THE
AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTEOF WELFARE AND COMMUNITY WORKERS INC.
AIWCW, Room 12, Level 2, Ross House,
(With
amendments approved by Consumer Affairs on
Rule 1.
The organisation
shall be called THE AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTE OF WELFARE AND COMMUNITY WORKERS
INCORPORATED, hereinafter referred to as the Institute.
(a) Its registered office shall be at such place
as the National Executive may from time to time decide.
(b) The Institute shall be a non-profit
organisation. The assets and income of the Institute shall be applied
exclusively to the promotion of its objectives and no portion shall be paid or
distributed directly or indirectly to the members of the organisation except as
bona fide remuneration for services or expenses incurred on behalf of the
Institute.
(c) The Institute shall be incorporated as a
non-profit association within an Australian state or territory and shall
conform to legislation and regulations pertaining to such incorporation. The
National Executive shall appoint a Public Officer who shall reside in the state
in which the Institute is incorporated. The Public Officer shall be the officer
to sue or prosecute, or be sued or prosecuted on behalf of the Institute.
The Institute’s objectives
are:
(a) To assist members within the community service sector to promote
social justice, with professional, cooperative and compassionate services,
particularly for disadvantaged and vulnerable persons within the community.
(b) To influence social change where
inconsistencies, deficiencies and injustices appear in the welfare and
community services sector, including assisting in the alleviation of poverty.
(c) To promote a greater awareness of, and
represent the needs, views and issues of the community to all levels of
government and the non-government sector.
(d) To promote education and training of persons
engaged in or desirous of undertaking welfare and community service work, for
the benefit of people in need.
(e) To apply standards of knowledge, training,
conduct and experience relevant to working in the community service sector for
persons wishing to obtain membership.
(f) To ensure members maintain the highest
standards established in the Code of Ethics, to allow for quality service
delivery.
(g) To establish and maintain educational/ training
opportunities to enhance worker skills for continued quality delivery of
community services.
(h) To assist in the promotion of employment
opportunities and reasonable minimum salaries for members, as recognition of
their qualifications and service to the community.
(i) To uphold and
improve the interests and status of welfare and community service workers,
including the provision of qualifying letters and certificates for persons
admitted to full membership.
(j) To employ persons as necessary to carry out
the aims and objectives of the association.
(k) To adopt any additional objectives from time to
time which are of a public benevolent nature and maintain the non profit status
of the Association.
Rule 3.
(a) The membership year will commence from 1st
January and conclude on 31 December of the current year. Membership fees are
payable on 1st January of the current year. If not paid by the 15th March the
member will be deemed Unfinancial and be ineligible
for Insurance provided by the Institute. If not paid by 30th June membership
shall lapse and a re-instatement fee will apply.
(b) Any
member who, as a result of action under Rule 24 is excluded from membership, cannot re-apply until at least two years has
elapsed since the exclusion.
Rule 4.
The
Institute may amalgamate, or affiliate with any other organisation whose aims
are similar to those of the Institute and be represented on any organisation.
Rule 5.
A master
Register of Members showing names, addresses, classification and date of
acceptance shall be kept by the National Executive.
Rule 6. ORGANISATION
(a) There shall be a National Executive and a
Management Committee.
(b) There shall be branches and sub-branches
located in the States and Territories of Australia which shall adopt the
Constitution of the Institute.
(c) Each branch and sub-branch shall be responsible for the pursuance
of the objects of the Institute and for its organisation and development
subject to the direction of the National Executive.
(d) Branches and sub-branches will be recognised
as such only when issued with the Institute’s charter to operate.
Rule 7. THE NATIONAL EXECUTIVE.
(a) The National Executive shall be the governing
body of the Institute and shall be composed of the National President, a Senior
Vice-President, one other Vice-President, a National Secretary, a National
Treasurer and a Public Relations Officer, who shall exercise one vote each at
its meetings and each of whom shall be financial members of the Institute.
(b) The National Executive shall be further
composed of one representative from each branch, all of whom shall be financial
members of the Institute, and who shall exercise one vote each at its meetings
for the first hundred members in all categories (and including Affiliates). A
Branch Representative shall exercise one extra vote for each additional one
hundred financial members or part thereof, of the branch represented.
