Firearms Governance & Compliance Policies

Organisation: Sydney Shooters & Hunting Association (SSHA)
Contact (compliance): compliance@ssha.org.au
Contact (general): info@ssha.org.au

Field	Value
Document status	Club approved
Version	1.0
Effective date	8 October 2026
Next review	8 October 2027
Related laws (reference)	Firearms Act 1996 (NSW); Firearms Regulation 2017 (NSW), including Part 10; Weapons Prohibition Act 1998; Game and Feral Animal Control Act 2002 and Regulation 2012; Crimes Act 1900 (as relevant)
Governing document	SSHA Club Constitution (Code of Conduct; Appendix 3; Appendix 4) — prevails on conflict

1. Purpose

This policy sets SSHA’s standards for firearms-related governance, membership genuine reasons, participation evidence, club confirmations, dealer activities, and compliance reporting. It supports lawful club operations and member compliance without replacing NSW Police / Firearms Registry authority.

2. Scope

Applies to all members, probationary participants, guests (where relevant), club officers, signing officers, administrators, and anyone using SSHA systems for licence-related membership, attendance, acquisitions, or compliance administration.

3. Club authorities and identifiers

SSHA maintains NSW club / provider registrations including:

Function	Identifier
Target Shooting Club	413 025 564
Pistol Club	413 025 572
Hunting Club	413 025 583
Collectors Club	413 025 599
Dealer licence	413 165 073
Hunter Leap provider / trainer	13824 / 13824-1

Only authorised persons may make representations to Police or third parties on behalf of the club.

4. Guiding principles

Public safety first — firearms activity must be lawful, supervised where required, and conducted under applicable range and club rules.
Truthful records — licence, genuine reason, attendance, and acquisition records must be accurate.
Need-to-know access — compliance data is handled under role-based permissions.
Regulatory primacy — NSW Police and the Firearms Registry determine licence conditions and outcomes. Club materials are guidance only.
Accountability — non-compliance may lead to internal action and, where required or authorised, notification to the Registry or Police.
Constitutional Code of Conduct — members must obey NSW Firearms Registry requirements and all legislation associated with firearm possession in NSW; preserve the good image of the sport and the Association; educate in safe handling; and oppose the use of firearms for illegal and unlawful purposes.

4A. Safe handling standards (Constitution Appendix 3)

Where firearms are used, members must follow the rules for safe handling of firearms. In NSW these include the rules in the NSW Firearms Safety Awareness Handbook published by or under the authority of the Commissioner of Police. As a guide, members must:

Treat every firearm as if it were loaded
Always keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction
Keep your finger off the trigger unless intending to shoot
Always wear proper protective equipment (safety glasses, ear protection, and enclosed shoes)
Know your target and what is beyond your target
Keep firearms unloaded when not in use
Only shoot where legally allowed
Not use a firearm whilst under the influence of drugs or alcohol

5. Genuine reasons and membership categories

5.1 SSHA may record genuine reasons associated with membership (including Hunting Club, Target Longarms, Target Pistol, Collecting, and R-Game as configured). Constitutional membership types (Adult, Junior, Governance, Life) operate alongside these pathway categories.

5.2 Members must hold (or be applying for, where permitted) the correct NSW firearms authority for their activities and must not rely on club membership alone as a licence. A game hunting licence or SSHA membership does not automatically authorise hunting on any land.

5.3 Members must keep firearms licence numbers, categories, and related details current in the member portal.

5.4 Club membership supporting a genuine reason is conditional on financial membership and ongoing eligibility as determined by the committee and applicable law.

5.5 Under the Constitution, Life membership remains valid for the member’s lifetime or until the member does not hold a NSW firearms licence for whatever reason.

6. Participation / attendance requirements

6.1 Members are responsible for understanding and meeting participation requirements applicable to their licence and genuine reason under NSW law (including Part 10 of the Firearms Regulation 2017 where relevant).

6.2 Club guidance currently used for member education includes indicative participation expectations such as:

Target longarms — club guidance of 4 qualifying participations in the relevant period
Hunting club — club guidance of 2
Collecting — club guidance of 1 meeting
Pistol — requirements associated with clause 106 and competitive match expectations as advised in club attendance materials

These figures are club guidance only and may change with regulation or Registry practice. Members must verify current legal requirements.

6.3 Attendance may be captured by:

Member evidence upload
Club-day / officer recording
Authorised administrative entry after review

6.4 Fabricating, altering, or submitting misleading attendance evidence is prohibited and is grounds for disciplinary action and possible regulatory notification.

6.5 Juniors and minors are subject to additional statutory conditions (including relevant provisions of the Firearms Act 1996 and Firearms Regulation 2017). Supervising adults and officers must ensure compliant supervision.

7. Compliance monitoring and member notifications

7.1 SSHA may monitor attendance buckets and compliance status in club systems (including statuses such as in progress, compliant, exempt, or non-compliant as configured).

7.2 The club may send compliance notices, reminders, and reports to members (including from compliance@ssha.org.au).

7.3 Where a member’s status is non-compliant, or membership lapses in a way that affects genuine-reason support, SSHA may take steps including:

Member notification and opportunity to remedy (where appropriate)
Restriction of club privileges
Reporting or confirmation to the NSW Firearms Registry / Police channels where obliged or authorised

7.4 Compliance determinations by SSHA for club records do not bind the Registry; conversely, Registry decisions bind the member regardless of club system status.

8. Principal club nomination and PTA / club confirmations

8.1 Members are responsible for completing principal club nomination and related portal tasks when required.

8.2 SSHA may send reminders and may communicate with NSW Police channels (including clubs@police.nsw.gov.au where used in club processes) for nominations and confirmations.

