Motions for the Conference
A01New South Wales State Council
That ICPA (Aust) continues to advocate for a significant increase to the Assistance for Isolated Children (AIC) Allowance to reflect the escalating costs incurred by families, and for the implementation of an appropriate indexation mechanism to ensure the allowance keeps pace with rising education expenses.
A02Boulia-Bedourie-Birdsville Branch (QLD)
That ICPA (Aust) advocates to the Australian Government for a comprehensive review and reform of all allowances under the Assistance for Isolated Children (AIC) Scheme, ensuring that each component is indexed and maintained at a level that reflects the original intent and level of financial support established when the scheme was introduced.
A03Broken Hill Branch (NSW)
That ICPA (Aust) requests the Minister for Social Services to review and update the Assistance for Isolated Children (AIC) Scheme policy to create an additional “Significantly Geographically Isolated” category under the AIC eligibility criteria, recognising the inequity experienced by families living in significantly geographically isolated areas.
A04Northern Territory State Council
That ICPA (Aust) advocate to the Australian Government to review the Assistance for Isolated Children (AIC) Scheme and introduce a tiered payment structure or additional GI loading based on geographic isolation and distance from educational services, recognising the significantly higher costs incurred by families in remote and very remote Australia.
A05South Australia State Council
That ICPA (Aust) requests that the Minister for Social Services work with Treasury, Department of Social Services and Services Australia to approve and implement a policy change to apply the Additional Boarding Allowance (ABA) to geographically Isolated applicants whose verified boarding fees exceed the combined value of the Basic Boarding Allowance and Additional Boarding Allowance without being subject to parental income testing.
A06South Australia State Council
SA ICPA thanks ICPA (Aust) for its ongoing advocacy and commitment to securing an immediate increase to the Assistance for Isolated Children (AIC) Basic Boarding Allowance to cover 55% of the average cost of boarding for geographically isolated students.
A07South Australia State Council
That ICPA (Aust) encourages the Federal Government and relevant departments to commit to the continuation and long-term funding of the Commonwealth Regional Scholarship Program (CRSP) beyond the current pilot program ending in 2029.
A08Alice Springs Branch (NT)
That ICPA (Aust) are thanked and supported in their ongoing efforts working with the Minister for Education, Treasury and Prime Minister Cabinet to:
1) Continue and expand the Commonwealth Regional Scholarship Program beyond its pilot.
2) Consistently provide feedback for the review of the Commonwealth Regional Scholarship Program.
A09Louth Branch (NSW) along with Westmar-Inglestone Branch (QLD)
That ICPA (Aust) advocates to relevant ministers to support the removal of the Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT) for businesses who would like to provide financial assistance to employees residing in geographically isolated areas, to enable their children to attend boarding school.
A10Bourke Branch (NSW)
That ICPA (Aust) advocate to the Federal government for tax deductibility of boarding school fees for children in Remote and Geographically Isolated communities.
A11Western Australia State Council
That ICPA (Aust) advocates to Standards Australia and relevant education authorities to ensure rural, regional and remote stakeholders are meaningfully consulted during any review, amendment or implementation process relating to Australian boarding standards.
A12Aramac Muttaburra Branch (QLD)
That ICPA (Aust) advocate to Telstra, The Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts, and all other relevant bodies to ensure that telecommunications in rural and remote towns are improved to at least the standard that was available through the 3G network, prior to the rollout of the 4G and 5 G network.
A13Hay Branch (NSW)
That ICPA (Aust) requests that the Commonwealth Government reimburse families in rural and remote areas that have had to purchase satellite equipment needed to regain connectivity that was previously available through the 3G network.
A14Western Australia State Council
That ICPA (Aust) advocates to the Australian Government, the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA), and telecommunications providers to ensure consumers are clearly advised of any limitations or exclusions relating to satellite messaging capability across mobile service plans.
A15Louth Branch (NSW)
That ICPA (Aust) requests that the Minister for Communications incorporate into the Universal Service Obligation (USO), as part of the Modernising Universal Telecommunications Services initiative, a requirement for a battery-powered backup device to be provided as standard equipment with all standard telephone services (STS).
A16Richmond Branch (QLD)
That ICPA (Aust) advocates to the Federal Government and relevant stakeholders for the urgent reinstatement of funding for the Regional Tech Hub (RTH).
A17South Australia State Council
That ICPA (Aust) calls on the Federal Government to continue funding and support for the Regional Tech Hub to ensure rural, regional and remote families have ongoing access to independent telecommunications information and support.
A18Charters Towers Branch (QLD)
That ICPA (Aust) advocate to the Australian Government for the immediate reinstatement and continuation of funding for the Regional Tech Hub.
A19Tambo Branch (QLD)
That ICPA (Aust) advocate to the Minister for Communications to reinstate the funding for the Regional Tech Hub.
A20Western Australia State Council
That ICPA (Aust) advocates to the Australian Government and relevant telecommunications providers to ensure geographically isolated students enrolled in distance education programs have access to adequate, reliable and fit-for-purpose internet services, including timely access for newly enrolled families.
A21Hay Branch (NSW)
That ICPA (Aust) advocate to the Federal Government to direct ACARA (Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority) to review and elevate food literacy beyond its current status as a "Curriculum Connection" to a mandated, standalone learning priority in rural and remote schools.
A22Nyngan Branch (NSW)
That ICPA (Aust) advocate to the relevant ministers to regulate the use of NAPLAN results for its purpose of monitoring literacy and numeracy achievement and restrict its current further use by some schools, for selective entry and enrolment screening.
A23Western Australia State Council along with Goldfields Eyre Branch (WA)
That ICPA (Aust) advocates to the Australian Government for all pre-compulsory students enrolled in an approved distance education program to be eligible for the Assistance for Isolated Children (AIC) Distance Education Allowance.
A24Winton Branch (QLD)
That ICPA (Aust) continues to advocate to the Department of Education for funding of the Remuneration for the Isolated Classroom Supervisor (RICS) scheme for financial remuneration for individuals supervising students in geographically isolated distance education classrooms.
A25Western Australia State Council
That ICPA (Aust) continues to advocate to the Australian Government to investigate and implement equitable remuneration for isolated classroom supervisors (RICS) essential to the delivery of distance education programs.
A26New South Wales State Council along with Port Augusta Branch (SA) and Louth Branch (NSW)
That ICPA (Aust) continue its advocacy for the Remuneration for the Isolated Classroom Supervisor (RICS), recognising the significant impact this issue has on many members.
A27Northern Territory State Council
That ICPA (Aust) continues their advocacy for remuneration for isolated classroom supervisors within GI families, whose only schooling option is distance education.
A28Alice Springs Branch (NT)
That ICPA (Aust) lead an initiative to conduct a national census of all home tutors currently employed in Australia.
A29Goldfields Eyre Branch (WA)
That ICPA (Aust) continues to advocate to the Federal Government to create a RICS (Remuneration for the Isolated Classroom Supervisor) to acknowledge the role the Home Tutor performs when educating students through distance education.
A30Julia Creek Branch (QLD)
That ICPA (Aust) works with ICPA State Councils to advocate to Australian universities to expand Home Tutor (HT) development programs, ensuring that Home Tutors across Australia have equitable access to accredited training and professional development opportunities.
A31Bourke Branch (NSW)
That ICPA (Aust) requests the relevant Federal Ministers for funding to be sought to address Early Childhood Teacher pay parity to assist with access to early childhood education in rural and remote communities.
A32Louth Branch (NSW)
That ICPA (Aust) requests the relevant State and Federal Ministers to amend the lack of salary parity between four year trained early childhood teachers and four year trained primary and high school teachers.
A33Bourke Branch (NSW)
That ICPA (Aust) advocate for sufficient funding from streams such as the Community Childcare Fund (CCCF) Sustainability stream (or any other funding streams that may be similar), be made available for services in remote and very remote locations to meet their operational costs which are unable to be met through the Childcare Subsidy (CCS)/Parent Fee model.