(c) The National Executive shall also be further
composed of the Chairperson of the Educational Centre and the Chairperson of
the Membership Assessment Panel and each shall be financial members and
exercise one vote each
(d) Between tri-ennial elections, in the event of any member of the
National Executive, except Branch Representatives, dying, retiring, or being
removed from office, the National Executive is empowered to fill the vacancy so
created.
(e) In the event of a Branch Representative, or
the alternate representative not being able to attend a meeting of the National
Executive the branch may appoint a proxy to act from any branch, or any member
of the National Executive provided that such proxy has written authority of
appointment from the branch concerned.
(f) The National Executive shall have the right
to make levies on branches on a pro rata basis according to their membership.
(g) The National Executive may appoint
sub-committees to examine specific questions of concern to the Institute, and
may co-opt qualified persons to assist in their deliberations.
(h) The National Executive shall cause the funds
of the Institute to be banked in the name of the Australian Institute of
Welfare and Community Workers Inc., National Executive Account, with any two of
the following officers authorised to operate thereon: The National President,
National Secretary/Treasurer and Senior Vice-President.
(i) The National
Executive shall appoint an auditor to act for the ensuing twelve months. The
auditor shall be a registered auditor and not a member of the Institute.
(j) The National Executive shall as desired,
determine the amount of application fees and the amount of the annual
subscriptions applicable to all grades of membership. Such subscriptions shall
be due and payable to the National Office on 1st January each year, provided
where a member joins subsequent to the 30th June in any year, the subscription
shall be half the current fee for that year.
(k) The National Executive shall retain the
Application Fee and a proportion of the annual subscriptions as determined at
each Annual General Meeting, of each financial member and Affiliate, and return
the remainder to branches.
(l) The National Executive shall have the power
to alter or amend any rule, including the statement of purposes in Rule 2, at a
meeting of the National Executive if no less than three-fourths (75%) of the
votes allowable under Rule 7 (b) are in favour of the alteration or amendment,
provided that 42 days' notice of such alteration or amendment has been given to
members and it has been placed on the business paper of the National Executive.
No
alteration or amendment to the Constitution pursuant to this rule shall be made
if there is lodged within 28 days of such alterations or amendments, objections
to the said alterations or amendments from both a three fourths majority of
members and branches.
(m) One elected Student Representative from each
Branch shall have the right to vote, but not hold office on the National
Executive. The expenses of students so elected may be borne by the branch
concerned.
In the event
of a Branch Representative, Alternate Representative or Student Representative
not being able to attend a meeting of the National Executive, the branch may
appoint a proxy to act from the branch or any member of the National Executive,
provided that such proxy has written authority of appointment as resolved at a
Branch Executive or General Meeting or a meeting of the National Management
Committee.
(n) The role of National Secretary and Treasurer
may be invested in the same person at the direction of the National Executive.
(o) The Common Seal of the Association shall be
kept in the custody of the Secretary. It shall not be affixed to any instrument
except by the authority of the Committee and the affixing of the Common Seal
shall be attested by the signatures of two members of the National Executive.
(p) All accounts, books, documents and securities
of the Institute shall be available for inspection and copying by any member of
the Institute upon request.
(q) If the total membership of a branch falls
below ten for two consecutive years on the 30th June, that branch shall revert
to a sub-branch or be disbanded.
Rule 8. ELECTION OF NATIONAL
EXECUTIVE.
Election of
the National Executive, except Branch Representatives, the Chairperson of the
Educational Centre, and the Chairperson of the Membership Assessment Panel
shall be held by Postal Ballot every three years, in the month prior to the
Annual General Meeting. Officers shall hold office until 31st December of the
year in which the election is held. No elected Officer shall be eligible for
re-election to any one office on the National Executive in excess of two
consecutive Terms.
The ballot
shall be conducted as follows:
(a) A Returning Officer shall be appointed who is
not a member of the Institute.
(b) Candidates for election may appoint one
scrutineer.
(c) A roll of members who are financial as at 30th
June of the year of the election shall be handed to the Returning Officer.
(d) The Returning Officer shall forward a Ballot
Paper to each financial member and will adopt the following procedure:
An
envelope marked with the address of the Returning Officer shall be forwarded
with each Ballot Paper, with provision for the Elector to sign his/her name
thereon.
A
further envelope marked 'Ballot Paper' shall be forwarded with the Ballot
material.
