Working as a Team:
Our combined Team effort underpins our important work for the community. We have FUN as we ‘roll along’ to get more indigenous species planted across the Bass Coast & South Gippsland Shires. We welcome your contribution and look forward to you joining our Team.
The graphic below is a simple ‘ready-reckoner’ for the groups structure:
Governance:
WSBN has a legal status defined by Consumer Affairs Victoria (Victoria’s consumer regulator for small business) under the Associations Incorporation Reform Act 2012 (The Act).
An incorporated association is a registered legal entity that’s usually established for recreational, cultural or charitable purposes. It must have at least 5 members and put all profits back into the association’s activities.
If you are interested you can read more about the legislation here: Associations Incorporation Reform Act 2012.
The Act provides a ‘simple’ legal framework that includes Model Rules for good governance for community based groups like WSBN. WSBN has utilised the Act Model Rules to define our governance & we refer to this document as ‘Rules for Wonthaggi Seed Bank and Nursery‘(Rules for WSBN).
The business of WSBN is managed by or under the direction of a Committee. The Committee composition should consist of the following positions and the asterisked positions have defined duties that are also defined by the Rules for WSBN:
- President*
- Vice President*
- Treasurer*
- Secretary*
- Ordinary Members
The Committee members have responsibilities associated with their roles and member welfare and compliance with legal permits is a high priority. You can help by ensuring that you remain current/compliant with:
- Registration as a Volunteer with ParkConnect
- Working With Children Check (WWC)
- COVID19 (vaccinations)
- Seed Collection Permits
ParkConnect:
All WSBN members must register their volunteering activity with ParkConnect. The ParkConnect web portal is a Parks Victoria initiative and is designed to link volunteering activities across Victoria’s parklands that they manage. It is also a repository for accreditations and compliance requirements such as the Working With Children Check ID.
Working With Children Check:
As our nursery is located on a Parks Victoria managed site, all WSBN Volunteers (Members) must have a current Working With Children Check (WWCC). This can be all done online and has no fee.
To do the check fully online, you’ll need two ID documents. One must have a photo.
Tip: The best combination is a passport and drivers licence.
To begin, you must have one of the following ID documents:
- Australian passport (current or expired less than 3 years)
- Current foreign passport (with linked visa)
- Australian birth certificate
- ImmiCard
You must have a second ID document:
- Current Australian drivers license
- Medicare card (only if you do not have a drivers license)
WSBN members are required to upload their WWCC to their ParkConnect profile as per the example shown below:
COVID19 Vaccinations:
The Committee is concerned about the health and wellbeing of all our members and will ensure that all members on site are fully vaccinated by Friday 26 November 2021 as per the state government rules for:
- Agriculture and forestry workers
The WSBN Committee will need to sight your vaccination certificate. If you are not fully vaccinated please discuss this with the WSBN Secretary (Margaret Barnard).
Seed Collection Permits:
Members must always be under the direct supervision of a permit holder(s). The permit holders for WSBN are generally Team Leaders or members with seed collecting experience. Members who are participating in seed collecting activities must be registered on the Parks Victoria ‘ParkConnect’ web site. Generally the Seed Collecting Team Leaders register the weekly participants for this activity. The seed collecting permits include guidelines such as:
The seed collecting permits include guidelines:
- Seed collection is limited to a maximum of 10% of the available seed, fruit or plant material from any one plant
- Seed should ideally be collected from 10 separate widely spaced plants of the species
Insurance
- Member insurance cover (Professional Indemnity & Public Liability) is via Landcare Victoria. This insurance cover is for you as you undertake WSBN activities.