A34North West Branch (SA)
That ICPA (Aust) advocates to the Minister for Early Childhood Education and the Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories , for a special circumstances extension of the Community Child Care Fund Restricted (CCCFR) funding to enable the ongoing delivery of the Remote and Isolated Children’s Exercise (RICE) Playday program beyond June 2027, to ensure outreach and playgroup-style early childhood programs remain as part of the services offered to geographically isolated families.
A35Bourke Branch (NSW)
That ICPA (Aust) advocates for funding to support the infrastructure needs of Community Based early childhood education providers to deliver Childcare and Preschool services in remote towns.
A36Midwest Branch (WA)
That ICPA (Aust) advocate to the Australian Federal Government and the Federal Minister for Early Childhood Education for the development and implementation of a new fit-for purpose childcare model, specifically designed to meet the unique needs of families living in regional, rural and remote Australia.
A37Bourke Branch (NSW)
That ICPA (Aust) advocates for universal access to early childhood education and care.
A38Dirranbandi Branch (QLD)
That ICPA (Aust) work with ICPA Qld to advocate the relevant departments and organisations including, but not limited to the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA), Australian Children's Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA), Human Ability, TAFE Qld and the C&K College to review the delivery of the CHC30121 Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care (C3G Plus), and CHC50121 (Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care) by investigating alternative qualification pathways.
A39Tibboburra - Milparinka Branch (NSW)
That ICPA (Aust) advocates to the Federal Minister for Education, the Federal Minister for Early Childhood Education, and the Federal Minister for Housing to recognise accommodation for early childhood teachers and educators as essential enabling infrastructure for the delivery and sustainability of Early Childhood Education and Care services in rural and remote communities.
A40Tibboburra - Milparinka Branch (NSW)
That ICPA (Aust) advocates to the Federal Minister for Education, the Federal Minister for Early Childhood Education, and the Federal Minister for existing capital funding streams, including the Building Early Education Fund and key worker housing programs such as the Housing Australia Future Fund (HAFF), to be made available for the construction, purchase, leasing, or subsidisation of accommodation for early childhood teachers and educators in rural and remote communities.
A41Tambo Branch (QLD)
That ICPA (Aust) advocate to the Minister for Early Childhood Education and Care and Minister for Education to urgently review and reform the In Home Care (IHC) Child Care Subsidy Hourly Rate Cap to ensure: 1. Remote and geographically isolated families can access lawful, affordable childcare, and 2. Educators are paid in accordance with the Children’s Services Award and recent Fair Work Commission gender undervaluation decisions.
A43New South Wales State Council
That ICPA (Aust) advocate for legislative change to section 5(1) of the Children (Education and Care Services) National Law to enable the provision of Early Childhood Preschool Programs on rural and remote school sites, available to both three- and four-year-olds, not governed by the school itself.
A44Aramac Muttaburra Branch (QLD)
That ICPA (Aust) advocate to the Minister for Early Childhood Education and the Minister for Education to honour the Federal Government’s commitment to universal childcare by applying an additional 20% Additional Child Care Subsidy (ACCS) to geographically isolated families accessing the In Home Care (IHC) program, with eligibility assessed using the existing criteria used to determine the Assistance for Isolated Children (AIC) payment.
A45Tambo Branch (QLD)
That ICPA (Aust) advocate to the Minister for Early Childhood Education and Care and Minister for Education for an addition of a 5th criteria in the Additional Childcare Subsidy for Geographically Isolated Children.
A46Walgett Branch (NSW)
That the ICPA (Aust) advocates to the Minister for Early Childhood and Minister for Education to review the Child Care Subsidy (CCS) allowable absence provisions to better align with the working patterns of rural and remote essential workers, such as teachers.
A47Western Australia State Council
That ICPA (Aust) advocates to the Australian Government for equitable and affordable access to the In-Home Care (IHC) program for rural, regional and remote families who cannot reasonably access centre-based childcare services.
A48Tibboburra - Milparinka Branch (NSW)
That ICPA (Aust) advocate to the Federal Minister for Social Services to increase the In-Home Care (IHC) Child Care Subsidy (CCS) Hourly rate cap for rural and remote families.
A49Aramac Muttaburra Branch (QLD)
That ICPA (Aust) advocate to the Minister for Early Childhood Education, to urgently extend the Worker Retention Payment to the In Home Care program, in order to immediately address the rapidly deteriorating affordability of In Home Care for geographically isolated families.
A50South Australia State Council
That ICPA (Aust) request that the Australian Government urgently consider extending workforce and affordability support measures, including an equivalent mechanism to the Worker Retention Payment, to the In-Home Care sector to ensure services remain financially viable and accessible for rural and remote families who rely upon them.
A51North West Branch (SA)
That ICPA (Aust) advocates to the Minister for Early Childhood Education and the Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories to investigate and develop a sustainable, fit-for-purpose funding model for flexible early childhood education and care services in rural, regional and remote Australia, including in-home and mobile service models such as the Remote and Isolated Children’s Exercise (RICE), to address existing service gaps and reduce the impact of childcare deserts.
A52Tambo Branch (QLD)
That ICPA (Aust) advocate to the Minister for Early Childhood Education and Care and Minister for Education to introduce a standalone Childcare model for rural and remote communities and families that is tailored for the unique circumstances that are in play.
A53Walgett Branch (NSW)
That ICPA (Aust) advocates to the Minister for Home Affairs to expand the definition of 'specified work' under the Working Holiday Maker visa program to include employment of teachers in rural, remote and very remote educational institutions.
A54Bourke Branch (NSW)
That ICPA (Aust) advocate for improved access and utilisation of Early Childhood Early Intervention (ECEI) funding, currently managed through the NDIS scheme.
A55South Australia State Council
That ICPA (Aust) advocate to the Federal Government, in collaboration with state and territory education departments, to strengthen the rural and remote specialist workforce through increased training opportunities, rural placements, incentives, and exposure to remote education settings for teachers and allied health professionals, in order to improve access to specialist support and services for students with learning difficulties who are not eligible for NDIS funding.
A56New South Wales State Council
That ICPA (Aust) advocate to the NDIA against the changes to travel allowances for allied health providers under the 2025–26 NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits, as these cuts pose a significant risk to the delivery of essential support services for students with disabilities in rural, regional, and remote communities.
A57Julia Creek Branch (QLD)
That ICPA (Aust) advocate to the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) to amend its policies and guidelines regarding parental care requirements for rural and remote National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) participants under the age of 16 who are attending boarding school, to recognise these students as not under parental care while residing at boarding school.
A58Western Australia State Council
That ICPA (Aust) advocates to the Australian Government to ensure the implementation of the Thriving Kids program delivers equitable, accessible and appropriate services for children living in rural, regional and remote Australia.
A59Mt Isa BOTA (QLD)
That ICPA (Aust) advocates to the Minister for Social Services to allow geographically isolated students access to seats on flights chartered by ABSTUDY through the Fares Allowance.
A60Northern Territory State Council
That ICPA (Aust) advocates for geographically isolated students receiving the AIC allowance to be permitted access to available seating on existing ABSTUDY-funded travel services where capacity exists.
A61Mt Isa BOTA (QLD)
That ICPA (Aust) advocates to the Minister for Social Services to allow the same provisions given to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students under the ABSTUDY Fares Allowance be given to all geographically isolated students needing to live away from home to study.
A62Boulia-Bedourie-Birdsville Branch (QLD)
That ICPA (Aust) advocates for the Australian Government to amend the Assistance for Isolated Children (AIC) Scheme to include a ‘school travel criteria’ comparable to that provided under the ABSTUDY Scheme.
A63South Australia State Council
That ICPA (Aust) advocates to the Federal Government to work collaboratively with regional airlines, state and territory governments, and education stake holders to establish a nationally consistent, fixed-fare or capped-airfare scheme for school and tertiary students who are required to travel between rural and remote communities for education purposes.