When the
member has voted according to his/her wishes, the Ballot Paper shall be placed
in the envelope marked 'Ballot Paper'.
The envelope
marked ‘Ballot Paper’ shall then be sealed in the envelope marked 'Returning Officer'
and signed by the Elector.
As soon
after the closing date as possible, the Returning Officer shall open all the
envelopes marked 'Returning Officer', and cross the names off the Electoral
Roll. These envelopes must then be
destroyed prior to any 'Ballot Paper' envelopes being opened.
The
Returning Officer will then count the particular votes for each candidate, in
the presence of at least two scrutineers and will inform the National Secretary
the results of the Poll.
The
candidate with the highest number of votes shall be elected. Preferential
voting will not apply.
(e) A Returning Officer or Scrutineer shall not be
eligible to accept nomination for any position on the National Executive.
(f) Nominations for the positions to be filled on
the National Executive shall be called for at least two (2) months prior to the
holding of the ballot. Nomination forms shall be signed by two financial
members of the Institute and accompanied by the written consent of the person
nominated.
(g) Nominations shall close at noon, seven weeks
prior to the date set for the ballot.
(h) Branch Representatives shall be elected by
their branches every two years at a branch Annual General Meeting.
(i) Any officer of
the National Executive who absents himself/herself from two consecutive
meetings of the National Executive without prior leave of absence, shall cease
to hold that office for which he/she was elected, and an election to fill the
vacancy shall be held in accordance with Rule 7(d) hereof.
(j) Any branch officer who absents
himself/herself from two executive meetings of the Executive without prior
leave of absence, shall cease to hold that office for which he/she was elected
and a new appointment may be made under Rule 15(b) hereof.
Rule 9. THE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE.
During the
intervening periods between National Executive meetings, a Management
Committee, comprising the National President, Vice-Presidents, National
Secretary, National Treasurer and Public Relations Officer shall meet and/or
confer as and when required, and shall act on behalf of the National
Executive. A quorum shall consist of
three of the above named officers.
Rule 10. MEETINGS OF THE NATIONAL EXECUTIVE
The National
Executive shall meet as often as considered necessary by the National President,
provided however, it shall meet at least once every twelve months.
(a) The President shall convene a meeting of the
National Executive within 42 days of receiving written requisition to do so by
four elected members of the National Executive, or a written request from a
majority of the branches.
(b) The National Executive shall meet prior to
30th November, in each year for the purpose of receiving a financial report
from the National Treasurer who shall also submit an audited account for the
financial year preceding the meeting.
This meeting shall be known as the Annual General Meeting.
(c) Provision shall be made for voting by proxy.
(d) The Chairperson shall have a deliberative and
a casting vote.
(e) A quorum of the National Executive shall be five
persons, providing that a majority of branches are represented by Branch
Representatives or their proxies.
Rule 11. POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE NATIONAL PRESIDENT
The National
President shall preside at all meetings of the National Executive.
The President's
voting powers are outlined in Rule 10(d), and he/she shall be ex-officio,
chairperson of any sub-committees appointed by the National Executive.
Rule 12. POWERS AND DUTIES OF VICE-PRESIDENTS
In the
President's absence, the Senior Vice-President shall exercise the powers and
perform the duties of President. In the absence of both, the Vice-President
will exercise these powers.
Rule 13. POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE SECRETARY AND
TREASURER
(a) The Secretary shall attend all meetings of the
National Executive and Management Committee and shall keep correct minutes of
such meetings, and
(b) shall issue all
notices to members, and keep all documents and papers belonging to the
Institute pertaining to his/her office, and
(c) shall as directed by
the President, issue notice of all meetings of the National Executive and the
Management Committee, and
(d) shall be responsible for keeping all necessary
records and preparing and furnishing all returns, declarations, documents and
information required, and
(e) shall be ex-officio a
member of all sub-committees of the National Executive
(f) The Treasurer shall keep account of all
moneys received, and all expenditure incurred by the National Executive and
shall be responsible for the custody of all documents, and papers belonging to
the Institute pertaining to the office, and
(g) (deleted)
(h) shall present such
statements of accounts as and when required by the National Executive or the
Management Committee, or individual members.
Rule 14. BRANCHES
There may be
branches and sub-branches formed in every State and Territory of the
Commonwealth of Australia, each of which shall be known as The Australian
Institute of Welfare and Community Workers Inc., ........Branch.
(a) The branches and sub-branches, when formed,
shall not engage in, nor carry out, any activity or function of any kind, or
have published any matter which is incompatible with the objects and functions
of the Institute and the National Executive may forbid a branch embarking upon
or continuing with any activity which it considers to be incompatible with the
objects and functions of the Institute.
(b) Each branch shall have the right to adopt
special rules for the guidance and management of the branch, and to alter any
rule under the Constitution which deals with branch activities only, provided
such rules and alterations do not conflict with this Constitution, and are
subject to approval by the National Executive.
(c) The constitution of branches shall be approved
by the National Executive before being adopted as the constitutions of such
branches.
(d) The representative of the various States and
Territories of the National Executive shall be responsible for liaising with
their respective branches and reporting back to the National Executive as
required.
(e) A register of branch membership, showing
names, addresses, classification and date of acceptance shall be kept by each
branch.
(f) Branches shall forward to the National
Secretary an audited copy of the receipts and expenditure within one month of
the holding of the branch Annual General Meeting.
(g) In the event of a branch closing for any
reason, or becoming defunct, the executive of the branch shall return to the
National Executive all books of account, vouchers, bank books and funds held to
its credit.
(h) A sub-branch comprising at least thirty (30)
persons of the grade Member may petition the National Executive for status as a
branch, such application requiring the concurrence of the National Executive
and existing branch as to its boundaries.
(i) Branch funds
shall be banked in the name of the Australian Institute of Welfare and
Community Workers Inc., .........Branch, with any two
of the following officers authorised to operate thereon: The Chairperson,
Honorary Secretary or Treasurer, and Senior Vice-Chairperson of the branch.
SUB-BRANCHES
(j) A sub-branch may be established if, in the
opinion of the relevant sponsoring Branch Executive, it fulfils special needs
and has operated as a Special Interest Group with at least 15 members for nine
months or more.
(k) Once approved by a Branch, a sub-branch may
apply for grants and ongoing funding from the Branch and/or National Office.
(l) A sub-branch will operate under the same
Rules as the sponsoring Branch.
(m) A sub-branch will have no voting rights at the
National Executive or Branch Executive, but may be represented and heard at
Executive Meetings; expenses incurred by such a representative may be borne by
the sub-branch or by a branch.
Rule 15. BRANCH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETINGS.
(a) An Annual General Meeting of branch members
shall be held within two months of the closing of the financial year. At this
meeting a report of the proceedings of the branch with a statement of receipts
and expenditure properly audited shall be presented.
(b) Members present at the Annual General Meeting
shall elect by a simple majority, a Chairperson, two Vice-Chairpersons, an
Honorary Secretary, a Treasurer, a Public Relations Officer, and bi-annually
elect one representative and one alternate representative to the National Executive;
all of whom shall be financial members of the Institute.
(c) At this meeting an auditor shall be appointed
who shall not be a member of the Institute.
(d) The above-mentioned officers shall hold office
from the date of their appointment until the close of the next Annual General
Meeting or until a new committee is appointed, but may be re-appointed, and the
Branch Executive may, on the death or retirement of the Chairperson or any
other officer, fill the vacancy so created.
(e) A quorum at the Annual General Meeting, a
Special Meeting, or an Ordinary Meeting of a branch shall be two thirds of the
members of the Branch Executive plus two (2) financial members.
(f) Should a branch be unable to elect an
executive after a period of two months following the close of the financial
year, then the National Executive may take over the management of the Branch,
pending its re-organisation.
Rule 16. BRANCH MEETINGS - RIGHT OF VOTING
(a) A branch shall meet as often as considered
necessary by the Branch Chairperson, provided however, it shall meet at least
two times yearly.
(b) At least fourteen (14) days' notice shall be
given of all Annual, Special and General Meetings, and no business shall be
transacted and/or resolutions passed other than such business and/or
resolutions as are stated in the notice calling the meeting.
(c) Subject to this Constitution, all financial
members shall have the right to vote at all Annual, General and Ordinary
Meetings, and if the votes are equal the Chairperson shall exercise a casting
vote. Student Members may elect one representative for every 50 students or
part thereof, who may vote in branch general and executive meetings. Other
Student Members and Affiliates admitted after
Rule 17. DUTIES OF BRANCH OFFICERS
(I) The Chairperson and
Vice-Chairperson
(a) The
Chairperson shall preside at all Branch and executive Meetings at which s/he is
present, and shall be ex-officio a member of all committees and sub-committees
which may exist from time to time.
(b) In
the absence of the Chairperson, the Senior Vice-Chairperson, or a Vice-
Chairperson elected by members at the meeting, shall exercise the powers and
perform the duties of the Chairperson.
(II) Secretary and Treasurer
(a) The
Secretary shall attend all meetings of the branch where possible.
(b) Shall
be responsible for the issue of all notices to members and keep all documents
and papers belonging to the Institute pertaining to the office.
(c) Shall
as directed by the Chairperson, issue notices of all meetings of the Branch
Executive and of General Meetings and perform all other duties or functions as
may be required.
(d) The
Treasurer shall keep accounts of all monies received and all expenditure
incurred by the Institute.
(e) Shall
be responsible for keeping all necessary records and preparing and furnishing
financial statements, declarations, documents and information required.
(f) Shall
be responsible for the receipt and banking of all monies collected by or on
behalf of the branch.
(III) Public Relations Officer
The Public Relations Officer shall be
responsible for all media pertaining to the existence of the branch and its aims
and functions, subject to Rule 14(a) hereof.
(IV) Branch Representatives on National Executive
The duties
of Branch Representatives are covered by Rule 14(d). Branch Representatives
shall, whenever possible attend all meetings of the National Executive. In the
absence of the Branch Representative, the alternate representative shall attend
in his/her stead. See also Rule 7(e).
The Branch
Representative must present the views of the Branch at meetings of the National
Executive but after full discussion, need not vote according to those views,
and must report in full to the Branch as to the reasons.
Rule 18. BRANCH EXECUTIVE
(a) The Branch Executive shall consist of the
Chairperson, two Vice-Chairpersons, a Secretary, a Treasurer, a Public
Relations Officer, a Branch Representative and Alternate Representative, a
Student Representative, and up to two Committee Members.
(b) The Branch Executive shall direct and control
all the affairs and activities of the branch.
(c) A quorum at meetings of the Branch Executive
shall be four (4) members.
(d) A Branch Executive shall meet at least once
every three months.
Rule 19. PAID OFFICERS
(a) The National Executive and Branch Executive
shall have the power to engage officers and staff, and to pay on such terms and
subject to such conditions of service as they, from time to time consider
desirable for the efficient management and conduct of the Institute's affairs,
and to dismiss such officers and staff when the necessity arises.
(b) No salaried employee of the Institute shall be
entitled to vote at any meeting of the National Executive, Branch Executive or
sub-committee thereof.
(c) A salaried employee may be authorised to
co-sign cheques drawn on the Institute.
Rule 20. ADMISSION OF MEMBERS
(a) Any person wanting to become a member of the
Institute shall forward to the National Office an official application form,
signed by the applicant, together with any requested accompanying
documentation, and the non-refundable application fee.
(b) The National Executive shall appoint a
Membership Co-ordinator who shall be responsible for routinely determining the
eligibility of applicants for membership, according to Rules 21 and 22 and any
other rules and guidelines published from time to time by the National
Executive.
(c) (deleted)
(d) The Membership Co-ordinator shall notify
persons of the results of the application within seven (7) days of each
decision being made, stating reason for rejection if applicable.
(e) An applicant has the right to review and
appeal to the National Executive on all matters of membership. Such appeal
shall be in writing and shall be lodged with the National Secretary within
twenty eight (28) days of the decision notified by the Membership Co-ordinator.
(f) In the event of an un-financial member
seeking re-admission, the National Executive may give its approval for such
re-admission on the payment by the applicant of current fees, plus a
re-instatement fee set each year at the Annual General Meeting at the same
amount as the current application fee. Such applicants shall also meet whatever
additional membership requirements pertain at the time of application for
re-admission, and are notified that they are not covered for insurance for the
period they have been un-financial.
