February 2007 Edition
ALERT - Vaccinations To Protect Year 8 and 10 Students
Annual General Meeting Procedures
Barcaldine Visit by QCPCA Executive
GRANT ALERT Waterwise Grants Program
Is You P&C Functioning At Its Full Potenial
QCPCA - Working for State School P&C Associations Parents and Students
Risk Management from CCYP & CG
STOP PRESS - Welfare to Work Update
What P&C's As Employers Need To Provide To Thier Employees
ALERT - Vaccinations To Protect Year 8 and 10 Students
As part of Queensland Health's School Based Vaccination Program all Year 8 and 10 students will be offered recommended vaccinations free of charge during 2007.
Year 8 students will be offered two doses of hepatitis B vaccine (four to six months apart) and one dose of varicella-zoster (chickenpox) vaccine.
Year 10 students will be offered one dose of adult/adolescent formulation diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (whooping cough) (dTpa) vaccine.
The vaccinations will be conducted by a team of specially trained registered nurses and/or a medical practitioner on behalf of Queensland Health.
No child will be vaccinated without a signed consent form from their parent/guardian.
More information about diseases, vaccines or the School Based Vaccination Program can be obtained by visiting www.health.qld.gov.au
This information was provided by Qld Health and published unedited.
Annual General Meeting Procedures
P&C’s are preparing for their AGM’s and ensuring that procedures and requirements are met as outlined in the constitution.
Is your P&C ready for their AGM?
This is a list of the MUST do’s for your AGM.
The Annual General Meeting of the Association will be held within three (3) months of the close of the Association’s financial year.
The date of the Annual General Meeting of the Association will be determined at the General Meeting held prior to the end of the Association’s financial year.
The Secretary will give fourteen (14) days notice of the intention to convene the Annual General Meeting in a manner determined by the officers.
All matters considered to be the business of the Annual General Meeting can be placed on the agenda by notifying the Secretary prior to the meeting.
The quorum for the Annual General Meeting of the Association will be outlined in your constitution, make sure you have it on hand for the meeting. However, if this number is greater than ten, then the quorum for an Annual General Meeting of the Association will be ten members of the Association.
No business of the Annual General Meeting will be transacted unless a quorum of members is present.
If a quorum is not present the meeting will be cancelled, in which case the officers will determine a date for the meeting and the Secretary will give not less than fourteen (14) days notice of the meeting date. If at that meeting a quorum is not present, those members present will be the quorum.
Where a quorum lapses during a meeting, the meeting will be adjourned to a later date as determined by the officers.
The order of business at an Annual General Meeting is:
(i) welcome to members and introduction of any special visitors;
(ii) apologies;
(iii) confirmation of minutes of the previous Annual General Meeting;
(iv) business arising out of the minutes;
(v) receipt and adoption of the Association’s audited annual financial statement and Treasurer’s report (to include all financial sub-committee’s audited financial statements);
If you do not have the audit to be tabled at this time you MUST stop and reconvene the AGM when the audit is ready – No Audit no election.
(vi) receipt and adoption of the President’s Annual Report;
(vii) ALL MEMBERSHIPS LAPSE;
(viii) applications for membership (to include renewals);
(ix) election of officers;
(x) confirmation of continuing sub-committees of the Association (including appointment of members of sub-committees);
(xi) appointment of the Association’s Auditor;
(xii) general business.
QCPCA is aware that many P&C’s are conducting general meetings either before or after their AGM’s to deal with any business that needs discussing or finalising. While this is optional, a reason for this may be that they can have the minutes endorsed at the next months meeting and in turn making it easier for the secretary and record keeping, as AGM minutes are endorsed annually.
P&C’s conducting their meeting in this manner have found that their AGM’s operate more smoothly and with minimum fuss.
Barcaldine Visit by QCPCA Executive
30/31 March and 1st April 2007will see the QCPCA Board Meeting being held in Barcaldine. This is the first destination as part of the trial to host Board meetings outside Brisbane. Taking meetings outside of Brisbane will give the opportunity to interact with our affiliates in all areas of the State.
