STEP Western AUSTRALIA

Welcome to STEP Western Australia

The increase in the size and complexity of trusts and estates in Western Australia coupled with a net inflow of migrants from other jurisdictions indicates that the need for specialist services in this area will increase. Yet, the pool of experienced practitioners is small and there is potential for the quality of educational opportunities to be enhanced. For this reason, in 2009 a branch of STEP was established in Western Australia.

STEP Western Australia was launched on 22 July 2009 by French CJ of the High Court of Australia, Martin CJ of the Supreme Court of Western Australia and Gzell J of the Supreme Court of New South Wales and Chairman of STEP New South Wales.

STEP Western Australia has received great support from the trusts and estate planning community in Western Australia and currently has more than 80 members Membership is open to a wide range of professionals who work in the area of trusts and estates. While STEP members were once predominantly lawyers, the profession is now very much multidisciplinary and has an increasing number of accountants, financial planners, professional trustees and other practitioners.

Educational Events

STEP Western Australia hold educational events on a monthly basis (excluding January and June). These events cover a wide range of topics within the fields of trusts and estates including succession planning, estates and tax. The educational events are traditionally held on a Wednesday or Thursday evening around the middle of the month, depending on the availability of the speaker.  For the benefit of our members outside the Perth metropolitan area, some seminars are streamed online. The cost of attending the educational events held by STEP Western Australia is discounted for members.

Prior to and after each seminar, there is an opportunity to meet and network with other members. Attendees at the events are encouraged to provide feedback to STEP Western Australia, including suggestions for future topics.

We are approved as a CPD provider by the Legal Practice Board of Western Australia.

Keep up to date on events and news for the STEP WA Branch by signing up to their local newsletter.

Links with other organisations

STEP Western Australia have links with a number of organisations, including the following:

• Supreme Court of Western Australia’s Probate Committee.
• Danielle Bechelet is STEP Western Australia’s representative on the Supreme Court of Western Australia’s Probate Committee.
• Curtin University

STEP Western Australia sponsors a prize awarded by Curtin University to the top student in TAXA5003 Advanced Estate Planning.

• University of Western Australia

STEP Western Australia sponsors a prize awarded by the UWA Law School to the top student undertaking the ‘LAWS5234 Taxation of Trusts’ unit in the Master of Taxation Law program.

• Chartered Accountants Australia & New Zealand (CAANZ)

Two years ago STEP Western Australia started collaborating with CAANZ and have held an annual joint seminar with them, which we hope to continue in the future.