Vocare Law

Vocare Law Schools • Not for profit & charities • Compensation • Commercial • Family • Employment • Succession • Litigation • Criminal & traffic

We believe in the power of faith and the call to serve others. As legal professionals, we are driven by a higher purpose to not only uphold the law but also to live out our faith through service. Our PURPOSE: We seek to live out our God-given calling as Lawyers. Our MISSION: We are called to deliver just, redemptive outcomes for our clients and their communities. Our VALUES:

Service: We are dedi

cated to seeing our clients flourish, serving their objectives and supporting their missions. Care: We exercise care knowing that we are entrusted with significant issues in people’s lives. Excellence: We seek out opportunities to be excellent adding value to our communities, clients and the areas they are called to serve.

If you've ever heard the term 'testamentary trust' and quietly wondered what it actually means --> this one's for you. ...
23/06/2026

If you've ever heard the term 'testamentary trust' and quietly wondered what it actually means --> this one's for you.



A testamentary trust is a trust that's created by your Will. It only kicks in after you die, and it can do a few really useful things:



→ Provide tax advantages for your beneficiaries

→ Protect assets from things like divorce, bankruptcy or vulnerable beneficiaries

→ Manage how an inheritance is paid out (in stages, for example) rather than handed over in one go

→ Support a beneficiary with disability without affecting their pension or NDIS entitlements



And with Queensland's new Trusts Act in effect and the trust vesting period now stretched to 125 years, there's genuinely more flexibility than there used to be.



This is the kind of estate planning where good advice makes a huge difference. If you'd like to know whether it's worth considering for your situation, send us a message.

Volunteers are the backbone of most NFPs, churches and community organisations - and they often come with legal obligati...
22/06/2026

Volunteers are the backbone of most NFPs, churches and community organisations - and they often come with legal obligations that boards underestimate.



A few questions worth your board considering:



• Are your volunteers covered by your insurance - and is the policy current?

• Do volunteers working with children have the right checks in place, including under the Child Safe Standards?

• Are volunteers given clear written role descriptions and codes of conduct?

• Has the organisation considered its work health and safety obligations to volunteers?

• How are complaints and grievances involving volunteers handled?



Volunteers are not employees but the legal duties owed to them (and the standards expected of organisations engaging them) have grown significantly in recent years.



If your organisation hasn't reviewed its volunteer framework lately, it's worth a closer look. We help NFPs, churches and charities get this right.

Two weeks to EOFY. Which means it's the season for charitable giving in Australia. We've pulled together a quick six-s...
19/06/2026

Two weeks to EOFY. Which means it's the season for charitable giving in Australia.



We've pulled together a quick six-slide guide to giving well before 30 June - whether you're a regular donor, a trustee planning distributions, or sitting on a charity board.



A few things people often don't realise:



→ Not every charity can issue tax-deductible receipts. You have to be DGR-endorsed.

→ Giving through a discretionary trust may be a powerful strategy if it's set up right.

→ The date of the gift matters - not when you intended to give, but when the money actually moved.



Swipe through for the full guide. And if you'd like advice on any of it, get in touch with our team, we’d love to help.

"A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed." Proverbs 11:25 Generosity, in the biblic...
18/06/2026

"A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed."

Proverbs 11:25



Generosity, in the biblical sense, isn't a transaction — it's an attitude and a posture. It shapes how we lead our families, how we run our organisations, and how we steward what we've been given. As we move toward the end of the financial year, it's also a useful reminder that giving, done well, has the capacity to bless both the giver and those who receive.

It was an honour to support and be proud sponsors of Lutheran Youth Queensland at their Appeal Dinner held at Victoria P...
16/06/2026

It was an honour to support and be proud sponsors of Lutheran Youth Queensland at their Appeal Dinner held at Victoria Park Golf Club recently. Some of our team attended the wonderful evening, where the night was focused on raising support for the important work that LYQ do across Queensland with young people. We appreciate the opportunity to stand alongside organisations making a positive impact in the community.

The Fair Work Commission has handed down its 2026 Annual Wage Review decision, and the new rates take effect from the fi...
16/06/2026

The Fair Work Commission has handed down its 2026 Annual Wage Review decision, and the new rates take effect from the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026.
Modern award minimum wages will rise by 4.75%, with a larger structural increase for the lowest-paid classifications. The National Minimum Wage moves to $26.44 per hour ($1,004.90 per week).
For not-for-profit and charity employers (many of whom rely on awards like SCHADS) now is the moment to get payroll right before the new financial year:
• Confirm every employee's award classification
• Check that any above-award salaries still beat the new minimums
• Update payroll before the first pay run on or after 1 July
• Review casual loadings, penalty rates and allowances
• Build the increase into your budgets and funding agreements
NFPs are not exempt from these obligations. Our workplace and employment team can help your organisation prepare. Get in touch.

When did you last read your organisation's constitution? For many NFPs and charities, the constitution sits quietly in...
16/06/2026

When did you last read your organisation's constitution?



For many NFPs and charities, the constitution sits quietly in a shared drive - referenced only when something goes wrong. But your constitution is the document that governs how decisions are made, who has authority, and how the organisation must operate to stay compliant with the ACNC and other regulators.



A constitution review is worth doing if:

• It's more than 3–5 years old;

• Your organisation has grown, restructured, or changed activities;

• You're approaching your AGM and want clarity on roles and procedures;

• Your DGR or charity registration relies on specific clauses being present in your constitution; or

• You operate through a trust structure (and are now subject to the recently enacted Trusts Act 2025 (Qld))



Good governance starts with good foundational documents. We help NFPs, charities and churches keep theirs in good order.

Earlier this month, we released a 5 part mini series where our Senior Leadership team sat down to discuss the new Queens...
15/06/2026

Earlier this month, we released a 5 part mini series where our Senior Leadership team sat down to discuss the new Queensland Child Organisations Reportable Conduct Scheme, and what it means for organisations working with children.

If you missed it, we've recapped the whole thing in this post for you.

The Reportable Conduct Scheme is one of the most significant compliance frameworks for organisations that work with children. Understanding it isn't optional - it's foundational to child-safe practice.

In this carousel we look at:

1. What the Scheme is and why it exists

2. Which organisations are captured

3. What counts as 'reportable conduct'

4. What organisations are required to do when an allegation arises

5. The consequences of non-compliance



For a more in depth look at these topics, go back to our page and watch the video series for more information.

If your organisation needs help understanding its obligations or reviewing its current processes, our team is here to help.

How far do a teacher's professional obligations extend after a student graduates?The recent QCAT decision in Queensland ...
15/06/2026

How far do a teacher's professional obligations extend after a student graduates?
The recent QCAT decision in Queensland College of Teachers v TBB [2025] serves as a powerful reminder that professional boundaries between teachers and students must always be maintained, including in small communities where there is lots of overlap between school and church communities.
Our latest article explores the Tribunal's findings, the ongoing power imbalance in teacher-student relationships, and the lessons for schools and educators.
Read the full article by clicking the link below. https://zurl.co/tTF5X

"Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry." James 1:19 At Vocare Law, we are convinced...
09/06/2026

"Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry." James 1:19

At Vocare Law, we are convinced that good legal work begins with listening. Before strategy, before drafting, before counsel, there is the work of paying attention. Understanding the situation in front of us. Hearing what is being said, and sometimes what is being held back.

It is a discipline we keep returning to, because it is a discipline that keeps returning value - to our clients, to our colleagues, and to the work itself.

Quick to listen. Slow to speak. A standard worth holding.

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