Club rules for visitors
Learn how and when visitors and guests must sign in at registered clubs, including ID requirements and exceptions for sporting events.
Signing in
When visiting a registered club, visitors may need to sign in depending on their reason for entry and the club’s rules.
Visitors
A visitor can enter a club that allows temporary membership.
Upon arrival a vistor will usually sign in and be given a temporary membership. They will be asked to present photo ID, like a driver licence that shows their current address. If they're attending a sporting event they won’t be required to sign in.
Clubs may limit the admission of temporary members through club rules or policies. They may choose to do so to encourage those who visit the club to apply for full membership.
Attending a function
If a visitor is attending an event, like a wedding, and is not eligible to enter as a temporary member, they can usually enter as a guest of a member attending the wedding. The club's rules may limit the number of guests a member can sign in and the club should make the event organiser aware of this at the time of booking the function.
Members are able to sign in their own guests. Guests are the member’s responsibility and should remain in the company of the member. A guest must:
- enter their name and address in the register and have it countersigned by the member
- within reason, remain in the company of the member
- leave the club when the member does, or earlier.
Entry for minors
Minors, or under 18s, are permitted to enter registered clubs in line with the club's rules. Minors must:
- remain in the company and immediate presence of a member who is a responsible adult, such as a parent or guardian, or other person who is standing in as a parent
- leave the club when the member does, or earlier.
Minors, or under 18s, are permitted to enter registered clubs in line with the club's rules. Minors must:
- remain in the company and immediate presence of a member who is a responsible adult, such as a parent or guardian, or other person who is standing in as a parent
- leave the club when the member does, or earlier.
Minors aren’t permitted to enter or stay in the bar area of a club or hotel, unless they are accompanied by a responsible adult and are:
- passing through the area to gain access to another area of the club
- performing in the bar area as part of a show
- attending a wedding reception of a member (or that member's child or parent), or invited by a person entitled to issue an invitation.
Clubs can also apply for the following authorisations:
When approved, a club can allow under 18s to access areas of a club that are not gaming areas in the company of a responsible adult.
Clubs may apply to ILGA for a junior members authorisation. This allows under 18s to access club areas that would normally be restricted to adult members so that they can:
- take part in a sporting activity
- be involved in a prize-giving ceremony associated with a sporting activity.
Junior members need to be under adult supervision and clubs must ensure that no liquor is sold or otherwise supplied to the minor, gaming machines are not used by junior members, and tobacco vending machines are switched off in the area.
A club functions authorisation allows a club to allow under 18s and non-members to enter a specific area of the club's venue to attend a function. At the end of the function minors must leave the club or be in the guardianship of an adult who is authorised to be in club.
A club functions authorisation has the following conditions, but only to the extent that it authorises functions for under 18s on the club premises:
- at least 7 days notice must be given to the local police before any function is held
- the notice must specify the:
- name and nature of the function
- number of minors attending
- number of adult supervisors
- details of the security arrangements
- other particulars that may be included in the regulations
- the secretary of the club and person conducting the function must comply with any directions given by the local police or the Authority with respect to the conduct of functions for minors
- liquor must not be sold, supplied, disposed of or consumed in the area in which any function is held
- gaming machines must not be located in the area in which any function is held and any area of the club in which gaming machines are located must not be accessible to any minor attending the function
For more details about the above authorisations refer to Sections 22A, 23 and 23A of the Registered Clubs Act 1976.