8.3 Requests for club confirmation related to Permit to Acquire (PTA), provisional pistol licence (PPL), or similar processes will only be actioned where membership, attendance, and eligibility records support confirmation, and only by authorised officers.

8.4 SSHA may decline to provide confirmation where records are incomplete, membership is not in good standing, or confirmation would be inaccurate or unlawful.

9. Pistol club, probation, and training pathways

9.1 Pistol membership and club-day participation are subject to eligibility, supervision, and safety rules.

9.2 Probation pistol programs (where offered) require accurate session tracking, required forms, and authorised MO / signing-officer involvement. Forms and signatures generated through club systems form part of the compliance record.

9.3 Safe handling certificates and related MO signature processes must only be completed by authorised persons and only when requirements are met.

10. Range conduct with firearms

10.1 Firearms must be handled in accordance with range standing orders, officer directions, and applicable competition rules.

10.2 Members must only use firearms and ammunition they are legally authorised to possess and that are permitted for the activity and venue.

10.3 Unsafe handling, negligent discharge risk behaviour, alcohol/drug impairment, or failure to follow RO/MO directions will result in immediate removal from the activity and further action under conduct policies.

11. Firearms dealing, acquisitions, and sales

11.1 Dealer activities are conducted only under SSHA’s dealer licence (413 165 073) and by authorised persons.

11.2 Acquisition / licensed-holder processes require signed agreements and acknowledgements, which may include that:

Ownership transfers to the Club upon Police approval or upon recorded receipt (as stated in the applicable agreement version)
The transferor loses access and control of the firearms
Fees apply and may exceed firearm value
Forfeiture may occur if firearms are unsold or fees exceed value
Deposits are non-refundable once the stated trigger occurs (e.g. Police forms submitted or deposit paid)

11.3 Public website firearms listings are for enquiry only; firearms are not sold via open online checkout on the public site.

11.4 Ammunition and firearms registry / sales records in club systems must be complete, accurate, and retained for the periods required by common law and any applicable statute or regulatory obligation (and longer if insurance or dealer conditions require).

11.5 Evidence, signatures, and documents related to acquisitions are stored in controlled club storage and accessed only by authorised roles.

12. Collectors and hunting pathways

12.1 Collectors membership and meetings must align with collectors genuine-reason expectations and club records.

12.2 Hunting club membership and Hunter Leap provider activities must comply with applicable hunting, firearms, and land-access laws. Ethical and humane conduct is required. Hunting is only permitted in approved areas with required authorities.

12.3 Members must comply with Appendix 4 (Hunting Rules) of the Constitution, including without limitation:

Awareness of relevant legislation (including Game and Feral Animal Control Act 2002, Regulation 2012, Firearms Act 1996, Weapons Prohibition Act 1998, Crimes Act 1900, and guidelines such as the National Code of Practice for the Humane Shooting of Kangaroos and Wallabies for Non-Commercial Purposes)
Express authority of the land occupier before hunting (written permission where required)
Clear target identification; no shot posing discernible risk of injury to any person or significant property damage
Obligation to avoid unnecessary suffering (humane kill aim, accepted killing range, suitable firearm/ammunition or bow)
Reasonable efforts to locate and humanely kill dependent young if a lactating female is killed
All reasonable steps to locate and humanely kill wounded animals
Carcass disposal as requested by the landholder and within law — not dumped along public roads, on public land, or at Council tips unless at a specified dead-animal facility
Blaze orange: all persons hunting (hunters and non-hunting companions) must wear at least one item of blaze orange clothing on the upper body, clearly visible
Minor hunters (over 12 and under 18): Minors Game Hunting Licence (NSW) and close personal supervision by a licensed person at least 18 holding the same type of licence; if using firearms, also a Minors Firearms Training Permit
Non-hunting companions only as permitted by applicable state rules; the licensed hunter is responsible for companions’ compliance

13. Roles and authorities

Role	Firearms / compliance responsibilities (summary)
Committee / Admin	Oversight, policy, escalations, Registry correspondence authority
Club officers / MOs	Club days, supervision, signing where authorised
Range officers	Immediate safety control at activities
Members	Accurate data, lawful conduct, meeting participation duties
Dealer-authorised staff	Acquisition and dealing processes only as authorised

14. Record-keeping and data integrity

14.1 Licence records, registry lists, annual returns, attendance evidence, acquisition files, and compliance dispatches are official club records.

14.2 Unauthorised alteration, deletion, or disclosure of compliance records is prohibited.

14.3 Requests to correct genuine errors should be made to compliance@ssha.org.au or info@ssha.org.au with supporting evidence.

14.4 The constitutional register of members (name, postal/residential address, date of membership) is maintained by the Membership Officer and kept in NSW. Register information may be provided to NSW Police or other formal government agencies in compliance with the Firearms Act. Founding Members (maximum 10) are those noted on the list that formed and established the club at registration with the Firearms Registry.

15. Breaches and enforcement

Breaches of this policy may result in:

Immediate removal from range/activity
Suspension or termination of membership
Revocation of portal access
Refusal of club confirmations
Notification to NSW Police / Firearms Registry where required or appropriate
Referral for criminal investigation where warranted

16. Related documents

Privacy Policy
Terms and Conditions
Member Conduct & Protection Policies
Administrative & Corporate Governance Policies
Environmental & WHS Policies
Firearms acquisition agreements / acknowledgement versions in force

17. Policy ownership

Owner: The Club
Approver: The Club
Review cycle: At least annually, or sooner after legislative change

Club guidance does not replace NSW firearms law.