Under the Associations Incorporation Act 1985 , an incorporated association has power to acquire, hold, deal with, and dispose of any real or personal property; administer any property on trust; open and operate bank accounts; invest money in any form of investment; borrow money; give security for the discharge of liabilities incurred by the association; appoint agents; and enter into any other contract it considers necessary or desirable.

The association's rules may limit these powers or extend them. An example of a power not mentioned in the Act that an association may want to include in its rules is the power to solicit or accept donations.

The rules of the association must refer to the powers of the association. If the association wishes to have all the powers listed in the Act, it is not necessary to mention them all. It is sufficient for the rules to say that the association has all the powers conferred by Associations Incorporation Act 1985 s 25.