As part of our journey, we look forward to the State Executive visiting schools, meeting with the local community, and providing a means for P&C members to network/talk/attend forums about matters of interest in Education.
Local P&C’s, Principals and interested community members will be invited to information sharing sessions on Sunday 1st April. The State Executive looks forward to meeting as many people as possible.
CAREing For Our Volunteers
A P&C is nothing without people prepared to volunteer their time and effort for the benefit of the school community and the children. We would all love to have regular new members, willing participants for P&C activities and productive and fun meetings and, while sounding like a dream, it is certainly not impossible to achieve.
With the commencement of the school year and many committees meeting for the first time and planning their activities, now is the perfect time for P&C Executives and members to think about ways to make their P&C meetings and events more fun, productive and effective in 2007.
Think about adopting a CAREing approach towards our volunteers by seeking ways to improve our:
Communication
Attraction
Recognition, and
Education
Effective communication is the lifeblood of any organisation large or small.
It is vital to make people feel part of the team, part of the decision making processes and respected for their views and opinions.
Does your P&C openly share information or is it centralised amongst the Executive group? Is there regular, open and constructive dialogue with the school Principal? Are decisions, opinions and outcomes regularly communicated to the school community?
There is a simple universal law of the jungle: To attract someone you must first be attractive! Step back and look at your P&C through the eyes of a third party and ask the following questions: What would attract me to join this group? Why should I attend a P&C meeting rather than spend my time on all the other competing responsibilities of family, meal times etc? Be honest with the answers and then seek ways to address the issues raised.
It may become clear that the meeting time needs changing to prevent clashing with meal times or sports training. Your meetings might be seen to be dull or serious or dominated by people with strong personalities.
This could intimidate new members so a change in procedures to make meetings and activities more relaxed and social could be beneficial. A key element in attraction is fun and a lack of laughter almost always equates to a lack of members. What can you do to become more attractive?
To keep morale up it is important that both individuals and the P&C as a whole gain appropriate recognition for their efforts and involvement. Acknowledgement in the school newsletter, a certificate of appreciation from students, the school or P&C Committee can mean a lot to people who freely give of their time to help others.
It is also important that the collective efforts of the P&C in raising money and contributing to the welfare of the school are publicised to the school and broader community. This develops an understanding of what the P&C does and can lead to the attraction of new members who might wish to be involved. Can you improve the level of recognition for your P&C.?
The education of office bearers is vitally important for the ongoing success of a P&C. Executive members need to understand the responsibilities and requirements of their roles and when in doubt seek assistance through the Regional Councils or QCPCA as appropriate. More experienced members can provide valuable coaching and assistance to new Executive members to help them settle in to their positions. Developing a good understanding of the job brings a sense of control, which brings a more relaxed approach leading to more enjoyment and fun from being involved. What training or assistance does your committee need?
People are drawn to be involved with the P&C for many different reasons and each brings the ability to make a unique contribution. Use questions posed here to stimulate discussion within your P&C to help ensure that your volunteers feel respected and valued and enjoy a great 2007.
(Chris Whitecross is the Director of Arrowdynamics Pty Ltd and author of ' Why do you frown, Daddy', a new book on managing people)
Fundraising Ideas
Well it is that time of year again when the P&C mailbox is jammed with fundraising flyers with opportunities for your P&C and the calendar is filling up. Oh and not to mention those events that may contain red foods or drinks that must be thought of and coordinated across the school.
What to do?
Some tips to assist:
* Collate all fundraising information in one folder separate to other correspondence for easy reference and reporting.
* Highlight some fundraising ideas of interest for easy reference
* Rate fundraiser information on ease and value of activity- for example: from no effort to lots of effort.
* Every P&C should annually assess their fundraising calendar with the Principal and school events and plan for the following year, so lock that in for later in the year.
* Have a fundraising committee; this can be as simple as having a chairperson to coordinate proceedings.
* Volunteers – yes they are hard to find but if you are organised and can have a list of events and the number of volunteers needed for those events it will be easy to spread the load and people do not feel trapped into doing every event.
