I am new!

Joining OPC
(your first month)

Explore our website. Take a look at our competitions, facilities, membership fees and range rules.

Email. Send Oakleigh Pistol Club an email to introduce yourself (contact us).

In-person visit. Schedule an in-person visit to the club. This is a mandatory step to explore our facilities, meet our members and address any queries you may have. This must happen before you submit your application form.

Submit your OPC membership application form (download membership application form) via email to [email protected]. You must include: two character references, passport-style photo (smiles are welcome) and a national police check (n.b. there are a number of online providers).

Your application will be reviewed by the OPC committee, this occurs during their monthly meeting. If your membership is accepted, you will receive an invoice for your OPC membership (see fees) and booking email for the next available Handgun Safety Course (typically held monthly). Please note, that only full-financial (i.e. paid) members are allowed to attend the OPC Handgun Safety Course.

Safety!
(your second month)

Handgun safety course. This is mandatory. You will be invited to the next available handgun safety course. You will require a handgun safety certificate to apply for the Provisional Category-H licence.

Pistol Shooting Fundamentals Course. Following the Handgun Safety Course, the next essential stage in your membership journey is the Pistol Shooting Fundamentals Course. You will receive a booking email for the next available Pistol Shooting Fundamentals course. Please note, this is a mandatory course and must be completed.

Category-H provisional licence application
(your first 5 months)

You have now completed the Handgun Safety course; and you are a financial member of the OPC. You can now apply for your provisional handgun licence (i.e. requires club endorsement, evidence of club membership, and your safety course certificate).

A provisional Category-H handgun licence is generally held for 6 months before you are eligible to apply for full licence.

At this stage you can shoot club firearms under supervision.

After you have completed the 5 mandatory supervised shoots (completed your mandatory shoots logbook), and have not had any safety concerned raised by your supervisor or other club members – you are now allowed to sign-out club firearms and use them unsupervised for target shooting at the club (Range Rules, section 27).

Category-H full licence application
(your first 6 months)

It’s almost been 6 months. At this stage you may receive a reminder from the Victoria Police Licensing and Regulation Division that your Provisional Category-H licence will soon expire and that it’s time to apply for your full Category-H licence. We recommend tracking this date yourself.

To be eligible to apply for your full Category-H handgun license, you must:
(a) complete the mandatory 5 supervised shoots (new member supervision);
(b) be a financial member of the OPC for a minimum of 6 months;
(c) hold a valid Category-H provisional handgun licence endorsed for Target Shooting;
(d) have no safety concerns raised by the club; and
(e) Complete the ‘National Police and Fingerprint Records Check‘.

You will require to perform live fingerprint scans (National Police and Fingerprint Records Check), booked through the Victoria Police website and submit the certificate along with your full Category-H licence application. We recommend completing this at least a month early, to avoid delays.

Full Category-H licence
(your shooting journey starts here)

It’s been over 6 months and you have received your full Category-H handgun licence…

At this point (after you have received your full licence) you can also apply for OPC Open Access ($30 key deposit if approved). This will give you access to OPC facilities for training out of club opening hours (from sunrise to 9pm).

It’s strongly recommended that you compete and practice often with other club members to demonstrate your safety and proficiency around firearms, before your Open Access request can be endorsed.