About the Society
The Buddhist Society of Australia was established on 9 September 2024 and is a charity registered with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC).
We are an unincorporated association based in Sydney, governed by a committee of volunteers. Everyone who helps run the Society gives their time freely.
Our purpose
Our rules set out the purpose we exist to serve:
The Buddhist Society of Australia aims to promote the teachings of Buddha, provide support for Buddhist practitioners, and contribute to the well-being of the community through charitable activities aligned with Buddhist values.
Our vision
A compassionate and mindful society where the teachings of Buddha are accessible to all who seek them, and where community wellbeing is enhanced through meditation, Dharma education, and charitable service.
What we do
Our registered program is Meditation Sessions, held in Sydney NSW, Australia (ACNC classification: Religious youth organisations). We hold meditation sessions in Sydney three evenings a week, open to anyone who would like to join. In our first year we met on campus at the University of Sydney and the University of Technology Sydney.
- Meditation sessions introduce Buddhist meditation techniques, and we practise them together. They are designed for beginners as well as experienced practitioners.
- Dharma discussions explore the teachings of the Buddha in an open, conversational way.
- Gatherings bring people together for chanting, reflection and sharing the teachings.
- Retreats. In our first year, members of the Society took part in a meditation retreat in Melbourne, for a longer period of practice.
What we reported to the ACNC
Our summary of activities, as published on our ACNC record:
The Buddhist Society of Australia worked to achieve its mission of promoting the teachings of Buddha and contributing to community wellbeing by establishing and delivering regular meditation sessions, Dharma discussions, and religious gatherings. These activities were made accessible to the broader community, including university students and people from diverse backgrounds, and provided a foundation for spiritual development, mindfulness, and community connection.
Who we serve
The people our charity is registered to benefit, as listed on our ACNC record:
- Early childhood - aged under 6
- Children - aged 6 to under 15
- Youth - 15 to under 25
- Adults - aged 25 to under 65
- Adults - aged 65 and over
- Families
- Animals
- General community in Australia
Open to all
We are not tied to one school of Buddhism. People from every Buddhist tradition are welcome, and so are people with no background in Buddhism at all.
How the Society is run
The Society is governed by its rules and by a committee of management. The committee members are the Society’s responsible persons under the ACNC’s rules, and they make sure the Society is well managed and pursues its charitable purpose. They are all volunteers, and the Society has no paid staff.
Our responsible persons, as listed on our ACNC record:
- Chingun Erdene-Ochir, Chairperson and Director
- Lorenzo Popoli, Director
- Shangzhe Xie, Director
- Kent Zeng, Director
Our financial year ends on 30 June. Each year we report to the ACNC, and our rules, annual report and financial report are published on our record on the ACNC Charity Register.
Becoming a member
Anyone who supports the purposes of the Society and agrees to be bound by its rules can apply to become a member. You can tell us you would like to join on our Get in touch page.
Looking ahead
Our first annual report sets out what we hope to do next: continue and expand our meditation sessions and Dharma discussions, hold regular weekly and monthly gatherings, organise community events open to the wider public, and develop educational resources on Buddhist teachings. You can follow what we are doing in our News.
Registration details
- Legal name
- Buddhist Society of Australia
- ABN (charity ID)
- 35 892 665 974
- ACNC status
- Registered
- Charity subtype
- Advancing religion
- Charity size
- Small
- Official website
- buddhistsocietiesofaustralia.org
- Structure
- Unincorporated association
- Registered address
- 5 Martin Pl, Sydney NSW 2000
- Operates in
- New South Wales, Australia
- Sessions held
- Sydney NSW, Australia
- Registered charity since
- 9 September 2024
- Financial year ends
- 30 June
- info@
buddhistsocietiesofaustralia.org - Phone
- 0411 015 273
Finances
Financial year ended 30 June 2025, as reported to the ACNC:
- Donations and bequests
- $300
- Other revenue
- $700
- Total income
- $1,000
- Employee expenses
- $0
- Other expenses
- $1,000
- Total expenses
- $1,000
Looking for a different organisation?
buddhistsocietiesofaustralia.org is the official website of Buddhist Society of Australia, ABN 35 892 665 974, the charity registered with the ACNC under that ABN. We are a separate organisation from Buddhist Society of Australia Inc, which is based in Victoria, and we are not connected with it. If that is the organisation you were looking for, you can find it on its own ACNC record.
Gifts
The Society is not a deductible gift recipient, so gifts to us are not tax-deductible.