Collecting money

Door-to-door appeals and street collections

You may collect donations by door-to-door appeals or in public places like streets. Before you do so, you need to complete each of the following.

Assigning days for collections

We allocate days on which organisations may conduct door-to-door appeals and street collections. If you want a day allocated, you must apply to us by phoning (07) 3738 8760 between 8.30am and 4.30pm, Monday to Friday or download the application form.

The application must be made:

• for a street collection—at least 14 days before the collection day
• for a door-to-door appeal—within 1 year before the appeal day.

You will receive a notice of our decision.

Authorise collectors

Each collector must wear an armlet or badge.

Only people authorised by the organisation's governing body may authorise another person to be a collector. They must give the collector the authority to collect form.

Once the collector has been issued the armlet or badge they must:

• sign it (if it is able to be signed)
• wear it at all times when collecting
• not give it to other people to collect on their behalf
• return it once the collection has finished.

You must keep a record of each person who is issued an armlet or badge.

You must take steps to ensure that each written authority, armlet or badge is kept safe when not being used.

Collector’s responsibilities

Each person who gives a donation is entitled to a receipt. This doesn’t apply if an item is purchased or if the donation is made to a collection box. Receipts must be issued in carbon copy or numbered-butt format.

A collector must not:

• annoy or intimidate anyone
• stay in, or at the door of, a place after being asked to leave
• visit any house before 9am or after 5pm on any day.

A child under 15 must have written consent from a parent or guardian and be accompanied by an adult at all times during the collection.

Returning collections

When a collector has finished collecting, they must return the donations to the organisation.

Donations must also be returned when a collection box is full or a receipt book is used up.

The governing body must ensure all amounts collected are accounted for.

Paid collector’s itinerary

If a collector is to be paid, they must have a written itinerary that shows:

• the towns or suburbs to be visited
• the dates for the visits.

The itinerary must be lodged with us at least 14 days before the start of the visits.

Collection boxes

Collection boxes must be:

• securely constructed to avoid tampering
• sealed before being issued to a collector
• clearly numbered for identification
• clearly labelled with the association’s name.

Collection boxes left in public places must be collected or emptied and counted at least once a month.

Only people authorised by the organisation’s governing body may issue or open of collection boxes, or count the contents of collection boxes.

Envelope collection

A collector goes from door-to-door giving out the appeal envelopes. Donations are placed in the envelope, sealed, and later collected.

Only people authorised by the organisation’s governing body may issue or open collection envelopes, or count the contents of collection envelopes.

Selling items

An association may sell items such as badges, tokens and artificial flowers when doing door-to-door or street appeals.

Items for sale must be clearly marked with their price or be offered in a way which clearly indicates the price to the buyer.

The organisation must a keep a record of all items:

• acquired
• distributed
• sold
• unsold.