A64Port Augusta Branch (SA)
That ICPA (Aust) advocate for, and work collaboratively with, airlines servicing remote and regional areas to develop and implement dedicated student airfares that support equitable access to education for geographically isolated students.
A65Julia Creek Branch (QLD)
That the ICPA (Aust) continue to advocate to Qantas for the development and implementation of a nationally accessible airfare discount program for all rural and remote students.
A66Western Australia State Council
That ICPA (Aust) advocates to the Australian Government for travel assistance to be made available for geographically isolated students required to travel to compulsory in-school learning activities associated with approved distance education programs.
A67Alice Springs Branch (NT)
That ICPA (Aust) advocate to the Parliament and Civics Education Rebate (PACER) program to review and amend the Schooling Resource Standard Base and Calculations Methodology (SRS Review), particularly the zoning for geographically isolated students, so that rebates consider the distance required to travel from a student's geographical address of learning to the School of Distance Education location, rather than base the rebate solely on the address of their School of Distance Education location.
A68Winton Branch (QLD)
That ICPA (Aust) advocate to the Federal Department of Education (DoE) to ensure time spent working under the Permission to Teach (PTT) program or equivalent programs, counts towards the time required to access the Higher Education Loan Program (HELP) debt reduction scheme in very remote areas.
A69Dawson Valley Branch (QLD)
That ICPA (Aust) seek clarification from the Department of Education as to whether teaching service undertaken under Permission to Teach (PTT) arrangements qualifies toward service requirements for the Higher Education Loan Program (HELP) debt reduction initiative for teachers in very remote areas, and advocate for its inclusion if it is currently excluded.
A70Dawson Valley Branch (QLD)
That ICPA (Aust) advocate to the Department of Education for the expansion of the HELP debt reduction initiative for teachers to include remote schools, beyond those currently classified as very remote.
A71Rankin Springs Branch (NSW)
That ICPA (Aust) advocate the Minister for Education and the Federal Treasurer to change the timing of debt indexation for study and training support loans.
A72North West Branch (SA)
That ICPA (Aust) advocate to the Department of Social Services and Services Australia to amend the Youth Allowance guidelines to enable eligible tertiary students to retain their qualification for Youth Allowance payments throughout the course of their degree.
A73Bourke Branch (NSW)
That ICPA (Aust) request the Federal Government to change the eligibility criteria for Independent Youth Allowance, so that those rural and remote students who choose to save or invest their earnings during the working period prior to attending University are not disadvantaged by the Liquid Assets criteria.
A74Port Augusta Branch (SA)
That ICPA (Aust) advocate for the Federal Government to increase the Commonwealth Prac Payment (CPP) to reflect the current cost of living and the additional expenses incurred by rural and remote students undertaking mandatory placements as part of their tertiary studies.
A75Louth Branch (NSW)
That ICPA (Aust) requests the University Council of Deans to continue to look at the way credits and advance standings could be transferred from one academic transcript to another when a rural and remote student moves from one university to another.
A76Port Augusta Branch (SA)
That ICPA (Aust) advocate for the Federal Government to establish a rental assistance program for rural and remote university students that is not means-tested against parental income and provides support while undertaking full-time study.
A77Alice Springs Branch (NT)
That ICPA Australia advocate to the Australian Government Department of Education to expand the eligibility criteria of the Commonwealth Teaching Scholarship Program to allow students who are currently enrolled in teaching degrees to apply for a part-scholarship for the remainder of their study.
A78Dirranbandi Branch (QLD)
That ICPA (Aust) advocates to relevant departments and government bodies to establish a dedicated ‘rural and remote assessment team’ within Centrelink to ensure consistent, informed and equitable decision-making for financial assistance programs, including the Tertiary Access Payment, AIC etc. by requiring assessors to have appropriate understanding of rural and remote circumstances and applying clear, consistent criteria for eligibility, or a team who can sort through any ‘grey areas’ that are specific to rural and remote areas.
