{"id":"nsw:act-1902-071","name":"Women’s College Act 1902","slug":"women-s-college-act-1902","collection":"act","jurisdiction":"nsw","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":"71 of 1902","makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":112118,"registerId":"nsw-act-1902-071-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-03","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Name of Act","content":"#### 1 Name of Act\n\n1 Name of Act\n\n> This Act may be cited as the [Women’s College Act 1902](/view/html/inforce/current/act-1902-071).","sortOrder":0},{"sectionNumber":"2","sectionType":"section","heading":"Repeal","content":"#### 2 Repeal\n\n2 Repeal\n\n> > (1) The Act fifty-third Victoria number ten is hereby repealed.\n> \n> > (2), (3) (Repealed)\n> \n> **s 2:** Am 1977 No 52, Sch 1 (1).","sortOrder":1},{"sectionNumber":"3","sectionType":"section","heading":"Definitions","content":"#### 3 Definitions\n\n3 Definitions\n\n> In this Act, unless the context or subject-matter otherwise indicates or requires:\n> \n> by-laws means by-laws under this Act.\n> \n> College means the Women’s College within the University of Sydney.\n> \n> Council means the Council of the Women’s College.\n> \n> councillor means a councillor referred to in section 5.\n> \n> elective councillor means a councillor elected under section 6 or appointed under section 7.\n> \n> Treasurer means the person appointed as Treasurer of the Council under section 5A.\n> \n> University means the University of Sydney.\n> \n> **s 3:** Am 1977 No 52, Sch 1 (2); 1997 No 13, Sch 1 \\[1\\].","sortOrder":2},{"sectionNumber":"4","sectionType":"section","heading":"The Council of the Women’s College","content":"#### 4 The Council of the Women’s College\n\n4 The Council of the Women’s College\n\n> > (1) The Council of the Women’s College shall continue and be a body corporate under that name and shall have perpetual succession and a common seal, and by that name may sue and be sued, and take and hold to it and its successors by grant, will, or otherwise in perpetuity, or for any term of life or years, any real or personal property, and may alien or otherwise dispose of or demise the same or any part thereof other than land granted to it as a site for buildings and recreation grounds for the College, and may do all other things incident or appertaining to a body corporate.\n> \n> > (2) There shall be vested in the Council the government in all respects of the College and all matters relating thereto.\n> \n> > (3) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (2), the Council may, and shall be deemed always to have been able to, fix fees or other charges for residential accommodation or any other amenity or service provided by the Council under this Act.\n> \n> > (4) (Repealed)\n> \n> **s 4:** Am 1977 No 52, Sch 1 (3); 1987 No 48, Sch 32.","sortOrder":3},{"sectionNumber":"5","sectionType":"section","heading":"Constitution of Council","content":"#### 5 Constitution of Council\n\n5 Constitution of Council\n\n> > (1) The Council is to consist of:\n> > \n> > > (a) ten elective councillors, and\n> > \n> > > (b) the following four ex-officio councillors:\n> > > \n> > > > (i) the Principal of the College,\n> > > \n> > > > (ii) the Senior Student of the College,\n> > > \n> > > > (iii) the President of the union (known as the Women’s College Union) of members and friends of the College,\n> > > \n> > > > (iv) the person nominated by the Senate of the University under section 8 (1), and\n> > \n> > > (c) the Treasurer (if not otherwise a councillor).\n> \n> > (2) If the Treasurer is not otherwise a councillor, he or she ceases to be a councillor on ceasing to be Treasurer.\n> \n> **s 5:** Am 1977 No 52, Sch 1 (4); 1994 No 95, Sch 1. Subst 1997 No 13, Sch 1 \\[2\\].","sortOrder":4},{"sectionNumber":"5A","sectionType":"section","heading":"Treasurer of Council","content":"#### 5A Treasurer of Council\n\n5A Treasurer of Council\n\n> > (1) The Council may appoint a councillor as Treasurer of the Council.\n> \n> > (2) If the Council is not able to appoint a councillor, the Council is to appoint any other person whom the Council considers suitable as Treasurer of the Council.\n> \n> > (3) A person is not to be appointed under this section unless the person consents to the appointment.\n> \n> > (4) The Treasurer may be appointed for such term (not exceeding one year) as the Council determines, and may be reappointed from time to time.\n> \n> > (5) The Treasurer may, by notice in writing to the Council, resign from the position of Treasurer at any time.\n> \n> > (6) The Treasurer may, subject to the by-laws, be removed from the office of Treasurer by the Council at any time.\n> \n> > (7) A casual vacancy in the office of the Treasurer is to be filled in accordance with this section.\n> \n> **s 5A:** Ins 1997 No 13, Sch 1 \\[2\\].","sortOrder":5},{"sectionNumber":"6","sectionType":"section","heading":"Elective councillors","content":"#### 6 Elective councillors\n\n6 Elective councillors\n\n> > (1) Elections for elective councillors shall be held in November of each alternate year.\n> \n> > (2) Elective councillors shall hold office for four years from the first day of January next after their election, and shall be eligible for re-election.\n> \n> > (3) Only persons who are members of the class of persons prescribed by the by-laws for the purposes of this subsection are qualified to vote at an election of elective councillors.\n> \n> > (4) Elections for elective councillors shall be conducted in such manner as the Council may by by-laws prescribe.\n> \n> > (5) A by-law made for the purposes of subsection (3) may prescribe a class of persons by reference to a roll or other instrument in writing that is required by the by-laws to be kept by a prescribed person.\n> \n> **s 6:** Subst 1927 No 55, sec 2 (a). Am 1977 No 52, Sch 1 (5).","sortOrder":6},{"sectionNumber":"7","sectionType":"section","heading":"Casual vacancies","content":"#### 7 Casual vacancies\n\n7 Casual vacancies\n\n> > (1) A casual vacancy in the office of an elective councillor arising from death, resignation, or other cause specified in the by-laws of the Council shall be filled by the appointment by the remaining councillors of some person for the residue of the term of the councillor in whose office the vacancy arises.\n> \n> > (2) An appointment required to be made under subsection (1) shall be made within 4 months of the occurrence of the casual vacancy in respect of which it is required to be made.\n> \n> **s 7:** Subst 1927 No 55, sec 2 (a). Am 1977 No 52, Sch 1 (6).","sortOrder":7},{"sectionNumber":"8","sectionType":"section","heading":"Ex-officio councillors","content":"#### 8 Ex-officio councillors\n\n8 Ex-officio councillors\n\n> > (1) The Senate of the University shall from time to time nominate one member of such Senate to be a councillor of the College for a period of time specified by the Senate.\n> \n> > (2) The Senate may revoke a nomination made under subsection (1).\n> \n> > (3) The person nominated under subsection (1) shall be an ex-officio councillor from the commencement of the period of time for which that person has been nominated to be a councillor until:\n> > \n> > > (a) that person ceases to be a member of the Senate,\n> > \n> > > (b) the nomination of that person is revoked by the Senate, or\n> > \n> > > (c) the expiration of the period of time for which that person has been nominated,\n> > \n> > whichever first occurs.\n> \n> **s 8:** Am 1977 No 52, Sch 1 (7); 1997 No 13, Sch 1 \\[3\\] \\[4\\].","sortOrder":8},{"sectionNumber":"8A","sectionType":"section","heading":null,"content":"#### 8A\n\n8A (Repealed)","sortOrder":9},{"sectionNumber":"9","sectionType":"section","heading":"Quorum","content":"#### 9 Quorum\n\n9 Quorum\n\n> Seven councillors shall constitute a quorum of the Council, subject to such conditions as to the due convening of meetings as the Council may determine on.\n> \n> **s 9:** Am 1997 No 13, Sch 1 \\[6\\].","sortOrder":11},{"sectionNumber":"10","sectionType":"section","heading":"Visitor","content":"#### 10 Visitor\n\n10 Visitor\n\n> The Chancellor of the University, or, in the Chancellor’s absence, the Deputy Chancellor, shall be the Visitor of the College, and shall have the right to visit the College at any time, and with or without some other member of the University Senate, to examine the manner in which it is conducted, and to see that the by-laws and resolutions of the Council are duly observed and executed, and shall possess all other such powers as by law appertain to the office of Visitor to a College.\n> \n> **s 10:** Am 1977 No 52, Sch 1 (9).","sortOrder":12},{"sectionNumber":"11","sectionType":"section","heading":"Purposes of Council","content":"#### 11 Purposes of Council\n\n11 Purposes of Council\n\n> > (1) The main purposes of the Council are:\n> > \n> > > (a) to provide, maintain and develop the College as a residence for such female students of the University as the Council may approve and for related purposes, and\n> > \n> > > (b) to provide such assistance in the educational development of the residents of the College who are students of the University as the Council may decide.\n> \n> > (2) To the extent that its exercise of the following powers does not hinder or prevent the Council from carrying out its main purposes, the Council may, on such conditions as it thinks fit:\n> > \n> > > (a) provide the College as a residence for male students of the University,\n> > \n> > > (b) provide the College as a residence for persons other than students of the University, and\n> > \n> > > (c) approve of the use of the College or any part thereof in connection with activities other than those related to the furtherance of its main purposes.\n> \n> **s 11:** Subst 1977 No 52, Sch 1 (10).","sortOrder":13},{"sectionNumber":"11A","sectionType":"section","heading":"Protection from liability","content":"#### 11A Protection from liability\n\n11A Protection from liability\n\n> Anything done or omitted to be done by the Council, a councillor, or any person acting under the direction of the Council does not, if it was done or omitted to be done in good faith for the purpose of executing this Act, subject a councillor or person so acting personally to any action, liability, claim or demand.\n> \n> **s 11A:** Ins 1997 No 13, Sch 1 \\[7\\].","sortOrder":14},{"sectionNumber":"12","sectionType":"section","heading":"Political or religious discrimination prohibited","content":"#### 12 Political or religious discrimination prohibited\n\n12 Political or religious discrimination prohibited\n\n> No political or religious test shall be administered to any person to entitle that person to be admitted as or continue as a resident of the College, to hold any office related to the person’s being a resident of the College or to enjoy any benefit, advantage or privilege related to the College.\n> \n> **s 12:** Subst 1977 No 52, Sch 1 (10).","sortOrder":15},{"sectionNumber":"13","sectionType":"section","heading":null,"content":"#### 13\n\n13–15 (Repealed)","sortOrder":16},{"sectionNumber":"16","sectionType":"section","heading":"By-laws","content":"#### 16 By-laws\n\n16 By-laws\n\n> > (1) The Council may make by-laws for carrying the provisions and objects of this Act into effect.\n> \n> > (1A) Without limiting subsection (1), the Council may make by-laws with respect to any one or more of the following:\n> > \n> > > (a) the Principal of the College,\n> > \n> > > (b) the Vice-Principal of the College,\n> > \n> > > (c) the Senior Student of the College,\n> > \n> > > (d) the union of members and friends of the College.\n> \n> > (2) A by-law must be made under seal.\n> \n> > (2A) A by-law must be sent to the Governor within 30 days of being made, for the purpose of being laid before both Houses of Parliament.\n> \n> > (3) A by-law may confer on the Council or the Principal of the College power to give residents of the College, in such manner as may be prescribed, instructions, orders or directions.\n> \n> **s 16:** Am 1927 No 55, sec 2 (b); 1977 No 52, Sch 1 (14); 1987 No 48, Sch 32; 1996 No 30, Sch 1; 1997 No 13, Sch 1 \\[11\\].","sortOrder":18},{"sectionNumber":"17","sectionType":"section","heading":"Savings and transitional provisions","content":"#### 17 Savings and transitional provisions\n\n17 Savings and transitional provisions\n\n> Schedule 1 has effect.\n> \n> **s 17:** Ins 1997 No 13, Sch 1 \\[12\\].","sortOrder":19},{"sectionNumber":"Schedule 1","sectionType":"schedule","heading":"Savings and transitional provisions","content":"# Schedule 1 Savings and transitional provisions\n\nSchedule 1 Savings and transitional provisions\n\n(Section 17)\n\n**sch 1:** Ins 1997 No 13, Sch 1 \\[12\\].","sortOrder":20},{"sectionNumber":"Part 1","sectionType":"part","heading":"Preliminary","content":"# Part 1 Preliminary\n\nPart 1 Preliminary","sortOrder":21},{"sectionNumber":"Part 2","sectionType":"part","heading":"Provisions consequent on enactment of Women’s College Amendment Act 1997","content":"# Part 2 Provisions consequent on enactment of Women’s College Amendment Act 1997\n\nPart 2 Provisions consequent on enactment of [Women’s College Amendment Act 1997](/view/pdf/asmade/act-1997-13)","sortOrder":23}],"analysis":{"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"Unauthenticated. Configure AI_GATEWAY_API_KEY or use a provider module. Learn more: https://ai-sdk.dev/unauthenticated-ai-gateway","source":"analysis-cron"},"issue_detection":{"absurdities":[],"contradictions":[]},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The legislation remains focused on its original purpose: establishing and governing a specific residential college for women at the University of Sydney. While amended several times (notably in 1977 and 1997) to modernise governance structures (e.g., adding a Treasurer position, adjusting councillor numbers, adding liability protection), these changes have refined rather than expanded the scope. The Act has not grown to regulate broader educational policy or other institutions."},"complexity_factors":["Short statute (approximately 17 sections plus a short Schedule)","Only 7 defined terms in the interpretation section (section 3)","Minimal cross-referencing — mostly internal references to other sections of the same Act","Straightforward conditional logic (e.g., 'if the Treasurer is not otherwise a councillor')","Some transitional provisions in Schedule 1 to handle the 1997 amendments, but these are time-limited and specific","No nested exceptions or highly technical regulatory frameworks"],"plain_english_summary":"This law establishes and governs **The Women's College** at the University of Sydney. It creates a legal body called the **Council** to run the college and sets out who sits on that Council, how they're chosen, and what the college can do.\n\n**Key things this law does:**\n\n*   **Creates the Council as a legal entity** (a \"body corporate\") — meaning it can own property, sign contracts, and be sued in its own name.