Governance, Compliance and Risk Management Rollout for Church Plants in Australia

Starting a new church is an exciting journey — full of vision, hope, and the joy of gathering people around God’s mission. Alongside the excitement and mission is an important factor: laying the right foundations of governance, compliance, and risk management.

For church plants in Australia, getting these pieces in place early not only keeps you compliant with the law, but it also helps build integrity, trust, and long-term stability.

From our experience, there are two simple but vital questions when it comes to church compliance and governance:

1. What do we need to do?
2. Who is going to take care of it?

Let’s step through what needs to be done.

Stage 1: Before Planting

Before the first service or community event, it’s wise to take care of the basics that give your church a recognised identity and protect the people involved.

• Governance & Legal: Decide on your legal structure (incorporated association or company limited by guarantee), draft a constitution, and register with the ACNC. Confirm your tax and charity status, and appoint the key roles you’ll need. This may include regular audits if you are a company limited by guarantee.
• Finance: Open a bank account, register for BAS if necessary, and set up simple but transparent accounting software. Even if the numbers are small at the start, clear systems build trust.
• Risk Management Basics: Make sure you have insurance before gathering publicly. Public liability and volunteer insurance are essential from day one.

This stage is about giving your new church a legitimate and protected start. It may not feel as exciting as planning a launch service, but it’s what ensures the ministry can flourish safely.

Stage 2: Early Gatherings (First 6–12 Months)

As gatherings become more regular, it’s time to weave safe and sustainable practices into the life of the church.

• Human Resources: Set up simple processes for volunteers — things like induction, onboarding, and background checks. Paid staff may not be in the picture yet, but clear practices show you value and protect your team.
• Child Safety: Anyone serving with children needs a background check (e.g. Working With Children Check (WWCC), or similar). Adopt a safeguarding policy and appoint someone to keep an eye on compliance in this area, often referred to as a Child Safety Officer.
• Risk Management Expansion: Put some basic policies in place — safeguarding, social media, OH&S, incident reporting. Start a risk register and finalise music licensing once you move into regular worship services.

These steps embed a culture of safety and care into the DNA of the church from the very beginning.

Stage 3: Growth Phase (1–3 Years)

With growth comes new opportunities and new responsibilities. As the church expands, systems need to expand too.

• Finance: Set up payroll for staff, use more advanced accounting systems, and prepare for financial reporting or audits.
• IT: Introduce tools like congregation management software to handle the complexity of ministry life.
• Governance in Practice: Regular board or committee meetings should now be routine, with AGMs and ACNC reporting built into the rhythm.
• Risk Management: Strengthen OH&S policies, track incidents carefully, and keep an asset register of equipment and property.

At this stage, compliance isn’t just “paperwork.” It becomes part of the culture that protects people and supports ministry.

Stage 4: Maturity (3+ Years)

As the church matures, the focus shifts to maintaining healthy systems that will last.

• Policy Review: Review and update policies regularly so they stay relevant.
• Training: Invest in ongoing training for staff and volunteers in safeguarding, WHS, and risk awareness.
• Specialist Support: Larger churches may benefit from auditors, legal advisors, or even a dedicated risk manager.

Now, compliance isn’t just about avoiding problems — it’s about strengthening trust, resilience, and long-term mission impact.

Walking the Journey Together

It can feel overwhelming at times — and you’re not alone in that feeling. Many of the 400+ churches we’ve supported have said the same. Often, church planters carry these responsibilities in the early days, adding yet another task to an already long list.

But the good news is support is available. Help is at hand to guide you through what needs to be done now, and to make sure you can hand over a strong foundation when future leaders and administrators join the team.

For church plants in Australia, governance, compliance, and risk management aren’t distractions from mission — they’re the scaffolding that allows mission to thrive. By rolling things out in stages, leaders can create safe, trustworthy, and sustainable churches that bless their communities for years to come.