Become a Member
Join us!
Membership forms are available from the front shop counter and takes a minute or two to complete. Come to the Co-op and let the Shop Coordinator (the person behind the till) know you’d like to sign up as a Member.
Once your new membership is acknowledged by the Co-op Board, you’re part of the Co-op community!
Next, come along to a New Members Induction and receive a complimentary iconic Co-op lunch PLUS 20% off your first shop!
New Member Inductions happen on the first Saturday of each month from 11:00am-12pm. These inductions provide an overview of how the Co-op works and the different Working Member roles available. Find out more via our Events page or the Facebook event here.
Membership Categories
Individual
(1 adult member)
$15
concession
$25
standard
Concession includes any concession card eg. student, pension, health care.
Couple
(2 adult members)
$30
concession
$40
standard
For concession rate to apply, both members need to hold concessions.
Household
(3+ adult members)
$40
concession
$50
standard
For concession rate to apply, majority members need to hold concessions.
Membership Benefits & Responsibilities
Being a Member of The Food Co-op makes you a co-owner and the reason we exist.
Being owned and run by Members helps us to keep prices as low as possible, prioritising our values with product and operational choices over profit. Be part of a vibrant and diverse community!
Discounts
Membership grants you a 5% discount in the shop, as well as discounts on cafe lunches and certain Co-op events.
Members are also eligible to receive an additional 10% discount for bulk orders (find out more on our ‘How to Shop’ page) and to approach our Products Manager in regards to selling products on consignment (find out more on our ‘Sell to us’ page).
Working Members receive a 20% discount by volunteering your time. 1 hour of volunteering keeps your Working Membership discount active for 2 weeks. More details below.
Becoming a Working Member
What is a Working Member? A working member is a Co-op member who volunteers their time to work in the Co-op.
Our Co-operative model means that Working Members are essential to the functioning of our Co-op.
Being a Working Member at the Co-op is a great way to get involved in the community and get even more affordable groceries. There are fun, interesting, and challenging roles available to suit a wide range of capacity, skill, interest, and availability.
Working Members receive a 20% discount in the Co-op for a fortnight for every hour that is worked. Hours worked are cumulative; for example if you work two hours in succession, you will receive one month of 20% discount. Working members also receive reduced Cafe meals and events attendance.
Additionally, Working Members who work in the Co-op for between 2 and 3 hours during the lunch period, get a free single-serve hot drink OR lunch, and for 3+ hours get ONE free single-serve hot drink AND lunch. These must be recorded by the Cafe Coordinator on duty. Members who work in the Co-op for less than two hours do not receive any food without payment.
This discount may also be purchased by any member who seeks and gains approval in writing from the Board to pay the price set at the most recent AGM each year to ‘buy out’ the required hours. The Board may, but is not bound to, take into consideration family circumstances, equity and capacity in determining whether to grant approval for a member to buy out their hours.
Explore further up-to-date details about our Working Member roles here.
Democratic participation & governance
Getting to know the Co-op’s structure and the different roles that make up this structure is a good place to start, find out more here. Being a Member of the Co-op also comes with some important behavioural and relational responsibilities that relate to our principles. This includes ways to raise a grievance, concern, or complaint. Important documents related to governance and behavioural and relational responsibilities can be found here (there is also a link from our Member Hub page). Check them out!
Members are critical to the governance of The Food Co-op. Members who have been signed up for a minimum of 6 months are eligible to nominate to be on our Board and are responsible for electing Board members at our Annual General Meeting. Members are also consulted by the Board, Working Groups, and staff on matters relevant to the running of many aspects of the organisation.
Reading our e-newsletter ‘Fresh In!’ and any other emails you receive are important ways to stay up-to-date with important news and events relevant to being a Member and part of the Co-op community.