We take concerns about registered charities seriously. We review every concern we receive to understand the issues raised and refer concerns to other agencies if needed.
Information from the public provides us with valuable insight about the charities we regulate and contributes to our understanding of how charities are governed.
Before you raise a concern about a charity with the ACNC
If you have a concern about a registered charity, you might be able to speak with the charity directly. Most charities welcome feedback and are prepared to consider matters raised without the ACNC needing to be involved.
You can search the ACNC Charity Register to find the charity’s contact details.
If you represent a charity, and would like to advise us of an issue within your charity, such as your charity providing inaccurate information or not notifying us of a change of Responsible People, contact us.
If your charity is dealing with an internal dispute, see our guidance about managing internal disputes.
Raising a concern with the ACNC
We have the power to investigate a variety of issues related to a charity's obligations. Concerns about charities help us identify and understand issues.
For more information, see what the ACNC can investigate. You should also check the Charity Register to ensure the organisation is a registered charity.
There may be some matters that fall outside of our regulatory responsibility. If your concern relates to an area that the ACNC cannot investigate, you may be able to raise the concern with another regulator.
How to raise a concern
You can raise a concern about a registered charity by completing our online form.
If you need help completing the form, or you are unsure if your concern relates to an area in our jurisdiction, you can contact us. If we are unable to help directly, we may be able to refer you to another agency that has responsibility for dealing with the issue.
There is no specific protection for whistleblowers under the ACNC Act.
However, if you wish to raise a concern, you are entitled to do this anonymously or using a pseudonym, where reasonable. Read our privacy policy for more information.
After you raise a concern
When you raise a concern about a charity with us, we will notify you that we have received your concern.
Commenting on concerns
By law the ACNC cannot speak publicly about the circumstances of a charity, unless one of the exceptions apply.
These amendments apply only to new or ongoing investigations relating to a charity’s compliance with the ACNC Act, Governance Standards or External Conduct Standards.
The Commissioner must consider several factors before deciding if the disclosure is permitted under the secrecy provisions.
If the ACNC Commissioner decides not to disclose information, the ACNC will not speak publicly about the circumstances of a charity beyond referring to information already published on the ACNC website and the Charity Register.
If disclosure is not permitted, the ACNC cannot keep the person who raised the concern informed about any investigation we may be undertaking.
If the Commissioner decides information can be disclosed in relation to an investigation, the information will be published on the ACNC’s website.
Regulating charities
The ACNC regulates charities and deals with concerns in line with our Regulatory Approach Statement.
For more information about charity regulation, see our guidance about: