Domain Registration & Web Hosting (Overview)

Domain Names & Web Hosting

What’s a domain name?
A domain name is the URL address users can type into their internet browser to find your Club, e.g: http://www.fusaisthebest.com

So it’s our own website? 
No. Much like a street address for a vacant lot, if the domain name doesn’t lead to your Club’s home it’s not particularly useful. A domain is an address you can use to help users find your Club’s web presence more easily (e.g: website, social media page, etc.). If you want your own website, you will need both a domain name and web hosting. 

How much does it cost?
Typically between $10 and $20 a year, however, .au addresses will usually require a two year minimum subscription. If the Club is also purchasing web hosting, the domain name can often be included for free as a package deal.

How can I register a domain name?
You will need to register a domain name through a domain registrar. We typically recommend GoDaddy, because they are both cheap and easy to use.

Can I register a .net, .com, .club, .co or .org address?
Yep! These typically have very few requirements, and are also incredibly cheap. Domain registrars such as GoDaddy should be able to help you out.

Can I register a .com.au or .net.au address?
No. These domains require you to be a registered business, which requires an ABN or ACN.

Can I register a .edu.au address?
Nope, however, academic Clubs may be able to negotiate a web page on flinders.edu.au by discussing their requirements with their applicable College. FUSA cannot organise this for Clubs.  

Can I use the Flinders or FUSA Australian Business Number (ABN) to register a domain name?
Clubs may not use Flinders University and/or FUSA’s ABN for their activities. Your Club may, however, be eligible to apply for an ABN number. Details regarding ABN entitlement can be found HERE.  

Can I register a .org.au address?
Yes, but you may need to jump through a few hoops. If you’re an incorporated association this should be quick and easy, however, if you’re an unincorporated Club (like most Clubs on campus) it may take a little longer. The processes for each are below.

As an incorporated association
If you are an incorporated association, you can provide your Australian Business Number (ABN). Registration shouldn’t be a problem through most Domain Registrars.

As an unincorporated association
Schedule F 1(d) of the .AU Domain Administration (AUDA) Policy permits sporting or special interest Clubs operating in Australia to register a .org.au domain. However, to do so you will need to supply additional evidence to prove that the Club is not-for-profit.

AUDA considers a combination of the below to be acceptable forms of evidence (at the discretion of the domain registrar):

• When the Club formed
• Minutes
• List of Club members
• Office Bearers (President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, )
• Constitution/Guidelines (both your constitution and the FUSA Clubs & Students Communities Regulations should state that the Club is not-for-profit, so you could provide both)
• Club purpose
• Address
• Contact details
• Financial statements

Note: Most domain registration services are completely automated and consequently will not allow the Club to register using this process. Digital Pacific are an affordable option that will allow the Club to register as a sporting or special interest Club without an ABN. After registering online, the company will contact you requesting additional evidence.

How do we get our own website?
Depends! Do you have a designer who is willing to design a great website for you? Confused about all this confusing interweb stuff? Both require web hosting, however some options may be better than others depending on your requirements. Check out the options below.

Web Hosting – for web gurus
If you have designed a website and need somewhere to host it, web hosting is what you’re after. Web hosting is typically a small monthly fee, although there are free ad-supported services available (these advertisements may make your website look unprofessional, however). Often a free domain will be provided with this hosting.

Web hosting – for the rest of us
If you don’t know how to build your own website, this is the best option. Website hosting provides you with both a pre-designed website template with easily editable content, the web hosting to keep it online, and a domain name to make it easy to find. You can either use an existing HTML template provided by the website hosting service, or alternative you can use a WordPress template. FUSA recommends WordPress templates for those without much web experience, as they are easy to use and highly customisable. For for WordPress website hosting head HERE.