Part 3: Caring for and supporting the aged.
When the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission register an organisation, its charity ‘subtypes’ are also publicly registered.
These reflect the category of that organisation’s charitable purpose, which is what its activities will work towards achieving.
Each subtype has a specific meaning under the law.
The subtype for discussion today is for Advancing social or public welfare.
This is part 3 of a 5-part series on this subtype as it covers a broad scope of purposes.
This is a purpose introduced by the Charities Act, and includes purposes previously recognised in charity law (such as the relief of poverty and the relief of the needs of the aged).
The Charities Act confirms that the following purpose (among many others) is included:
Caring for and supporting the aged
Some examples of charities that support and care for the aged:
o Residential aged care facilities
o Residential and non-residential care and assistance
o Alzheimer's associations, arthritis services, respite services
o Community services for the elderly that provide: o food o home visits o home maintenance o assistance with shopping
o Organisations that provide social, sporting or recreational activities may be charitable if those activities are for the purposes of addressing the needs of the elderly.