Community investment for Australian co-operatives: A handbook

4 February 2026

The Community Investment Handbook is for communities who want to work together to build an enterprise that serves their needs and aspirations. Communities can be local geographical areas or groups of people driven by a common purpose or interest.

Co-operatives are self-help organisations formed by people who want to work together to achieve shared outcomes. In Australia, co-operatives are corporations, governed by nationally uniform legislation similar to laws for companies. Recent legislative developments have cemented and clarified the power of co-operatives to raise funds in much the same way companies raise funds.

Communities that want to invest in services they need, want to ensure that their investment is used for and controlled by their community, creating their own circular economy. Co-operatives offer a solution
for communities to do this.

The handbook is a guide for communities considering forming a co-operative and using it to fund activities to benefit their community.

For practitioners, the handbook provides information about co-operatives and the regulatory environment for fundraising by co-operatives.

Download and read the BCCM’s in-depth guide to raising finance, Community investment for Australian co-operatives: A Handbook.

If your co-operative is considering raising funds for growth or new projects, access the Capital Builder to learn about co-operative capital and guidance for raising funds.

This guide was originally published by the BCCM in 2016 and updated in 2025.