Supporting and promoting co-operative enterprise

Supporting and promoting co-operative enterprise

Supporting and promoting co-operative enterprise

Supporting and promoting co-operative enterprise

Supporting and promoting co-operative enterprise

Supporting and promoting co-operative enterprise

Supporting and promoting co-operative enterprise

Supporting and promoting co-operative enterprise

Supporting and promoting co-operative enterprise

What is a Co-operative?

A co-operative is a business structure anyone can choose when forming a business or organisation in Australia.  A co-op is owned and controlled by its members, who can be customers, staff, suppliers, producers, local residents, or a combination of multiple member types (multi-stakeholder).

A co-operative can be for-profit (distributing) or not-for-profit (non-distributing).

Co-operatives are guided by Seven International Co-operative Principles, which govern their equitable conduct. In many ways, co-operatives are the original social enterprise.

The states and territories register co-operatives in Australia under nationally consistent legislation (Co-operative National Law).

Learn more about co-ops in our free resource, ‘Co-operatives in Australia: A Manual’.

By their very nature, co-ops embed members’ needs at their heart: Localising the economy and enriching the community. If you are seeking a business or organisation structure that is collaborative, democratic and principals-driven, then a co-operative may be the structure for you!

We can help you start a co-op

Click here to get in touch

Who We Are

The Co-op Federation is a peak body for co-operatives in Australia. We formed in 1993 as ‘Co-operatives NSW’ and steadily grew to welcome members from other states and territories. We now represent 180 member co-operatives across Australia, spanning all sectors from agriculture to childcare, from clubs to taxi co-operatives from retail stores to bicycle couriers! We are funded party through membership subscriptions and partly through consultation.

The Co-op Federation is a non-distributing (not-for-profit) co-operative, governed by a Board of Directors as elected by our member co-ops.

Learn more about our history and mission here

What We Do

  • Educate the public about co-operatives: The strength and impact of the co-operative sector in Australia

  • Assist brand new co-operatives to form and register in their state or territory

  • Provide co-op specific services – Board governance, collaborative strategic planning, reporting compliance and updating co-op rules (constitution) documents.

  • Facilitate co-operation amongst co-operatives nationally and in solidarity with the vibrant global movement

How to Join

We welcome new members to join The Co-op Federation family.

Annual subscriptions are scaled based on turnover and start at $130 + GST per year.

We support, promote and connect our member co-ops in solidarity.

Click here to learn more about how Co-op Federation membership could benefit you.

Upcoming Events

The Co-op Federation Membership Family What is a co-operative?

Testimonials

“They handled all correspondence and fees with Fair Trading and made the process extremely swift and easy, taking about three weeks from our first phone call to our receiving our official co-op registration approval just before our opening night!” – Christine Pearce, Wauchope Creative Hub

“Hard-working team at Coop Federation put on a terrific Conference with many interesting speakers. Great opportunities to hear about what other Coops are doing and also to network. Thank you!” – Pip Atkins, Prosocial Cooperative Australia

“I have just completed the Co-Op Governance Workshop offered by the Federation and strongly suggest that this is a critical learning experience that should be undertaken by all co-op board members.” – Peter Reid, Cooperative Power

“The Co-op Federation – Provide excellent advice, support and connections with other Co-op’s. Very proud to have them as support whilst I am Chairperson for the Junee District Co-operative Society – our local IGA Supermarket.” Janice Brabin, Junee District Co-operative Society.

“We have been working with the Co-op Federation for the past 6 months to navigate the process of becoming an Agri-culture Co-operative on the Coffs Coast. Right from our very first engagement, many doors were opened to us. We couldn’t have got this far, this quickly, without the support and expertise we have received from Sam, and we can’t express how helpful it has been to have his un-waving support at the end of the phone line to answer questions that arise and step us gently along the journey to registration and planning. Thank you Team!”  – Rebecca Mordaunt, Settlement Services International