\n*   **Sets up the Council's membership**: 10 elected members, plus 4 automatic (\"ex-officio\") members including the College Principal, the Senior Student, the President of the Women's College Union, and someone nominated by the University Senate. There's also a Treasurer.\n*   **Allows the Council to charge fees** for accommodation and services.\n*   **Defines the college's main purpose**: providing housing and educational support for female students of the University of Sydney. However, it also allows the Council to house male students and non-students if this doesn't interfere with the main purpose.\n*   **Protects against discrimination**: bans political or religious tests for residents or office-holders.\n*   **Provides legal protection** for councillors and staff acting in good faith — they can't be personally sued for actions taken while doing their job.\n*   **Lets the Council make by-laws** (internal rules) about running the college, subject to being tabled in Parliament.\n\n**Who it affects:** Students living at the college, the college administration, the University of Sydney, and alumni/union members who vote in elections."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The Act’s governance scope was changed by later amendments, notably the Women’s College Amendment Act 1997 and associated Schedule 1: composition and appointment rules for councillors were revised (temporary increase and phased reduction in elective councillors — Sch 1 cl 5), a Treasurer provision was inserted (s 5A), a statutory protection from liability was added (s 11A), and transitional continuity rules for existing councillors were enacted (Sch 1 cl 3–4). These amendments alter the college’s internal governance and administration compared with the earlier text."},"complexity_factors":["Multiple categories of councillors (elective, ex‑officio, Treasurer) and staggered election terms (s 5, s 6).","Transitional and phased changes to the number and appointment of elective councillors introduced by the 1997 amendment (Sch 1 cl 5 & cl 6).","Casual vacancy timing and appointment duty (four‑month requirement) creating an administrative deadline (s 7).","Broad Council discretion to set fees and make by‑laws, coupled with formal procedural requirements to seal and lodge by‑laws (s 4, s 16(2), s 16(2A)).","Statutory protection from personal liability for councillors and persons acting under the Council where actions are in good faith (s 11A).","Visitor oversight by the University Chancellor (or Deputy Chancellor) with inspection powers (s 10).","Repeals and historical amendments scattered through the Act require cross‑referencing to understand current obligations (s 2; Sch 1)."],"plain_english_summary":"Establishes and continues a corporate Council to govern the Women’s College at the University of Sydney, giving that Council power to hold property, set residential fees, make by‑laws, run elections for councillors, and appoint officers including a Treasurer. It affects residents (who pay fees set by the Council), councillors, College officers and the University Senate. The Council’s discretion to set fees and by‑laws (s 4, s 16) and the 1997 transitional rules (Sch 1) determine who decides and what compliance duties apply."},"summary":{"complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"Based on the available information, there is no indication that the scope of the Act has changed from its original intent. It appears to remain focused on the singular purpose of governing The Women's College in NSW, with no evidence of scope expansion or contraction. However, the absence of substantive legislative text makes a definitive assessment impossible."},"complexity_factors":["Virtually no substantive legislative text was provided — only website metadata and navigation elements, making meaningful legal analysis impossible","The Act itself is likely simple in structure given its narrow, single-institution focus","Historical legislation from 1902 may use archaic legal drafting language that requires interpretation","The Act has remained largely unchanged since at least 1997 (last point-in-time version), suggesting minimal complexity through amendment"],"plain_english_summary":"The Women's College Act 1902 (NSW) is a long-standing statute that appears to establish The Women's College at the University of Sydney as a legal entity, setting out governance, powers (like owning property) and membership/management arrangements. It primarily affects the college's students, residents, governing body and potentially the university.\n\nThe provided text lacks the Act's substantive provisions, but the Act remains in force (to 2026) and is administered within NSW tertiary education."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/women-s-college-act-1902","history":"/api/acts/women-s-college-act-1902/history","analysis":"/api/acts/women-s-college-act-1902/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/women-s-college-act-1902/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/women-s-college-act-1902/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/women-s-college-act-1902/documents"}}