This theme was evident in two presentations to the Co-operatives WA Creating a New Future conference on 10 September 2009 by Anne Driscoll, Registrar of Co-operatives, and Will Morgan, Manager, Associations, Co-operatives and Charities.

While there are only 75 registered co-operatives in WA, Will Morgan spoke about a partnership with Co-operatives WA to:

• Promote the new legislation.
• Develop a Co-operatives Information Manual.
• Conduct a series of metropolitan and regional information sessions.
• Design a comparative brochure.
• Evaluate the effecticveness of the Co-operatives Bill 2009 education campaign.

Morgan said that under pro-active compliance a new Co-operatives Unit would establish a link/contact officer for every registered co-operative, make on-site visits to co-operatives if needed to work through issues and develop a better understanding of the working practices of co-operatives.

Anne Driscoll also spoke about the need to review registered associations that were trading to see if it might be more appropriate for some to become registered as co-operatives.