impacted by their lack of access to housing. This understanding is key in shifting the housing discussion to focus on what it truly means to come home.
Our organisation’s name, People, Purpose, Place, reflects our emphasis on people rather than just houses or accommodation. We recognised that a significant challenge in the housing crisis is the perception of housing as primarily a vehicle for wealth and financial control. This is not a criticism, as these perspectives have contributed to prosperity and wealth for many Australians. However, it complicates finding solutions for those disadvantaged by the housing crisis when everyone views housing only through a financial lens.
Initial Steps
Our initial step as People, Purpose, Place to address this issue was to aim for not-for-profit status, clearly signalling our intention to prioritise people over profit. We hoped to pursue charity status next. We knew this would be a significant challenge, and it indeed proved to be so. This journey was made possible through the support and guidance of Russell Lowry, a director of People, Purpose, Place and a champion from its conception. Russell played a crucial role in helping People, Purpose, Place navigate early compliance requirements.
Thanks to Russell and Rowan Blizzard, we’ve worked towards achieving charity status over the last couple of years. This transition has shifted our focus from being practitioners to advocating support for those currently facing disadvantages due to the housing crisis. Below are the steps we’ve taken to facilitate our transition to charity status and the benefits it will provide. We hope this milestone will enable us to continue and expand our work in alignment with our vision, mission, and purpose, ultimately allowing us to make meaningful change in defining what it means to have a homecoming.
From Practitioner to Purpose-Driven
We began as housing practitioners, offering services to the industry to cover our costs and support sector improvement. But as compliance obligations and administrative burdens grew, we took a moment to reflect.
Could we do this work without a profit motive and serve those in need directly?
Understanding the Registration Process
Registering a charity in Australia is governed by the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC). The process includes:
- Obtaining an Australian Business Number (ABN)
- Clearly defining your charitable purpose
- Drafting a constitution or governing document
- Identifying responsible people (those in leadership roles)
- Completing a formal application via the ACNC Charity Portal
While the process is rigorous, it’s designed to ensure accountability—essential when handling public trust and resources.
For a step-by-step guide, the ACNC’s Registration Application Checklist is an invaluable resource.
Why Register as a Charity?
Charity registration brings a range of benefits, including:
- Public confidence in your work and purpose
- Eligibility for tax concessions, including GST and income tax exemptions through the Australian Taxation Office (ATO)
- Access to grants, partnerships, and deductible gift recipient (DGR) status
- Clarity of mission, driven by a constitutional focus on charitable objects
Most importantly, it gives you a framework to be mission-driven, not market-driven.
The Challenges Are Real—But So Is the Reward
The process does come with added responsibility:
- Strict compliance obligations
- A legal commitment to remain consistent with your stated charitable purpose
- Increased transparency, including annual reporting to the ACNC
For some enterprises, this can be limiting. But for us, it was a necessary step to learn how to become a registered charity in Australia and embrace a new way to create change.