* Have you started promoting the P&C and its events to your prospective volunteers yet? This year especially with the introduction of Prep is a great time to recruit interested parents to get more involved with their children’s school and P&C, so start today.
* Have a checklist of things to do for each fundraiser so everyone is aware of what will happen on the day and so things run smoothly.
* If you must have a red occasion and cannot possibly alter it to be green or amber – do not forget to check with the school / smart choices committee that it will fit in with that terms events.
* Lots of positive communication and interaction will always have people coming back again
* Celebrate your success and remember to say thank you.
This is not an exhaustive list but some thoughts to assist with the job ahead. Make it fun and exciting, after all P&C’s do it for the kids and kids are about fun! Put the fun back in fundraising.
GRANT ALERT Waterwise Grants Program
Lifestyle WaterWise Grants Program for not-for-profit organisations is a program to encourage the reduction of consumption of treated drinking water.
Parent and Citizens Associations can apply, with sign off from the Principal and facility treasurer, with up to $30,000 being offered.
This program will aim to reduce dependence on town water supplies in Queensland. The Department of Natural Resources and Water (NRW) is administering the program, by providing funds to organisations that have met set criteria and passed assessment to retrofit existing facilities with water saving devices.
Existing facilities including sporting fields, outdoor playing surfaces, swimming pools and toilets and showers associated with outdoor facilities can receive a grant to retrofit items such as:
* Rainwater tanks
* Dual flush toilets
* Swimming pool covers
* Irrigation systems for sporting fields
(Please note the program will not be funding the construction of new facilities.)
More information can be obtained from the Department of Natural Resources and Water: www.nrw.qld.gov.au/funding where you can download fact sheets on different options for grant applications.
For projects to be eligible they must fall under at least one of the four categories:
* Improve sporting grounds watering systems
* Replace existing water use devices
* Alternative water sources – grey water, rainwater tanks etc.
* Install swimming pool covers and rollers.
Ensure all terms and conditions are read so you are aware of what will and won’t be funded under the program.
Closing date is Friday 30th March 2007
Is You P&C Functioning At Its Full Potenial
The P&C is a business and as such have certain functions of operation open to them.
P&Cs are not only about fundraising for the extras for students of their school but through their business operations have many functions:
(a) To foster general community interest in educational matters;
(b) To endeavour to bring about closer co-operation between the parents of students attending the School, other members of the community and the staff and students of the School;
(c) To provide advice and recommendations to the Principal of the School on issues and concerns in respect of students and the general operation and management of the School;
(d) To provide or assist in the provision of financial or other resources or services for the benefit of students of the School;
(e) To participate in any committee or other body comprising members of the School and wider community, which will contribute to the general benefit of students attending the School;
(f) To assist a Special Education Unit of the School (if these exist at the school);
(g) To perform any other functions as the Minister may determine.
But how do we go about achieving this efficiently and effectively?
We know that P&Cs struggle to get volunteers but why? Does your P&C incorporate the 7 functions of operation stated in the constitution? How do you get the best from your business?
Lets ask the questions to start reflecting on current practises and then brainstorm together as a P&C to set a plan of action on how these may be achieved.
(a) How do you get the community interested in educational matters at your school?
(b) How do you endeavour to build relationships with the school community and within the P&C itself?
(c) What is the P&C and Principals relationship like? Is there a communication and partnerships ethos built into your relationship? If not, why not? We are all working for the same outcome on the same premises so communication and partnerships is the key to a successful relationship.
(d) Do you fundraise? Do you evaluate your fundraising events for efficiency and effectiveness? Do you encourage volunteers to help and is it a positive environment to volunteer in? Do you operate businesses such as Tuckshop, OSHC or uniform shop? Are they operating efficiently and effectively?
(e) What committees are the executive involved in with the school or the wider community that benefits the students of the school?
(f) If your school has a special education unit how does your P&C work with this group?
* Does your P&C represent itself at QCPCA regional meetings? Do you conduct information sessions for Parents?
* What is great about your P&C?
* How can this be improved upon?
The answers to these questions will vary with each P&C. However, the journey is what helps us achieve the goals we set out to accomplish. The end result remains the same that the P&C’s main goal is to assist the students and parents of the school.
P&C Constitution Changes
The new Education (General Provisions) Act 2006 and Education (General Provisions) Regulation 2006 were effective as of the end of October 2006, which has seen some changes for P&C’s such as meeting requirements, introduction of electronic banking and financial year dates to name just a few.
In respect to some of these changes the current P&C model Constitution may be in conflict with the new Act and / or Regulation. We have had confirmation, from Education Qld, that until a new P&C model Constitution is finalised, the provisions of the new Education Act and Education Regulation 2006 will apply.
What this means for example, is that if your P&C wants to Bank electronically your P&C moves a motion to that effect and the P&C follows the guidelines in the updated P&C accounting manual as their authority. Once the new Constitution is out then any changes you have made, if not already outlined in the constitution as standard, need to be submitted to your Education Queensland District Office for approval.
The same process will apply if you need to change your end of financial year date to fall in line with the new Act. From 2007 all P&C’s will have a December end of financial year.
We have been informed that all P&C’s will need to complete a new Constitution once Education Queensland has approved the new model, incorporating changes made under the Act and Regulation. So compile any changes that have been approved at your P&C meetings and keep a record of the minutes where they were resolved for easy reference.
QCPCA will keep P&C’s informed on the process involved with completing your new Constitution once Education Queensland has finalised the document. Stay Tuned.
Any enquiries please contact your QCPCA Regional team (refer contacts at www.qcpca.org.au )or QCPCA Operations Support on 3352 3900.
P&C Meeting Requirements
The start of the P&C year is here and many of you are looking at setting and confirming meeting dates for 2007. This can be a complicated process with trying to fit around school and public holidays and of course the “State of Origin” games.
Well there is now some flexibility to the rigid 1 meeting per month for P&C’s. The new Education (General Provisions) Act 2006 has made it easier for P&Cs to comply with this requirement, under its regulations. The new regulations state:
“General Meetings of an association must be held at LEAST 3 times a semester* at the times the association decides. This does not apply to an association during the year in which it is formed.”
P&C’s need to maintain meeting times that continue to effectively conduct and carry out the business of the Association.
* Semester 1 is January to June and Semester 2 is July to December.
While this will assist some P&C’s others will find that they prefer to continue with their established monthly format, and that is fine.
Factors that need to be taken into account when deciding on meeting dates are:
* Regular meetings provide a forum for Parents to come and learn more about their child’s school, to voice concerns or even ask questions of the Principal.
* The P&C’s business operations maybe more productive within the school community with regular meetings
* Regular meetings provide consistency for the school community
* The executive will be relied upon to make more decisions between meetings if they are more than a month apart.
The new regulations provide a means to be flexible if your ‘regular’ meeting falls within school holidays. Instead of setting it for a week outside of the holiday period and then finding you may have another P&C meeting within 3 weeks, it provides room to defer the meeting for that month and still comply with meeting requirements.
Most P&C’s are running very productive businesses and as such should have regular meetings to discuss their business practises and ideas to continually move forward and provide a comprehensive service to the school community in which are the foundations of P&Cs. It also provides school community members with the opportunity to contribute – a key element in P&C life.
If for some reason you do not have a meeting each month but have the minimum of 3 per semester there are some requirements that still need to be met by the P&C.
* A statement of the monthly account reconciliation for each month leading up to the next meeting.
* Sub committees need to provide activity reports in line with any changed meeting arrangements and provide their financial reports monthly to the P&C Treasurer.
* We recommend that P&C’s arrange brief executive meetings in the month when a general meeting is not held.
Always remember that the P&C is part of and there for the school community, and your children and as such should be available to the whole school community.
QCAN - OSHC Crisis Support
RESOURCES, SUPPORT AND ADVICE FOR OSHC SERVICES!
The Queensland Children’s Activities Network Inc is a not for profit member association dedicated to the support and development of School Age Care services in Queensland. QCAN is committed to advocating, supporting and promoting quality and best practice.
