1. NAME
2. OBJECTS
3. INTERPRETATION
4. TYPES OF MEMBERSHIP
   1. Affiliated Associations
   2. Individual Members
   3. Life members
5. APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP
6. FEES AND LEVIES
7. REGISTER OF MEMBERS
8. RESIGNATION AND EXPULSION OF MEMBER
9. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
10. SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING
11. NOTICE OF MEETING
12. PROCEEDINGS AT MEETINGS
13. CHAIRMAN AT MEETINGS
14. ADJOURNMENT OF MEETINGS
15. VOTING
16. VOTING PROCEDURES
17. MEMBER NOT ENTITLED TO VOTE
18. PROXIES
19. COMMITTEE POWERS
20. COMMITTEE MEMBERS
21. ELECTION OF OFFICERS AND VACANCY
22. PROCEDURE OF COMMITTEE
23. DUTIES OF THE OFFICERS
24. AUDITOR
25. REMOVAL OF MEMBER OR MEMBER OF COMMITTEE OR SUB-COMMITTEE
26. FUNDS
27. SEAL
28. ALTERATION OF RULES AND STATEMENT OF PURPOSES
29. NOTICES
30. DISPERSION OF FUNDS
31. CUSTODY OF RECORDS
32. SOURCES OF FUNDS
33. INDEMNITY OF OFFICERS AND COMMITTEES

The name of the incorporated association is VICTORIAN PARENTS COUNCIL INCORPORATED (in these rules called the ?V.P.C.?).

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The objects of the V.P.C. are:

1. To safeguard the rights and promote the interests of parents and children in Australia.
2. To improve the standard of education in Australia.
3. To promote and foster the following principles:
   1. That as stated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; Parents have a prior right to choose the kind of education that shall be given to their children
   2. That all parents are entitled to exercise this right without financial or other disability being imposed on them or their children by the State.
   3. That the primary purpose of education is the development of the child physically, mentally, spiritually and morally.
4. To achieve for all parents and children equity in the distribution of public funds for education.
5. The V.P.C. shall have no affiliation with any political party, not shall it seek or accept any direction from any political organization.
6. The V.P.C. shall be inter denominational and shall equally support pupils, parents and schools for all denominations.

3. INTERPRETATION

1. In these rules, unless the contrary intention appears: -
   1. ?Committee? means the Committee of Management of the V.P.C.
   2. ?Financial Year? means the year ending 31st December.
   3. ?General Meeting? means a general meeting of members convened in accordance with Rule 10.
   4. ?Member? means a member of the V.P.C.
   5. ?Ordinary Member of the Committee? means a member of the Committee who is not an officer of the V.P.C. under Rule 21.
   6. ?The Act? means the Associations Incorporation Act 1981.
   7. ?The Regulations? means regulations under the Act.
2. In these Rules, a reference to the Secretary of the V.P.C. is a reference:-
   1. where a person holds office under these Rules as Secretary of the V.P.C. ? to that person; and
   2. in any other case, to the Public Officer of the V.P.C.
3. Words or expressions contained in these rules shall be interpreted in accordance with the provisions of the Acts Interpretation Act 1958 and the Act as in force from time to time.
4. In the event of any doubt or difficulty arising as to the meaning of any rule hereof or any by-law or regulation by the committee, the Committee shall have the power to pronounce a decision upon it, which decision shall be final.
   Any word, phrase or clause in any rule hereof or any by-law or regulation promulgated by the Committee which indicates a single gender shall be deemed to include both gender.

1) Membership of the V.P.C. shall be of three types:

1. Affiliated Associations (as defined in sub-clause (2)) which affiliate as a body with the V.P.C. and who are entitled to representation at all general or ordinary meetings;
2. Individual members who become members of the V.P.C.
3. Life Members

2) Affiliated Associations:

An Affiliated Association is any association which has been grated affiliation with the V.P.C. An association eligible for membership of the V.P.C. is any organization, howsoever named, which has among its objects the promotion of or the working for the cause of Education or the furtherance of the interests of any school. Any such association may be granted affiliation with the V.P.C. upon:

1. The Committee of the V.P.C. being satisfied that the association is eligible for membership, and
2. An approved application form having been completed, and
3. The current affiliation fee having been paid.