A79Goldfields Eyre Branch (WA)
That ICPA (Aust) advocates to the Federal Government for funding to be sought to further encourage and incentivise experienced teachers to take up contract and long term rural, regional and remote positions.
A80Goldfields Eyre Branch (WA)
That ICPA (Aust) request the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations to amend guidelines, so that the Apprentice Connect Australia Providers (ACAP) ensure rural and remote Australian Apprentices are fully supported by each provider and are recognised as a Service Specialisation within the 2024-2026 AASN contract guidelines.
A81Bourke Branch (NSW)
That ICPA (Aust) request the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations to amend guidelines, so that the Apprentice Connect Australia Providers (ACAP) ensure rural and remote Australian Apprentices are fully supported by each provider and are recognised as a Service Specialisation within the 2024-2026 AASN contract guidelines.
A82Bourke Branch (NSW)
That ICPA (Aust) request the Minister for Skills and Training and the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations to extend the data collected on a commencing Australian Apprentices’ in the Apprentice Data Management System (ADMS) to identify those who relocate from rural and remote regions to engage in trade training.
A83Bourke Branch (NSW)
That ICPA (Aust) advocate to the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations for financial supports to Australian Apprentices’ who relocate from rural and remote regions to commence their employment and trade training.
A84New South Wales State Council
That ICPA (Aust) advocate for a national working with children check.
A85Midwest Branch (WA)
That ICPA (Aust) must progress with recurring payments as rolling membership has created an onerous process for branches.
A86Boulia-Bedourie-Birdsville Branch (QLD)
That ICPA (Aust) advocates for the Australian Government to formally recognise, within the National Education Strategy, the unique educational needs of rural and remote children identified under the Assistance for Isolated Children (AIC) Scheme as a key target group. This recognition should ensure equitable financial support for all geographically isolated students, regardless of their eligibility pathway.
A87Boulia-Bedourie-Birdsville Branch (QLD)
That ICPA (Aust) advocates for the Australian Government to implement consistent, transparent and timely processing of all allowances under the AIC Scheme, including travel assistance, distance education support, remuneration for classroom supervisors, and both basic and additional boarding allowances.
S01 Belyando Mt Coolon Branch (QLD)
That ICPA (Aust) advocate to Telstra to ensure the transition timeline for the closure of the CAN Radio Network is extended, clearly communicated and adequately resourced to guarantee that all affected customers are successfully migrated to reliable, secure and future-ready telecommunications services, with no loss of access or service continuity for rural and remote users.
S02Belyando Mt Coolon Branch (QLD)
That ICPA (Aust) advocates to Telstra to ensure that any replacement for the CAN Radio Network provides a reliable, fit-for-purpose telecommunications service with an appropriate and supported power solution, ensuring rural and remote customers maintain continuous access to essential communication services.
S03 ICPA Federal Council
That ICPA (Aust) advocate to the Department of Education and government bodies for the Remuneration of Isolated Classroom Supervisors (RICS), progressing the three options identified through the RICS roundtable discussions:
• payment of a wage
• provision of a subsidy through a new program
• an additional Assistance for Isolated Children (AIC) subsidy.
S04Katherine Branch (NT)
That ICPA (Aust) advocate to the Department of Social Services for an increase to the Assistance for Isolated Children Distance Education Allowance to reflect and assist with the true cost of educating geographically isolated children where distance education is the only choice.
S05Longreach Branch (QLD)
That ICPA (Aust) endorse working with The Future Care Project to establish robust data ocollection and analysis on early childhood education and care (ECEC) access across rural, regional and remote communities, including the hidden costs and impacts of informal care arrangements and to use that evidence base to advocate to the Australian Government for fit-for-purpose ECEC policy that meets the demonstrated needs of these communities.
S06Cunnamulla Branch (QLD)
That ICPA (Aust) continues to advocate to the Minister for Early Childhood Education, as the Federal Government commences the ECEC Commission, that the IHC system be reformed to fit remote realities.