Rule 21. MEMBERSHIP
(a) The term membership shall include Life Members,
Members, Student Members, and Non-Practicing Members; and Fellows, Honorary
Members and Affiliates who are registered as such on
(b) (deleted)
(c) Life Members - The National Executive may
award Life Membership to a member of at least ten years standing who has given
outstanding service to the Institute, following a written recommendation from a
Branch. A Life Member is not required to
Membership Fees due to the Institute, but must contribute insurance premiums
paid by other comparable members unless the Life Member’s branch or the
National Office volunteers to pay these.
A Member who
is designated a “Fellow” as at
(d) Members - Persons may be admitted by the
National Office as Members of the Institute provided they are or were employed,
or are seeking employment, in welfare or community work.
Membership
of the Institute shall be granted to those who satisfy the Membership
Assessment Panel that they are eligible, based on an assessment of
qualifications, work experience, recognition of prior learning, and/or
competency assessment.
The
appropriate combination of each element and the methods of assessment will be
determined from time to time by the Membership Assessment Panel and approved by
the National Executive, and will be publicised with membership application
material.
(e) Affiliates - Persons may be admitted by the
National Office as Affiliates of the Institute if they have worked for payment
or voluntarily, or have demonstrated considerable involvement and interest, in
the field of social welfare/human services, for at least three of the five
years prior to the application.
Affiliates
do not have voting rights, are not recognised for professional practice, and
cannot be covered by Professional Indemnity or Public Liability Insurance.
Affiliate
Members who are financial on
(f) Student Members - Student Members must
normally be enrolled in and studying within a course and at a campus which is
accredited or approved by the Institute.
(g) Non-Practicing Member - A person who is
otherwise eligible for membership may be admitted or deemed by the National
Executive as Non-Practicing if either:
1. The member spent less than an average of 4
hours per week in paid or voluntary work over the preceding 5 years, or
2. The member was unemployed and seeking work
for up to three years, regardless of the amount of unpaid or casual work
performed, or
3. The member is permanently retired from the
workforce, with no intention of engaging in paid employment in future.
A
Non-Practicing Member shall be entitled to the same privileges and voting
rights, and be subject to the same obligations, as
other members and will be required to pay a reduced “Non-Practicing” rate of
fees.
(h) Volunteer Practitioner - A person who is
otherwise eligible for membership may be admitted or deemed by the National
Executive as a Volunteer Practitioner if the person is engaged in voluntary or
unpaid professional practice as a welfare or community worker for more than an
average of 4 hours per week for the previous 12 months.
(i) Non-Practicing
and Volunteer Practitioner Members shall be entitled to the same privileges and
voting rights, and be subject to the same obligations, as other members and
will be required to pay a reduced rate of fees.
(j) Organisational Membership - Membership will
be available to organisations, educational institutions and social and human services
agencies, which, in the opinion of the National Executive, have been related to
welfare and community work fro the previous 12 months. Member Organisations
will receive newsletters and other publications but will not have voting rights
nor insurance coverage available to the Institute. Cheaper rates will be
available for one representative at conferences and other such Institute
activities.
Rule 22. MEMBERSHIP ASSESSMENT PANEL
(a) The National Executive shall appoint a
Membership Assessment Panel (MAP), which will be responsible for assessment of
an application for membership referred to it by the Membership Coordinator
because of the complexity or doubtful aspects of the application.
(b) The Membership Assessment Panel will be
responsible for assessment of courses and campuses, when an application is
received for AIWCW approval.
(c) The Membership Assessment
Panel may delegate such assessments to the Membership Coordinator.
(d) The National Executive shall be empowered on
the advice of the Membership Assessment Panel to grant certificates as the
result of such assessments.
(e) The principles, rules and guidelines used by
the Membership Assessment Panel will be determined from time to time by the
National Executive.
Rule 23. CERTIFICATES AND DESIGNATION OF MEMBERSHIP
(a) A certificate of membership shall be issued to
each member stating the grade of membership, the date of admission to the
register, and registration number.
(b) (deleted)
(c) All certificates shall be issued by the
National Executive. They shall bear the Common Seal of the Institute and shall
bear the signatures of the National President and the National Secretary.
(d) Any member requiring a duplicate certificate
shall pay a fee prescribed by the National Executive and shall indemnify the
Institute against any loss or damage to the Institute
resulting from the loss of the original certificate. Each certificate of
membership shall remain the property of the Institute and upon the holder
ceasing to be a member through any cause whatsoever his/her certificate shall
be returned forthwith to the Institute.