An Affiliated Association may be disaffiliated by decision of the Committee at a meeting called to consider such disaffiliation, of which 30 days notice has been given to the Affiliated Association concerned.

3) Individual Members

A natural person as provided in these rules is eligible to be a member of the V.P.C. on payment of the entrance fee if any and annual subscription payable under these rules.

Life Membership may be granted by the Committee on such conditions as it shall determine.

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1. A person who is not a member of the V.P.C. at the time of the incorporation of the V.P.C. (or who was such a member at that time but has ceased to be a member) shall not be admitted to membership: -
   1. unless he is nominated as provided in sub-clause (2); and
   2. his admission as a member is approved by the Committee.
2. A nomination of a person for membership of the V.P.C.: -
   1. shall be made in writing in the form set out in Appendix 1; and
   2. shall be lodged with the Secretary of the V.P.C.
3. As soon as is practicable after the receipt of a nomination, the Secretary shall refer the nomination to the Committee.
4. Upon a nomination being referred to the Committee, the Committee shall determine whether to approve or to reject the nomination.
5. Upon a nomination being approved by the Committee, the Secretary shall, with as little delay as possible, notify the nominee in writing that he is approved for membership of the V.P.C. and request payment within the period of 28 days after receipt of the notification of the sum payable to the V.P.C. under these rules as the entrance fee, if any, and the first year?s annual subscription.
6. The Secretary shall, upon payment of the amounts referred to in sub-clause (5) within the period referred to in that sub-clause, enter the nominee?s name in the Register of Members kept by him and, upon the name being so entered, the nominee becomes a member of the V.P.C.
7. A right, privilege, or obligation of a person by reason of his membership of the V.P.C.: -
   1. is not capable of being transferred or transmitted to another person;
   2. terminates upon the cessation of his membership whether by death or resignation or otherwise.

1. Entrance fees
   A joining fee, to be determined for the ensuing year at the Annual General Meeting, upon the recommendation of the General Committee, shall be paid by each applicant with the membership application.
2. Affiliation and Membership Fees
   1. All affiliation and membership fees are payable for the period 1st January to 31st December
   2. Fees become payable on 1st January each year and affiliated association or individual member becomes unfinancial if such affiliation or membership, or any levy which has been previously imposed in accordance with sub-clause (3) remains unpaid by the 30th June of the year in which the become due.
   3. The amount of affiliation and membership fees will be determined by the Committee.
   4. Affiliation fees are payable to the V.P.C.
   5. Membership fees are payable to the V.P.C.
3. Levies
   Levies may be imposed upon affiliated Associations by resolution of a general meeting of the V.P.C. provided that 30 days? notice of the intention to move the striking of a levy and the reason for it has been given to all Affiliated Associations.

The Secretary shall keep and maintain a Register of Members in which shall be entered the full name, address and date of entry of the name of each member and the register shall be available for inspection by members at the address of the Public Officer.