QCAN maintains a large membership base and is continuously exploring ways in which the services to members can be improved. In 2007, QCAN will be expanding its range of membership services to facilitate more support and training opportunities for staff and management involved in OSHC services.
Crisis support is also available to services and management committees who experience significant issues which impact on the successful ongoing operation of the OSHC service. This support is customised according to the greatest area of need for the service. Such support may be accessible to services that have experienced a combination of the following events or criteria:
* Severe financial difficulties;
* Unsuccessful through Outside School Hours Care Quality Assurance (OSHCQA) process on one or more occasions;
* Turnover in senior staff without appropriate handover and record maintenance;
* Turnover in management without appropriate handover and record maintenance;
* Non compliance with government authorities or legislation;
* Severe breakdown in communication between various stakeholders including staff and management;
* Restructuring/Amalgamation of service/s;
* Complaints or recommendation to seek support from reputable organizations or government body;
* Traumatic or critical event occurring within the service.
QCAN are also funded by the Professional Support Coordinator Queensland to provide OSHCQA support to services. Quality Assurance support may include resources, information, advice and service visits.
For further information regarding Crisis support, OSHCQA support or Membership Services please contact Kylie Brannelly, Executive Officer at QCAN on 3352 3499.
QCAR Information
A consultation process has begun with the QCPCA through its Regional Councils to include parents in a review of school reporting in Queensland.
This review of report cards and school reporting to parents is part of a broader project to improve curriculum, assessment and reporting in Queensland schools. The project is known as the Queensland Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting (QCAR) Framework, and is being undertaken by the Queensland Studies Authority (QSA) in consultation with the Department of Education, Training and the Arts, Education Queensland, the Queensland Catholic Education Commission and Independent Schools Queensland.
The QCAR Framework will:
* help schools deliver more cohesive learning programs
* provide programs that deliver greater consistency across classrooms
* help ensure greater continuity across year levels in what is taught and how it is assessed and reported.
Essential Learnings
The project will define Essential Learnings and set new Standards for assessing and reporting student achievement in the early and middle years of schooling. Essential Learnings specify what is important for students to know and be able to do for life in the 21st century and describe what students are expected to learn, for each key learning area, by the end of the schooling year in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9.
Essential Learnings are clear statements about what is to be taught. They describe key concepts and ways of working that children need:
* for ongoing learning e.g. literacy, numeracy, information and communication technologies
* for social and personal competence
* to meet complex, real-life challenges.
Although Essential Learnings will be a priority for schools, they will not make up the entire curriculum.
A child’s achievement in the Essential Learnings will be assessed through Statewide Assessment tasks.
Standards
Standards for the Essential Learnings will clearly describe the expected qualities of student work at Years 3, 5, 7 and 9.
Standards are described using an A-E scale. They will provide the means for judging how well students have demonstrated what they have learnt.
The use of standards will promote professional discussions and will enhance consistency of teacher judgment within and across schools. They will become a shared language for teachers and parents to discuss student achievement.
Statewide Assessment
New Statewide Assessment will be introduced to measure student achievement in the Essential Learnings against the Standards. Statewide Assessment will comprise tasks that students complete over an extended period of time in their regular classroom with their teachers. Teachers will mark the tasks using a common marking guide with standards.
Tasks for the Statewide Assessment are being trialled in schools across the State. The assessment will provide evidence of student achievement in English, Mathematics, Science and one other area of the Essential Learnings. Currently the tasks are being trialled in Years 4, 6 and 9.
Statewide Assessment will be quite different from the Years 3, 5 and 7 literacy and numeracy tests already used in schools.
Statewide Assessment will provide teachers with information about what each student knows and is able to do. Teachers will make judgments about student achievement by matching evidence in student work to the standards. Because the tasks will be the same across state schools, parents will know how their child is progressing compared to the standards.
Reports on your child’s performance
An important part of the overall QCAR Framework is reporting student performance. QCAR will specifically address the area of reporting student achievements to parents.
