Establish a patriotic fund

Make an application

To apply, you must complete and submit:

• an application to establish a fund
  • If you represent an incorporated association, you must complete the Application to establish a patriotic fund - incorporated association as trustee (Word, 136KB). 
  • If you apply as an individual, you must complete the Application to establish a patriotic fund – individual person/s as trustee/s (Word, 141KB).
• a proposed trust deed. For a sample trust deed, email cav.registration.enquiries@justice.vic.gov.au.
  • If you are applying to amalgamate existing funds, complete the Application to amalgamate patriotic funds (Word, 168KB).

Submit these to us using the address details on the form. There is no application fee.

Approval or refusal of application

The Director of Consumer Affairs Victoria will either approve the application, with or without conditions, or refuse it.

If the Director approves, the applicant becomes trustee of the new patriotic fund.

The Director can refuse an application for several reasons under the Veterans Act 2005, including:

• the proposed purposes of the fund will not meet requirements set out in section 23 of the Act. Generally, the purposes of the fund must relate to any service or duty as an officer or a member of: 
  • the naval, military or air forces of Her Majesty or of the Commonwealth of Australia 
  • any of the naval, military or air forces of Her Majesty’s allies

• the proposed trustees of the fund are not eligible to be trustees. A person cannot be a trustee if they: 
  • are not fit to act or are incapable of acting as a trustee (including for reasons of physical or mental infirmity) 
  • are bankrupt 
  • have been convicted of an indictable offence 
  • are the subject of a Magistrates’ Court finding that they are not fit to act as a trustee

Companies or incorporated associations cannot be trustees if they:

• are operated by a receiver, liquidator or administrator 
• have been convicted of an indictable offence 
• have a director/manager who would be ineligible to be a trustee 
• have been declared ineligible by a Magistrates’ Court.

The Director may ask the Magistrates’ Court of Victoria at any time to determine whether a person is eligible to be a trustee.