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1. A member of the V.P.C. who has paid all moneys due and payable by him to the V.P.C. may resign from the V.P.C. by first giving one month?s notice in writing to the Secretary of his intention to resign and upon the expiration of that period of notice, the member shall cease to be a member.
2. Upon the expiration of a notice given under sub-clause (1) the Secretary shall make in the Register of Members an entry recording the date on which the member by whom the notice was given, ceased to be a member.
3. Subject to the following rules, the Committee may by resolution:-
   1. expel a member from the V.P.C.
   2. suspend a member from membership of the V.P.C. for a specified period; or
   3. fine a member in accordance with the regulations, if the Committee is of the opinion that the member ?
      1. has refused or neglected to comply with these rules? or
      2. has been guilty of conduct unbecoming a member or prejudicial to the interests of the V.P.C.
4. A resolution of the Committee under sub-clause (3): -
   1. does not take effect unless the Committee, at a meeting held not earlier than 14 and not later than 28 days after the service on the member of a notice under sub-clause (5) confirms the resolution in accordance with this clause; and
   2. where the member exercises a right of appeal to the V.P.C. under this clause does not take effect unless the V.P.C. confirms the resolution in accordance with this clause.
5. Where the Committee passes a resolution under sub-clause (3), the Secretary shall, as soon as practicable, cause to be served on the member a notice in writing:-
   1. setting out the resolution of the Committee and the ground on which it is based;
   2. Stating that the member may address the Committee at a meeting to be held out earlier than 14 and not later than 28 days after service of the notice.
   3. Stating the date, place, and time of that meeting;
   4. Informing the member that he may do one or more of the following:
      1. attend that meeting;
      2. give to the Committee before the date of that meeting a written statement seeking the revocation of the resolution;
      3. not later than 24 hours before the date of the meeting, lodge with the Secretary a notice to the effect that he wishes to appeal to the V.P.C. in general meeting against the resolution.
6. At a meeting of the Committee held in accordance with sub-clause (4) the Committee: -
   1. shall give to the member an opportunity to be heard;
   2. shall give due consideration to any written statement submitted by the member; and
   3. shall by resolution determine whether to confirm or to revoke the resolution.
7. Where the Secretary receives a notice under sub-clause (5), he shall notify the Committee and the Committee shall convene a general meeting of the V.P.C. to be held within 21 days after the date on which the Secretary received the notice.
8. At a general meeting of the V.P.C. convened under sub-clause (7): -
   1. no business other than the question of the appeal shall be transacted;
   2. the Committee may place before the meeting details of the grounds for the resolution and the reasons for the passing of the resolution;
   3. the member shall be given an opportunity to be heard; and
   4. the members present shall vote by secret ballot on the question whether the resolution should be confirmed or revoked.
9. If at the general meeting: -
   1. two-thirds of the members vote or by proxy in favour of the confirmation of the resolution, the resolution is confirmed; and
   2. in any other case, the resolution is revoked.
10. All of the conditions expressed by sub-clauses (1)-(9) in reference to an individual member apply equally to affiliated associations.

9. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

1. The V.P.C. shall in each calendar year convene an annual general meeting of its members.
2. The annual general meeting shall be held on such day as the Committee determines.
3. The annual general meeting shall be specified as such in the notice convening it.
4. The ordinary business of the annual general meeting shall be: -
   1. to confirm the minutes of the last preceding annual general meeting and of any general meeting held since that meeting.
   2. To receive from the Committee reports upon the transactions of the V.P.C. during the last preceding financial year;
   3. To elect officers of the V.P.C. and the ordinary members of the Committee; and
   4. To receive and consider the statement submitted by the V.P.C. in accordance with section 30 of the Act.
5. The annual general meeting may transact special business of which notice is given in accordance with these rules.
6. The annual general meeting shall be in addition to any other general meetings that may be held in the same year.

10. SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING

All general meetings other than the annual general meeting shall be called special general meetings.

1. The Committee may, whenever it thinks fit, convene a special general meeting of the V.P.C. and, where, but for this sub-clause, more than 15 months would lapse between annual general meetings, shall convene a special general meeting before the expiration of that period.
2. The Committee shall, on the requisition in writing of members representing not less than 5% of the total number of members, convene a special general meeting of the V.P.C.
3. The requisition for a special general meeting shall state the objects of the meeting and shall be signed by the members making the requisition and be sent to the address of the Secretary and may consist of several documents in a like form, each signed by one or more of the members making the requisition.
4. If the Committee does not cause a special general meeting to be held within one month after the date on which the requisition is sent to the address of the Secretary, the members making the requisition, or any of them, may convene a special general meeting to be held not later than 30 days after that date.
5. A special general meeting convened by members in pursuance of these rules shall be convened in the same manner as nearly as possible as that in which those meetings are convened by the Committee and all reasonable expenses incurred in convening the meeting shall be refunded by the V.P.C. to the persons incurring the expenses.