The Reporting Framework will have two focus areas.
* To construct meaningful reports for parents that describe each child’s performance in the Statewide Assessment of the Essential Learnings.
* To provide guidelines and advice to school authorities on reporting that will help parents to understand and use reporting information when making decisions about their child’s education.
Parent consultation is a valued part of this process. You are invited to contact your Regional Council to discuss when a representative of QCAR will be visiting to consult with you on school reporting of your child’s achievements and progress, your experiences with reporting in the past, and your hopes and ideas for the future.
Partner and trial schools
These are established across Queensland to trial draft materials and provide feedback. (A list of these schools is available on the QSA website).
For further information
Phone administration on 07 3120 6102 or email QCARadmin@qsa.qld.gov.au
The QCAR page on the QSA web site at www.qsa.qld.edu.au/qcar provides information on the development of the QCAR Framework.
QCPCA - Working for State School P&C Associations Parents and Students
The start of a New Year is a time we can reflect on our achievements of the past 12 months and also look forward to our plans for the coming year.
Last year we continued to represent and advocate for P&C’s and parents in general in their role in their children’s education. We did this at regional, state and national level on your behalf at every opportunity. Our volunteers in the regions worked hard in organising and running skilling sessions for P&C Executives, information sessions on current initiatives and visiting or talking to P&C’s to assist and advise with issues that arose in the course of carrying out their day-to-day business.
An important role QCPCA played in 2006 was in facilitating16 Smart Choices seminars around the State to inform school communities about the Healthy Food and Drink Strategy. We were also successful in advocating at Ministerial level for an extension in the rollout timetable and delivery of the resource kit for this initiative.
Our very dedicated volunteers at Regional and State level continued to represent the organisation very effectively across an ever-increasing range of areas in education in such forums /committees as:
* Queensland Studies Authority – Board and Syllabus Advisory Committee's
* Queensland College of Teachers
* Queensland Curriculum Assessment and Reporting Framework - reference group and forums
* EQ Performance Development Framework
* Sports and Physical Activity in Schools Forum
* Behaviour Support Reference Group
* Principal Selection panels / Regional Executive Directors panels
* MCEETYA - Ministerial Council for Education Employment Training and Youth Affairs
* Review of the EGPA - Education Act
* Investing In Our Schools State Panel
* SSS State panel
* Showcase panels
* Road Safety Summit
* Obesity Summit
QCPCA continued bi-monthly meetings in EQ Central Office where the Officers have an opportunity to raise issues with the Director-General and other departmentss. We welcomed a new Director General, Mrs Mrs Rachel Hunter and look forward to working with her during the coming year.
Issues covered with Departments such as Facilities, Strategic Implementation Branch, Human Resources and Finance over the last year have included
| Asbestos | Air-conditioning |
| Q-Build | Basketball Posts |
| Education Adjustment Program | All Aspects of ETRF |
| School Reporting | Smart Choices Resource Toolkit |
| Principal Selection Panels | Pre Year Teacher Aide Allocation |
| Investing In Our Schools program | Performance Review |
| Finance and Audit of P&C's | Accreditation for P&C Executives |
| Electronic Banking for P&C's | Marketing of QCPCA Strategy |
To promote parents’ views on important issues, we provided submissions and/or feedback either through our representative or in a dedicated document on the following:
| Review of Childcare Regulation 2003 | Translink Survey Feedback |
| Maths Statement of Learning | Australian Certificate of Education |
| QSA Review Feedback | Blueprint for the Bush |
| Smart Choices | Career Information Service Report |
| QSA Review of Senior Syllabus | Education Laws for the Future |
| QCAR Framework | Chaplanicy Review |
| Draft Amendment Bill for Qld Certificate of Education | EGPA Religious Education |
So what does 2007 have in store for QCPCA?
Well 2007 marks QCPCA’s 60th Anniversary. We are justifiably proud of the fact that we have served and supported State School P&C’s for the past 60 years and we aim to be around for a long time to come!
The introduction of the Prep Year will unfold as the first school milestone for 2007. We will be watching the rollout very closely to ensure that the best possible outcomes are achieved for our youngest State School students.
