CONSTITUTION 2003.

  1. .NAME
    The name of the association shall be the "Migrant Women’s Lobby Group of S.A."

  2. AIM
    To ensure equal access to appropriate services, equal representation on decision making bodies and equal participation in all aspects of Australian society for women from non English speaking backgrounds.

  3. OBJECTIVES
    The objectives of the Migrant Women’s Lobby Group shall be:
    1. To be a body representing migrant and refugee women in the community
    2. To adopt an advocacy role in relation to the needs of migrant and refugee women
    3. To adopt consultative, educative and informative roles in its interaction with various organisations and institutions
    4. To provide support for and information to migrant and refugee women
    5. To increase awareness, knowledge, understanding and sensitivity of the community to the needs, interests and concerns of migrant and refugee women
    6. To promote the enactment of legislation and the implementation of procedures which will advance and benefit migrant and refugee women.
    7. To inform, instruct and educate with a view to advancing the opportunities for and condition of migrant women in the political, civil and social fields as well as in industry, commerce, the professions and the community in general.
    8. To support, initiate and undertake research into issues relating to migrant and refugee women, thus contributing to the development of migrant women’s ideologies.

4. MEMBERSHIP

    1. Members
      Any women who have migrated to Australia and whose first culture or language is a culture or language other than English and
      Any women who are descendants of at least one parent whose first culture or language is a culture or language other than English and       Who have agreed to accept the above objectives ar
      1. eligible to join
      2. eligible to vote
      3. eligible to hold office
    2. Associate Members
      Any women who support the aims and objects of the group but whose first culture or language is English, are eligible to join as Associate Member
      Associate members can attend meetings but cannot vote or hold office.
    3. Organisational Membership

      Organisation Members shall be organisations which have expressed support for the above objectives and paid the prescribed member organisation fee and which are accepted as member organisations at the next meeting following their application.
      A member organisation may appoint from its members a representative who may speak and vote on its behalf.

    4. Suspension

      Members may be suspended by not less than two thirds of the members present at the next monthly meeting if they:

      1. No longer comply with the membership requirements of the Group, or
      2. Act in a manner which is contrary to the objectives of the Group.
      1. Any suspended member, may be reinstated by not less than two thirds majority vote by members present at the next monthly meeting.
      2. Any member of the Group who feels aggrieved by a decision of the Group, pursuant to clause 4.5 of this Constitution, may by notice in writing to the Group within two weeks from the date of decision, appeal against such decision.
      3. Such notice shall state the ground of appeal and such appeal shall be heard and determined at the next monthly meeting.
      4. The Group shall not be required to accept the renewal of membership of a suspended member when renewal is due.

  1. MEMBERSHIP FEES

    2. There shall be an annual subscription fee which shall be decided at the Annual General Meeting.

    6. THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

    The function of the Executive Committee is to:

    1. Operate as a collective.
    2. Discuss up and coming issues and present them at regular monthly meetings in order to streamline the business of the general meetings.
    3. Elect a spokeswoman to speak and act on behalf of the group from time to time.

     

    7. MANAGEMENT

      1. Management shall be vested in the Executive who shall be chosen from the members at the Annual General Meeting.
      2. The Executive shall comprise of the Chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer and four (4) ordinary members.
      3. The Chairperson, Secretary and Treasurer shall be appointed from amongst members of the Executive at the first meeting after the Annual General Meeting. In the event of a vacancy occurring in any of these offices, a replacement may be appointed from among the members for the remainder of the term until the next Annual General Meeting.
      4. The Executive shall hold office for no more than two consecutive terms but are eligible for appointment to any other office.

        5. 7.4.1 A term is defined as two years.

      5. The Executive shall meet as often as may be required to conduct the business of the Group and not less than six (6) times each calender year.
        1. The Executive shall report back at the next monthly meeting on matters regarding the business of the Group.
      6. The position of an office bearer shall become vacant upon:
        1. Accepted resignation in writing.
        2. Accepted suspension of the office bearer as a member of the Executive.
        3. Failure to attend three consecutive meetings of the Executive without an acceptable explanation.
    1. Vacancies arising amongst the Executive may be filled by coopting a member. The member shall be accepted by majority vote at the next monthly meeting and shall hold office until the next Annual General Meeting.
    2. The Executive may appoint sub-committees for specific purposes who shall meet as they see fit or as directed by the Executive and who shall report to the members.

  1. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETINGS

  2. Annual General Meetings should be held at least once in each calender year and no more than six months after the close of the financial year of the Executive which shall be 30th June.
  3. At least three (3) weeks written notice of the Annual General Meeting shall be distributed to all members.
  4. A quorum of Annual General Meeting shall be fifteen (15) members or one half of the members whichever is less.
  5. The business of the Annual General Meeting shall be:
    1. To confirm the Minutes of the preceding Annual General Meeting.
    2. To receive the Chairperson’s report for the previous financial year.

