Waste Educators Victoria

Note these Terms of Reference have been developed to guide the operation of the working group.  However, the Terms of Reference are bound by the constitution of the Waste Management Association of Australia

April 2010

In 2003, a Waste Educators Working Group Victoria (WEWGV) was formed as a working group of Waste Management Association of Australia (WMAA (Victoria).

In 2009, AWARE agreed to merge with the WEWG Victoria to form a new group to be called AWARE (Waste Educators Working Group Victoria).

Vision
Professionals who are empowered and enabled to be leaders in creating and delivering waste education.

Purpose
Our purpose is to:

1. Develop and support the profession of waste education; and
2. Influence policy and decision makers
   

The goals of AWARE are:

1. To support waste educators and facilitate opportunities for continuing professional development and knowledge building.
2. To foster networking and knowledge sharing between waste educators and with the wider waste community.
3. To build partnerships with other organisations and networks in the waste and sustainability industries.
4. To raise the profile education as an integral part of waste management and resource recovery.
5. To provide a strong voice for Victorian waste educators around and during strategic decision making.
   

The AWARE Waste Educators Working Group Victoria (AWARE) consists of a Committee comprising; Chair; Deputy Chair; Secretary; Finance Officer State Representative; Public Relations Officer; Professional Development Coordinator; up to five other members (limited to 10 positions); and general members.

3.1. Committee
The roles and responsibilities of the Committee positions include:

a. Chair

• Overall responsibility for coordination and organisation
• spokesperson on waste education on behalf of the group
• represents AWARE in person and through formal correspondence
• has overall responsibility for general correspondence
• liaises with AWARE members
• facilitates AWARE Committee meetings
• coordinates and liaise with other relevant groups as necessary
• reports to the WMAA Vic Branch Committee
• monitors and is responsible for WEWGV governance requirements of the Committee.

b. Deputy Chair

• Deputises for chair in his/her absence.

c. Secretary

• Supports the Chair in governance requirements
• has responsibility for general correspondence and developing agenda for Council and Committee meetings and minute taking for these meetings
• stores and maintains all records.

d. Finance Oficer

• Has responsibility for WEWGV accounts for any project which is funded by the National WMAA
• develops the annual budget
• monitors budget income and expenditure
• identifies new sources of funds.

e. State Representative on National Waste Education Division (as delegated by the Chair)

• attends the National WEWG meetings and report back to the AWARE committee.

f. Public Relations Officer

• Develops, maintains and implements the AWARE communications plan
• promotes and communicate the activities of the group to members.

g. Professional Development Coordinator

• Identifies, coordinates and promotes professional development opportunities to members

3.2. Other interested Working Group Members
Roles:

• provide expertise and information of industry trends and practices
• assist with WEWGV activities and projects
• attend meetings and events of AWARE.

4.1 Record Taking

• Agendas and minutes for Working Group meetings are to be taken by the Secretary.

4.2 Record Storage

• Record keeping and storage will be the task of the Secretary.

4.3 Communication of records

• Minutes are to be circulated by the Secretary to the other committee members in accordance with the WMAA Working Groups Operations Procedures.

5.1 Term of Office for the Committee
Terms of office for the Committee are for a period of one year, for a maximum of two consecutive years.  After this time, members are eligible to nominate for a further term on the Committee.  The elections need to take place before the Annual Meeting of the Victorian branch of WMAA.

5.2 Nomination
Positions on the Committee can be filled through nominating oneself or through nomination from an existing Committee Member.  If there is more than one nomination for a position, then a ballot will be taken.

Positions on the Committee become official as of the date set by WMAA.

5.3 Resignation
Upon the resignation of a member of the Committee, the position will be declared vacant and the same process as for 6.2 will be followed to elect a replacement for the vacant position.

6.1 National Division

• A nominated member of the AWARE will be the representative for the National Division
• The National Representative will provide bi-monthly reports on activities and opportunities for AWARE.

7.1 Decision Making

• Every question, matter or resolution shall be decided by a majority of votes of the members present.
• If there is an equal number of votes, it well be deemed to be negative.

7.2 Conflict of Interest

• If there is a potential conflict of interest, members will follow the guidelines provided by the WMAA
  

8. Engaging Contractors

• Members will follow the guidelines for engaging contractors provided by the WMAA.

9. Funds and Accounts

9.1 Financial Administration

• Monitoring of projects for which the Group receives funds from the WMAA are the responsibility of the Treasurer, however, all payments are to be made only by the WMAA administration.

10. Meeting Times and Frequency

• It is recommended that the WEWG meet on a bi monthly basis.