11. NOTICE OF MEETING

1. The Secretary of the V.P.C. shall, at least 14 days before the date fixed for holding a general meeting of the V.P.C., cause to be sent to each member of the V.P.C. at his address appearing in the Register of Members, a notice by pre-paid post stating the place, date and time of the meeting and the nature of the business to be transacted at the meeting.
2. No business other than that set out in the notice convening the meeting shall be transacted at the meeting.
3. A member desiring to bring any business before a meeting may give notice of that business in writing to the Secretary, who shall include that business in the notice calling the next general meeting after the receipt of the notice.

12. PROCEEDINGS AT MEETINGS

1. All business that is transacted at a special general meeting and all business that is transacted at the annual general meeting with the exception of that specially referred to in these rules as being the ordinary business of the annual general meeting shall be deemed to be special business.
2. No item of business shall be transacted at a general meeting unless a quorum of members entitled under these rules to vote is present during the time when the meeting is considering that item.
3. 20 members must be personally present (being members entitled under these rules to vote at a general meeting) to constitute a quorum for the transaction of the business of a general meeting.
4. If within half an hour after the appointed time for the commencement of a general meeting, a quorum is not present, the meeting if convened upon the requisition of members shall be dissolved and in any other case shall stand adjourned to the same day in the next week at the same time and (unless another place is specified by the Chairman at the time of the adjournment or by written notice to members given before the day to which the meeting is adjourned) at the same place and if at the adjourned meeting the quorum is not present within half an hour after the time appointed for the commencement of the meeting, the members present (being not less than 3) shall be a quorum.

1. The President, or in his absence, the Vice-President, shall preside at each general meeting of the V.P.C.
2. If the President and the Vice-President are absent from a general meeting, the members present shall elect one of their number to preside as Chairman at the meeting.

14. ADJOURNMENT OF MEETINGS

1. The Chairman of a general meeting at which a quorum is present may, with the consent of the meeting, adjourn the meeting from time to time and place to place, but no business shall be transacted at an adjourned meeting other than the business left unfinished at the meeting at which the adjournment took place.
2. Where a meeting is adjourned for 14 days or more, a like notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given as in the case of the general meeting.
3. Except as provided in sub-clauses (1) and (2), it is not necessary to give notice of an adjournment or of the business to be transacted at an adjourned meeting.

15. VOTING

A question arising at a general meeting of the V.P.C. shall be determined on a show of hands and unless, before or on the declaration of the show of hands, a poll is demanded, a declaration by the Chairman that a resolution has, on a show of hands, been carried or carried unanimously or carried by a particular majority or lost, and an entry to that effect in the Minute Book of the V.P.C. is evidence of the fact, without proof of the number or proportion of the votes recorded in favour of, or against that resolution.

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16. VOTING PROCEDURES

1. Upon any question arising at a general meeting of the V.P.C. a member has one vote only.
2. All votes shall be given personally or by proxy.
3. In the case of an equality of voting on a question, the Chairman of the meeting is entitled to exercising a second or casting vote.
4. If at a meeting a poll on any question is demanded by not less than three members, it shall be taken at that meeting in which manner as the Chairman may direct and the resolution of the poll shall be deemed to be a resolution of the meeting on that question.
5. A poll that is demanded on the election of a Chairman or on a question of an adjournment shall be taken forthwith and a poll that is demanded on any other question shall be taken at such time before the close of the meeting as the Chairman may direct.

A member is not entitled to vote at any general meeting unless all moneys due and payable by him to the V.P.C. have been paid, other than the amount of the annual subscription payable in respect of the current financial year.

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1. Each member shall be entitled to appoint another member as his proxy by notice given to the Secretary no later than 24 hours before the time of the meeting in respect of which the proxy is appointed.
2. The notice appointing the proxy shall be in the form set out in Appendix 2.

1. The affairs of the V.P.C. shall be managed by a Committee of Management constituted as provided in Rule 20.
2. The Committee: -
   1. shall control and manage the business and affairs of the V.P.C.
   2. may, subject to these rules, the regulations and the Act, exercise all such powers and functions that are required by these rules to be exercised by general meetings of the members of the V.P.C. and
   3. subject to these rules, the regulations and the Act, has power to perform all such acts and things as appear to the Committee to be essential for the proper management of the business and affairs of the V.P.C.
   4. all sub-committees are required to regularly report, and are subject to the direction and control of the V.P.C. Committee of Management.