Other matters of interest that will emerge over the year include:
* The Smart Choices strategy becomes mandatory in all State Schools from January 2007
* The State and Federal Governments have announced funding for Chaplaincy in schools and QCPCA will be vitally involved in the formulation of the detail of this policy
* The new Education Act comes into full effect this year with new P&C Model Constitutions to be completed and a range of other changes affecting P & C’s. We will ensure that P & C and school communities are informed of the changes.
* Transitional changes to funding processes requiring schools to go through submission application processes to access identified funding dollars. We need your feedback on these identified projects to pass on your impression if this type of target funding is working.
* All P & C’s are endeavouring to meet that challenges within their school communities with what seems to be an ever decreasing volunteer base. We will continue to seek your input and disseminate ideas to help improve those volunteer bases.
* Please remember that your regional councils hold regular meetings giving all P & C’s opportunity to comment on and participate in the problems and solutions that are facing your school community. Come along be involved.
Help us help you!
With the dedication and commitment of QCPCA teams throughout the State we hope to achieve great things in education, on your behalf, again this year.
Risk Management from CCYP & CG
Queensland’s Commission for Children and Young People and Child Guardian is helping businesses and employers meet their legislative obligations to create safer environments for children and young people by offering assistance on child protection risk management strategies.
Regulated businesses, employers and organisations play a vital role in safeguarding children and young people in their care and are required to put in place a written risk management strategy which identifies potential child protection risks and how these are to be managed. This includes appropriate employment screening of employees and volunteers. Regulated employers and businesses are those with employees and volunteers who must hold blue cards.
A blue card is only one element of an effective strategy to manage the risks to children in particular service environments but an essential element of an effective risk management strategy.
The Commission’s legislation has required organisations to have a written risk management strategy, which is reviewed annually, in place since 17 January 2005. Recent legislative changes have provided further guidance on the minimum elements for this strategy.
Under the Commission for Children and Young People and Child Guardian Amendment Regulation (No. 1) 2006, from 1 January 2007, the strategy must include:
• a statement of commitment to the safety and wellbeing of children and the protection of children from harm
• a Code of Conduct for interacting with children and young people
• recruitment, training and management procedures for staff including a register of staff who hold blue cards
• reporting guidelines and directions for handling disclosures of harm
• a policy for managing breaches of the strategy and procedures for compliance
• risk management plans for high risk activities and special events, and
• strategies for communicating the strategy to staff, volunteers and parents.
The Commission offers free training and resources to support employers in meeting their obligations, including:
• free half-day workshops and
• a resource package outlining practical strategies for developing and implementing risk management policies and procedures.
More information on resources and workshops can be found on the Commission’s website at www.ccypcg.qld.gov.au (under About us/Education and training).
Smart Choices
Has Your School Community Made The Change?
Smart Choices Healthy Food and Drink Supply Strategy for Queensland Schools became mandatory in all state schools on 1 January 2007.
P&C’s across Queensland, and indeed the country, are making the changes necessary to promote healthy lifestyles for the benefit of our kids.
With around one in four children now considered overweight or obese, schools and P&C’s can help tackle growing childhood obesity by motivating students to develop healthy lifestyle habits at a young age. Poor diet and obesity can affect students' confidence and academic performance. Those who make healthy choices now are more likely to carry these habits into adulthood.
The new guidelines will not only apply to tuckshops, but also to fundraising ventures, vending machines, excursions, camps, classroom rewards and sports days.
"Red" foods, which are high in saturated fats, salt and sugar, including soft drinks, and deep-fried snacks, will only be available twice a term.
Has your school arranged a Smart Choices Committee yet? If not it is a good idea to get one together with all stakeholders, as this will be a key group in coordinating the program across the whole school community. Coordination is the key to success with this policy as there are many groups within the school undertaking fundraising, excursions, activities etc and there needs to be a process to coordinate those red occasions, a maximum of 2 per term, across the whole school.