8.4.3 To receive the Treasurer’s report and any audited financial statements for the previous year.

8.4.4 To nominate and elect the Executive.

  1. To conduct any other business placed on the agenda before the commencement of the meeting.

9. Chairperson

  1. The office of Chairperson shall be drawn from the Executive.
    1. The role of Chairperson shall be to facilitate the meetings.
    2. The Chairperson of the meeting shall encourage full, balanced participation by all members

9.2 In the absence of the Chairperson, the role of the Chairperson shall be filled by another member of the Executive.

9.3 The Chairperson at any meeting shall have a casting vote if votes are equal.

9.4 The Chairperson together with the Secretary shall prepare the agenda for Meetings.

9.5 The Chairperson shall act as Spokesperson of the Association unless an alternative Spokesperson has been appointed by the Executive. The spokesperson of the Association shall make statements in accordance with previously agreed policy, or in an emergency following consultation with at least two (2) members of the Executive.

  1. Treasurer

    1. The treasurer shall ensure that all monies received are paid into an account authorised by the Executive. Payment shall be made by two signatories of whom there shall be no more than three (3) appointed by the Group.
    2. The treasurer shall keep records of all receipts and payments and other financial transactions, and shall ensure records are available for inspection by any member.
    3. The Treasurer shall ensure that financial budgets and statements are prepared and shall submit a report on the finances at each Annual General Meeting.
    4. The Treasurer shall present audited accounts to the Annual General Meeting if the Association has been in receipt of more than $50,000 during that financial year (excluding member subscriptions).

10.4.1 An auditor will be appointed by the Executive as required.

 

11. Secretary

  1. The Secretary shall ensure that notice of meetings is given in accordance with the provisions of this Constitution.
  2. The Secretary shall ensure that Minutes are taken, records of the Association are kept including the constitution and policies, records of members, a register of minutes of meetings and of notices, a file of correspondence and records of submission or reports made by or on behalf of the Association.

12. Employees

12.1 An employee of the Association may be a member of the Association or any sub-committee.

12.2 A person performing paid work for the Association on a regular substantial basis:

    1. Shall not be a member of the Executive unless specifically provided in this constitution or any subsequent amendment;
    2. Any Executive member interested in a paid position within the Association shall resign from the Executive immediately on identification of such a position;
    3. Shall not take part in decisions relating to paid work and shall remain absent from deliberations relating to any worker if so requested by the majority of the members present;
    4. Shall not be eligible to vote on any matters relating to employees or where they have a vested interest.

13. Powers

13.1 The powers of the Association shall be the powers contained in the Associations Incorporations Act 1985, and without limiting those powers, the association shall be entitled to: hold real or personal property, open and operate bank accounts, invest in trustee securities and enter into any necessary or desirable contract including a contract of employment.

    1. The Executive shall be entitled to exercise the full powers of the Association, and without limiting those powers, shall have the management and control of the funds and other property of the Association, provided that the Association must obtain the approval of a Meeting before borrowing money or securing any payment by charging the property of the Association.

14. Amendment of Constitution and Rules

14.1 This Constitution may be repealed or amended by resolution of three-fourth of members present and voting at a Meeting of which not less than twenty eight (28) days written notice including notice of the proposed repeal or amendment has been distributed to all members.

14.2 Rules of the proper administration of meetings or business may be made, repealed or amended by a Meeting of which not less than twenty eight (28) days written notice of the proposed repeal or amendment has been distributed to all members.

  1. Liability, Property and Dissolution

15.1 Persons who with the authority of the Executive incur any debt or other liability on behalf of the Association shall have such liability met by the Association so that they incur no personal loss.

15.2 The income property and funds of the Association shall be used solely towards the promotion of the objects and shall not be paid or transferred to any members or relatives of members provided that nothing herein shall prevent any payment in good faith to any person in return for services actually rendered or to any person in furtherance of the objects of the Association and without undue preference.
  1. On dissolution, all property remaining after payment of all legal liabilities shall be transferred to such other body formed for promoting similar objects or for charitable objects as shall be approved by the Association, provided that:
  2. Such other body shall also prohibit the distribution of income and property to the members to the extent stated herein;
  3. The Association shall not be dissolved except by approval of not less than three-fourths of the members present and voting at a meeting called for the purpose of which not less than one calender month’s written notice including notice of the proposed dissolution has been distributed to all members.

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Last Modified: 19/10/2003  

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