20. COMMITTEE MEMBERS

1. The officers of the COUNCIL shall be:
   1. a President and two Vice-Presidents and who shall be ex-officio on all special Committees.
   2. Treasurer, Secretary, Publications Officer and Research Officer.
2. The provisions of Rule 21 so far as they are applicable and with the necessary modifications, apply to and in relation to the election of persons to any of the offices mentioned in sub-clause (1)
3. Each officer and member of the V.P.C. shall hold office until the annual general meeting next after the date of election but is eligible for re-election.
4. In the event of a casual vacancy in any office referred to in sub-clause (1) the Committee may appoint one of its members to the vacant office, and the member so appointed may continue in office up to and including the conclusion of the annual general meeting next following the date of appointment.
5. Subject to section 23 of the Act, the Committee shall consist of the officers of the V.P.C. and 6 ordinary members, each of whom shall be elected at the annual general meeting of the V.P.C. in each year.

1. Nominations of candidates for election as officers of the V.P.C. or as ordinary members of the Committee:-
   1. shall be made in writing, signed by two members of the V.P.C. and accompanied by written consent of the candidate which may be endorsed on the form of nomination); and
   2. shall be delivered to the Secretary of the V.P.C. not less than 7 days before the date fixed for the holding of the annual general meeting.
2. If insufficient nominations are received to fill all vacancies on the Committee, the candidates nominated shall be deemed to be elected and further nominations shall be received at the annual general meeting.
3. If the number of nominations received is equal to the number of vacancies to be filled, the persons nominated shall be deemed to be elected.
4. If the number of nominations exceeds the number of vacancies to be filled, a ballot shall be held.
5. The ballot for the election of officers and ordinary members of the Committee shall be conducted at the annual general meeting in such usual and proper manner as the Committee may direct.
6. For the purposes of these rules, the office of an officer of the V.P.C. or of an ordinary member of the Committee becomes vacant if the officer or member:-
   1. ceases to be a member of the V.P.C.
   2. becomes an insolvent under administration within the meaning of the Companies (Victoria) Code; or
   3. resigns his office by notice in writing to the Secretary

22. PROCEDURE OF COMMITTEE

1. The Committee shall meet at least 3 times in each year at such a place and at such times as the Committee may determine.
2. Special meeting of the Committee may be convened by the President or by 4 of the members of the Committee.
3. Notice shall be given to members of the Committee of any special meeting specifying the general nature of the business to be transacted and no other business shall be transacted at such a meeting.
4. Any 5 members of the Committee constitute a quorum for the transaction of the business of a meeting of the Committee.
5. No business shall be transacted unless a quorum is present and if within half an hour of the time appointed for the meeting a quorum is not present the meeting shall stand adjourned to the same place and at the same hour of the same day of the following week unless the meeting was a special meeting in which case it lapses.
6. At meetings of the Committee:-
   1. the President or in his absence a Vice-President shall preside; or
   2. if the President and Vice-Presidents are absent, one of the members present shall preside.
7. Questions arising at a meeting of the Committee or of any sub-committee appointed by the Committee shall be determined on a show of hands or, demanded by a member, by a poll taken in such manner as the person presiding at the meeting may determine.
8. Each member present at a meeting of the Committee or of any sub-committee appointed by the Committee (including the person presiding at the meeting) is entitled to one vote and, in the event of an equality of votes on any question, the person presiding may exercise a second or casting vote.
9. Written notice of each committee meeting shall be served on each member of the Committee by delivering it to him at a reasonable time before the meeting or by sending it by pre-paid post addressed to him at his usual or last known place of abode at least two business days before the date of the meeting.
10. Subject to sub-clause (4) the Committee may act notwithstanding any vacancy on the Committee.