Queensland is leading the way with this program, with many other States now taking up the concept in their schools. P&C’s and Parents are fundamental in its progress and overall benefits, working in conjunction with the school staff and Principal and whole school community.
Schools are a place of education and education is the key for children to learn about and experience healthier choices for life.
If you need assistance or advice you can contact:
Smart Choices District Contacts list can be found at http://education.qld.gov.au/schools/healthy/district-contacts.html
QCPCA: 3352 3900 and www.qcpca.org.au
Queensland Association of School Tuckshops: www.qast.org.au
STOP PRESS - Welfare to Work Update
In response to much confusion and misinformation many have received when enquiring about the Welfare to Work programs, QCPCA wrote to the Federal Minister for Workforce Participation, The Hon. Dr. Sharman Stone MP to get some clear answers to these many questions.
The response is quoted below:
“The Australian Government believes that volunteering may assist some job seekers by providing an opportunity to improve their work skills.
The Community Work Programme is voluntary work that may be undertaken as a Mutual Obligation activity by job seekers who register with and are monitored by Community Work Coordinators (CWC’s). Mutual Obligation is based on the idea that it is fair and reasonable for unemployed people in receipt of taxpayer – funded income support to undertake activities (such as training, voluntary work or participating in Work for the Dole), in addition to job seeking, to improve their employability and to give something back to their community. Under the Welfare to Work reforms introduced on 1 July 2006, job seekers aged 18 – 49 years on Newstart or Youth Allowance and recipients of Parenting Payment will have participation requirements that require them to participate in Mutual Obligation activities.
Job Seekers without a Mutual Obligation who can volunteer to do Community Work include:
* Parenting Payment recipients whose youngest child is aged less than 6 years.
* Job seekers aged 50 years and over, on full or part rate Newstart Allowance who do not have a Full-Time Work for the Dole requirement
* Personal Support Programme participants
* Disability Support Pension (DSP) recipients and Wife Pension DSP recipients
* Mature Age Allowance recipients
* Carer Payment recipients
* Recipients of Special Benefit under Newstart Allowance conditions.
Centrelink is aware of the range of options available to job seekers to meet their Mutual Obligation requirements. However, the Community Work Programme is administered by the national network of CWCs and not by Centrelink.
CWCs assist job seekers to find suitable Community Work placements in the Not for Profit sector. Job seekers may undertake a range of activities, for example, working in a school canteen or library, or helping / listening to children reading in their classroom.
CWCs also organise Work for the Dole activities and work with sponsors or hosts to place small groups or individuals into Not for Profit organisations to assist with particular projects, for example, improving play and sporting facilities. Options can be discussed with your CWC.”
The www.workplace.gov.au web site has a list of CWCs who have been contracted until the end of 2009 to assist with the new requirements for job seekers and can give specific details directly.
We hope this assists to alleviate some confusion that many are experiencing from different areas and this information can help your P&C and school increase its volunteer base.
What P&C's As Employers Need To Provide To Thier Employees
In response to enquiries from some P&C’s the following list details the documents / information that you should provide to P&C employees. This list is not exhaustive and should be used as a guide only. Contact your employer union for more information.
Employers need to provide to employees:
* A copy of their Letter of Appointment – This letter defines the status, terms and conditions of employment.
* A copy of their Position Description – This defines the scope of the role, duties etc.
* A copy of the Confidentiality Deed
* A copy of their tax file declaration
* A copy of and/or access to the Award under which they are employed
* Ensure that wages and superannuation are paid on time
* Group certificates must be issued on time as per requirements of the ATO
Employees need to provide to the employer details such as:
* Emergency contact details and or any medical conditions eg: asthma, allergy to bee stings, etc
* Banking details account numbers etc for wages
* Details of Superannuation provider
P&C’s need to ensure that they follow the requirements of the award under which the employee is employed.
The P&C is a business and as such needs to ensure all business practises follow the legislative requirements for all employers.
Communication is a MUST between the P&C and its employees to ensure a happy and safe working environment and to ensure the P&C business is running efficiently and effectively.
Most of all be open and available to your employees in providing the information that they require under their employ.