S07Cunnamulla Branch (QLD)
That ICPA (Aust) advocates that the Minister for Education and Minister for Early Childhood Education ensure rural, regional and remote is well consulted and engages with the ECEC commission, with special attention to IHC review and strategic, long term support for rural, regional and remote centres lacking consistent services and experiencing different challenges with childcare, even in centres, to metropolitan Australia.
S08 Katherine Branch (NT)
That ICPA (Aust) request the Minister for Education amend the In-Home Care rules for families in remote areas to allow:
1. An educator to care for children from more than one family at the same time.
2. An educator to care for their own child whilst caring for children from another family(ies) under In Home Care
S09Eastern Districts Branch (WA)
That ICPA (Aust) investigate options for a streamlined online membership portal that allows pro-rata memberships, automated renewal reminders with payment links, and branch executive access to current membership records.
S10 NSW/VIC Lone Members (NSW)
That ICPA(Aust) advocate to the Ministers of Health, Disability & Aged Care and Social Services; along with the Department of Health and Services Australia for the age at which children have sole access to their Medicare records to be increased from 14 to 16 years.
S11South Australia State Council
That Federal Council undertake a structured and transparent consultation process with members, Branches and State Councils before any revised Constitution is presented for adoption, including:
1. Purpose and Need for Change
Providing members with clear, plain-English information explaining why constitutional change is needed, what ICPA is seeking to achieve, including national registration and DGR status, and the expected benefits to the organisation and its members
2. Required and Optional Changes
Clearly identifying which changes are required by law or for registration purposes and the timeframe for those changes, which are recommended as good governance practice, and which are choices about how ICPA will be structured and governed in the future
3. Member Consultation
Providing members, Branches and State Councils with meaningful opportunities to ask questions, provide feedback and consider the practical impact of significant proposed changes before constitutional wording is finalised
4. Constitutional Review Working Group
Establishing a representative working group to assist with the review, with clear Terms of Reference outlining its role, membership and responsibilities, and how its recommendations and member feedback will be considered and responded to by Federal Council
5. Draft for Comment
Circulating any revised Constitution as a draft, together with a clear comparison to the current Constitution, allowing sufficient time for member consideration and feedback before a final version is presented for adoption.
S12Queensland State Council
That ICPA (Aust) communicates and consults with members, branches and State Councils on any proposed constitutional changes over a minimum consultation period of twelve (12) months, providing opportunities for both face-to-face engagement at State Conferences and virtual consultation throughout the process. ICPA Australia will also provide a detailed comparison between the current Constitution and the proposed amendments, together with a clear explanation of the intended impact of those changes on all levels of membership across the organisation.
S13Western Australia State Council
That Federal Council undertake a comprehensive constitutional review process that ensures members, Branches and State Councils are fully informed and meaningfully consulted prior to the adoption of any revised Constitution, including:
1. providing clear explanatory material outlining the purpose, legal necessity and practical effect of proposed constitutional changes, together with a comparison between the current and proposed Constitution;
2. providing opportunities for member consultation over an appropriate period, including face-to-face and online engagement, and considering feedback prior to presenting a revised Constitution for adoption;
3. establishing an appropriate mechanism, such as a Constitutional Review Working Group, with representation from State Councils and members with relevant governance expertise, to assist in reviewing proposed constitutional reforms; Review group, through a nomination process, should consist also of past federal presidents and/or life members.
4. providing members with information regarding the legal, governance, financial and operational implications of the proposed reforms, including implementation costs, ongoing obligations and anticipated impacts on Branches, State Councils and volunteers;
5. providing members with a financial breakdown of the past 2 years' worth of professional service costs directly related to the creation of the recently proposed constitution and going forward, for constitution associated costs to be defined in their own right and not joined with media service costs;
6. outlining the rationale, anticipated benefits and implications of pursuing Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) status; and
7. ensuring future By-laws and substantive amendments are communicated to members and presented for ratification at the next appropriate general meeting.