1. The Secretary of the V.P.C. shall keep minutes of the resolutions and proceedings of each general meeting and each committee meeting in books provided for that purpose together with a record of the names of persons present at committee meetings.
2. The Treasurer of the V.P.C. and of each sub-committee:-
   1. shall collect and receive all moneys due to the V.P.C. and make all payments authorized by the V.P.C. or sub-committee.
   2. shall keep correct accounts and books showing the financial affairs of the V.P.C. or sub-committee with full details of all receipts and expenditure connected with the activities of the V.P.C. or sub-committee.
   3. Present to each meeting a statement of the financial affairs of the V.P.C. or sub-committee.
   4. Make available to the elected auditor all books of account and other documents as are required for audit purposes.
   5. Present to the annual general meeting of the V.P.C. an audited Balance Sheet and a Statement of Receipts and Expenditure made up to the 31st December.
3. Make available the accounts and books of the V.P.C. when required for inspection by members.

An honorary auditor, who shall not be a member of the Committee shall be elected annually at the Annual General Meeting.

The auditor shall perform an audit on the affairs of the V.P.C. and report to the members at the Annual General Meeting. The Committee shall in the event of the auditor appointed being unwilling or unable to act, appoint another.

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1. The V.P.C. in general meeting may be resolution remove any member of the committee and appoint another member to hold office until the expiration of the term of the first-mentioned member.
2. Where the member to whom a proposed resolution referred to in sub-clause (1) makes representations in writing to the Secretary or President of the V.P.C. (not exceeding a reasonable length of time) and requests that they be notified to the members of the V.P.C., the Secretary or President may send a copy of the representations to each member of the V.P.C. or, if they are not so sent, the member may require that they be read out at the meeting.

26. FUNDS

1. The funds of the V.P.C. shall be kept by the Honorary Treasurer under supervision of and in such place and manner as shall be determined by the Committee. The Committee shall have the power to expend the V.P.C. funds in such manner as they think fit in accordance with this constitution and objects of the V.P.C.
2. All cheques, drafts, bills of exchange, promissory notes and other negotiable instruments shall be signed by two authorized officers.

1. The Common Seal of the V.P.C. shall be kept in the custody of the Secretary.
2. The Common Seal 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 either of two members of the Committee or one member of the Committee and of the Public Officer of the V.P.C.

28. ALTERATION OF RULES AND STATEMENT OF PURPOSES

These rules and the statement of purposes of the V.P.C. shall not be altered except in accordance with the Act.

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1. A notice may be served by or on behalf of the V.P.C. upon any member either personally or by sending it by post to the member at his address shown in the Register of Members.
2. Where a document is properly addressed pre-paid and posted to a person as a letter, the document shall, unless the contrary is proved, be deemed to have been given to the person at the time at which the letter would have been delivered in the ordinary course of post.

30. DISPERSION OF FUNDS

1. The income and property of the V.P.C. whensoever derived shall be applied solely towards the promotion of the objects of the V.P.C. as set forth in this Constitution and no portion thereof shall be paid or transferred directly or indirectly by way of dividend, bonus, or otherwise howsoever by way of profit, to the bodies which at any time are or have been members of the V.P.C. or to any of them or to any person claiming through any of them PROVIDED THAT NOTHING herein contained shall prevent the payment in good faith of remuneration to any Constituent Body or officer or member thereof, in return for any services actually rendered to the V.P.C.
2. If, upon winding up or dissolution of the V.P.C. there remains, whatsoever, the same shall not be paid to or distributed among the Constituent Bodies, unless such Constituent Bodies be non-profit Companies or non-profit Associations, otherwise such property shall be given or transferred to some non-profit organization or organizations having objects similar to the V.P.C. to be determined by those Constituent Bodies which are financial at the time of dissolution, and in default thereof by any Judge of the Supreme Court of Victoria.

Except as otherwise provided in this constitution, the Secretary shall keep custody or control over all books, documents and securities of the V.P.C.

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The sources of funds of the V.P.C. shall be derived from entrance fees, if any, annual subscriptions, donations and such sources as the Committee determines.

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The officers and committees of the V.P.C. or any person or persons assisting them acting bona fide in the discharge of their respective duties, shall be and are hereby indemnified out of the funds of the V.P.C. against all actions, legal proceedings, costs, damages, and expenses incurred by them or any of them in the discharge of their duties. The officers and committees of the V.P.C. shall at all times exercise every care in the conduct of activities.

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AMENDMENTS