- What the Bill says
- The Bill applies to online services whoever runs them. It has no exemption for charities, not-for-profits, religious bodies or community groups.
- Our reading
- A club, church or charity website is likely covered in the same way as a business website. One with only information pages is at the low-risk end.
- Not yet decided
- Whether the Minister will exempt low-risk services once the Bill is law. eSafety has said it is not focused on community groups that simply have a web presence.
Is there an exemption for not-for-profits?
No. The Bill's test is the kind of online service, not who runs it or whether it makes money. A club or charity website is treated like a business website. The same possible exemption applies: the Minister could exempt services that pose little risk once the Bill is law.
What was said about church and parish websites?
Church representatives asked the Senate committee whether individual parish websites would be caught. On 10 November 2026 the eSafety Commissioner said eSafety is not focused on small businesses or religious institutions that have a web presence. Its concern is services where being online is the product itself. The Bill's wording has not changed.
Does it matter that children use our site?
Yes. Children get extra protection under the Bill, and one of eSafety's early low-risk criteria is no interaction between adults and children. A junior sports club, youth group or tutoring service should expect to think about this more carefully than a business with adult customers.
What if our site only has fixtures, news and contact details?
Then it sits at the low-risk end even if children read it. Children viewing information you have written is different from children interacting with other users. The Department expects sites with no risky features to face a short checkbox assessment.
What about a members' area, forum or photo gallery?
These raise the risk, most of all where adults and children can both post or message. None of this is required yet. If the Bill passes, sensible steps would be to:
- approve posts and photos before they appear
- switch off private messaging between members, or limit it to adults
- follow your existing child safety and photo consent policies online as well
- name the person who looks after the site and how to report a problem.
Are team apps and group chats our responsibility?
A team management app or messaging group run by another company is that company's online service. You are a user of it. Your club's own child safety obligations still apply to how you use it. Those come from other laws, not from this Bill.
Who is responsible when volunteers run the website?
The Bill puts the duty on the provider of the service and on the person with the greatest day-to-day control. For a club, that is likely the club itself, or its committee if the club is not incorporated. Make sure the website accounts belong to the club and not to one volunteer. This is a point to check with a lawyer.
Does it apply to school websites?
A school's public website is an online service like any other. Learning platforms and parent apps supplied by other companies are those companies' services. Schools should watch for sector guidance from eSafety and their education authority.
Sources
Last updated 14 November 2026