REGULATIONS & GOVERNANCE

ABOUT US | VISION & VALUES | ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE | POLICIES | GOVERNANCE | HISTORY

WRHC is a rental housing co-operative located in Melbourne, that is a registered Australian Charity and a registered Social Housing provider in the state of Victoria. The co-operative is governed by the Housing Act 1983 (Vic) and the Co-operatives National Law Application Act (Vic) 1983.

Housing Act 1983 (Vic)

The objects of this Act include —

  • to ensure that every person in Victoria has adequate and appropriate housing at a price within his or her means by encouraging the provision of well-maintained public housing of suitable quality and location, and the participation of non-profit bodies in the provision of well maintained, affordable rental housing of suitable quality and location;

  • to expand and develop the role of the public sector in the provision of housing;

  • to provide a regulatory framework to encourage the development of rental housing agencies serving the housing needs of low-income tenants by providing for the registration of those rental housing agencies and the regulation and monitoring of registered agencies;

  • to promote security and variety of tenure;

  • to seek the participation of tenants and other community groups in the management of public housing and non-trading co-operatives engaged in the provision of rental housing to their members;

  • to promote public awareness of the role and functions of the public housing sector.

Co-operatives National Law Application Act (Vic) 1983

The Co-operatives National Law Application Act provides for the application of a national law relating to the formation, registration and operation of co-operatives, and promotes co-operative philosophy, principles, practices and objectives. Its primary objectives include:

  • to protect the interests of co-operatives, their members and the public in the operations and activities of co-operatives;

  • to ensure that the directors of co-operatives are accountable for their actions and decisions to the members of co-operatives;

  • to encourage and facilitate self-management by co-operatives at all levels; and

  • to encourage the development, integration and strengthening of co-operatives at local, regional, national and international levels.

Other legislation governing WRHC includes:

  • Residential Tenancies Act 1997 – the Act defining tenant’s rights and obligations

  • Equal Opportunity Act 1995 – the Act relating to equal opportunity and protection against discrimination, sexual harassment and victimisation.

  • Victorian Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006 – the Charter enshrines a set of rights derived from the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and applies to all processes and decisions made by the Victorian State Government’s departments and public authorities. As a registered charity, we are regulated by the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission which is the national regulator of charities.  For more information about these regulations go to the ACNC website.