Parent Management Committee
Hello to all Parents & Guardians
We would like to take this opportunity to answer some of the more frequently asked questions that our Parents and Guardians have about our Child Care Centre.
IS THE CENTRE OWNED AND RUN BY TAFE?
NO. The centre building and land are owned by TAFE, who provide it to us under a lease agreement, the general up keep and maintenance of the Centre are our responsibility.
SO WHO OWNS THE BUSINESS?
YOU DO! As a Non-Profit community organisation any parent or interested community person may join the Parent Management Committee and provide input into the running of the Centre and the decisions made to provide a quality Child Care service.
WHO RUNS THE BUSINESS?
A management Committee is made up of a President, a Vice President, a Secretary and a Treasurer plus other ordinary members. As well as Parents and Guardians, these ordinary members may be representatives of TAFE or other relevant and interested parties e.g. OECEC
The Management Committee makes decisions on where to spend funding, budgeting for the financial year and other matters concerning the upkeep, staffing and equipping of the Centre. The Committee also formulates and provides input into the policies of the Centre.
The Committee employees a Director to take care of the day to day running of the Centre and an Administration Officer who takes care of the general financial requirements of the Centre. The Director employs qualified personnel to staff the Centre.
WHO SETS THE FEES FOR MY CHILD CARE?
The Management Committee in coordination with the Administrator and Director do.
This means that you are able to have a direct input into the amount of money your fees cost – all parents are welcome to join us at any Meeting we hold to have their say and to join the Committee if they would like to be able to vote and directly affect the outcomes of the meeting.
ISN’T A CHILDCARE CENTRE A ‘LICENSE TO PRINT MONEY’?
Unfortunately, no. We only receive Child Care Subsidy and parent gap fees to cover all of our costs. This is why we supplement our income with regular fundraising events and activities, submit grant applications for bigger purchases and boost our maintenance budget with our Maintenance levy.
​WHAT IF WE DON’T HAVE A MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE OR ANY PEOPLE WHO WANT TO VOLUNTEER?
You can’t have a business running itself – someone has to ‘own’ the business.
In a Non-Profit organisation this cannot be just one or two people but must be a ‘Committee’.
There is legislation on how a Management Committee is formed and what rights they have, plus the rules on how they can manage the organisation and financial obligations. More information can be found on the management Committee structure and the role of its members on the ACNC website https://www.acnc.gov.au/tools/guides
​BUT WHAT IF l DON’T HAVE THE TIME TO BE ON THE COMMITTEE?
Generally speaking, ordinary members donate 1-2 hours every 1/2 months to a meeting.
Free child minding is provided for all your children, not just for those children who attend the centre, during these meetings.
The Executive members may put in an extra hour or two over a month depending on any matters arising. Everyone who is on the Committee donates this time and is rewarded with a full Maintenance levy reduction.
All of us have children at the Centre because we are working parents; however, the chance to have a positive input into our children’s early years’ experience is definitely worth an hour of our time per month.
BUT l WOULDN’T BE ANY GOOD – l DON’T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT RUNNING A BUSINESS.
You don’t have to have any experience in running a business. Any parent who has to balance a weekly wage against expenses can formulate a budget! All parents are organisers – we have to be!
So, your life skills and experience are worth a lot more than a professional qualification with no experience. Admittedly, it does help if you have some knowledge of basic bookkeeping in order to be the Treasurer, but it is not strictly necessary as the centre undertakes a full tax Audit each year.
I CAN’T BE BOTHERED – IT SOUNDS TO HARD.
You will be pleasantly surprised that being a Management Committee member is a positive and rewarding position rather that an onerous task. It can give you skills and insight into very different areas that will broaden your skill set for future employment.
CAN l HAVE A ‘TEST – DRIVE’?
WHEN CAN l JOIN?
CAN l GO STRAIGHT TO THE TOP?
Sure! All our Meetings are advertised. You are welcome to come and sit in on any of our meetings – or just to express your opinion over a particular issue that may be bothering you.
You can join at any time – all are welcome. Simply come to a meeting.
Yes, of course! We hold an Annual General Meeting every year, at this time all Committee Members and Executive members step down. A new Committee is proposed and a new President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer are appointed.