(e) The following grades of membership only shall
be entitled to use qualifying letters and the designation of qualified Welfare
or Community Worker: Fellow (FAIWCW);
Member (MAIWCW); Life Member (LMAIWCW).
(f) Affiliates and Students shall not be styled
qualified Welfare or Community Workers.
(g) Validation affirming current membership will
be issued to financial members each year.
Rule 24. PROFESSIONAL ETHICS, CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL
DEVELOPMENT AND SUPERVISION
(a) All members, regardless of membership category
are bound by principles of professional conduct as detailed in the Code of
Ethics.
(b) The Institute shall determine rules,
regulations and guidelines for dealing with complaints against members, for
monitoring professional development, and regarding professional supervision,
and make these available upon request.
(c) The principles and set of rules may be refined
by regulations and guidelines, determined from time to time by the National
Executive.
(d) It is the responsibility of every member to
provide for the maintenance and development of their professional practice and
they must be willing to provide satisfactory evidence of this to the Institute
if this is required.
(e) If ongoing professional development is found
to be insufficient, then the member concerned shall be offered a monitored 12
month period in which to redress the deficiency, and only if this is refused,
or the results deemed unsatisfactory by the Membership Assessment Panel will
sanctions apply.
(f) It is the responsibility of every member to
seek adequate professional supervision, as much as possible separate and
additional to any administrative and performance supervision. A member acting as a supervisor is responsible
for seeking appropriate training and professional development for that role.
Rule 25. COMPLAINTS AND GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE
(a) A
complaint about a member of the Institute may be made by another member, or by a
person, group or organisation outside the Institute, and will be referred to
the relevant Branch Executive Committee
(b) The
Branch Executive will appoint an ad hoc Complaint Sub-Committee and an
appropriate person as a Complaint Inquirer, who may contact any relevant
parties in order to gather details relevant to the complaint. The complaint Inquirer may attempt an initial
reconciliation or mediation of the complaint, after consulting with the
Sub-Committee
(c) The
Sub-Committee shall conduct an enquiry regarding the complaint and recommend
appropriate action to the Branch Executive
(d) The
Institute will determine regulations and guidelines regarding procedures and a
range of possible actions
Rule 26. EDUCATION, TRAINING AND RESEARCH
(a)
The Institute may establish a Centre for Education
within the field of welfare and community services. The Centre may undertake and commission
research and provide courses of study to members and to others in the
community, including courses which will qualify graduates to be eligible for
membership of the Institute
(b)
The Institute may make regulations and guidelines
for the establishment and operation of the Centre, which shall operate under
and be responsible to the National Executive
(c)
The Centre may apply to become a Registered Training
Organisation
(d)
Independently of such registration, a course at
Diploma level or above must be scrutinised by an External Review Panel which is
separate from the AIWCW
(e)
The External Review Panel (ERP) will be responsible
for recommending AIWCW Campus Approval of any appropriate courses provided by
the AIWCW, using the procedures adopted by the AIWCW for that purpose
(f)
The External Review Panel will be responsible for
conducting any Review of such a course under the appeal provisions of the
Approval process
(g)
The External Review Panel will be established and
continue operation according to procedures established and publicised by the
National Executive
Rule 27. TERMINATION OF MEMBERSHIP
(a) Subject to his/her not being under any
financial liability to the Institute, a member shall be entitled to resign
his/her membership at any time by giving notice in writing to the National
Secretary at the Registered Office of the Institute of the intention to do so.
A notice of resignation received more than three months after the date on which
his/her annual subscription became due shall not relieve a member of liability
to pay in full the amount thereof.
(b) Any member who has failed to pay his/her
subscription within six months of the date when it became due shall be excluded
from membership, and his/her name shall be removed from the Register.
(c) Where a
membership has been terminated on the basis of a breach of the Code of Ethics,
that member’s name shall be removed from the register.
Rule 28. DISSOLUTION
(a) The Institute may be dissolved when a
three-fourths majority of its members voting by ballot so decide.
(b) In the event of dissolution, the funds and
property of the Institute after payment of liabilities and debts shall be paid
and applied by the organisation in accordance with its powers to another
organisation or organisations which have similar objectives and which are
themselves exempt from income tax.
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