CHANGES TO THE STRUCTURE OF NORTHERN DISTRICT COMMUNITY HEALTH SERVICE INC (NDCHS)

NDCHS would like to notify you of a proposed technical change to the structure of our organisation.  
Following advice from the Australian Tax Office in March 2008 to revoke our tax exempt status and the need for community health services to retain this status, the State Government undertook a review of the governance arrangements of stand alone community health services across Victoria.  

This review resulted in three options being available to community health services in order to maintain their tax exempt status.  These options are set out in the document “Discussion Paper: Review of Governance Arrangements for Community Health Centres” DHS April 2008 (View on our website by following the links below)

The Victorian Government has legislated to develop a new registration process to enable us to become a “registered community health centre”.  This change applies to this organisation.  As a registered community health centre we will need to transfer our incorporation to become a company limited by guarantee.  Accordingly this organisation will be regulated by the Corporations Act 2001, which is the legislation which applies to all companies in Australia.

For current members of NDCHS this new legislation will enable you to continue as a member should you wish to do so. The new Constitution will require members to agree to the payment of a nominal fee should the organisation be wound up. The figure is likely to be $1.00.  Members will have responsibility for the appointment and removal of the Board and must also agree to any future changes to the Constitution.

The following documents relating to this process are available for your information from reception at our Kerang Office:

• Discussion Paper: Review of Governance Arrangements for Community Health Centres
• Draft Constitution
• Membership Application Form

A Special General Meeting will be held on the 16th of February 2009. Members will be asked to consider and if thought appropriate, pass the following resolution at this meeting.

“That members of Northern District Community Health Service Inc.

Endorse the transition, from an Incorporated Association to a Company Limited by Guarantee and authorise the Board and the Chief Executive Officer to expedite this process;

Agree to a Company Limited by Guarantee being incorporated with the name of Northern District Community Health Service Limited and adopt the proposed Constitution;

Agree that the current Board members become Directors of the proposed Company, subject to them providing written consent both to being Directors and Members;

Agree that current members of the Association who provide their written consent to become members, approve the Constitution of the proposed Company and agree to provide a guarantee as stated in the constitution, shall become members of the Company; and

That this resolution is deemed to be made on the date on which the enabling legislation permitting Northern District  Community Health Service Inc to become a Company Limited by Guarantee is proclaimed or earlier if the consent of the Department of Human Services is obtained.”

The new structure for NDCHS requires that our membership be reviewed and updated prior to the Special General Meeting in February.  I would ask you therefore to consider your ongoing membership with NDCHS.  Should you wish to continue as a member would you please fill in the membership form by following the link below and return it to Northern District Community Health Service, PO Box 523, Kerang, 3579, by 23rd January 2009.

Membership Applications close by 23rd January 2009, it will be assumed that you no longer wish to continue as a member of NDCHS if we don’t receive a new application form from you by this date.

I look forward to your ongoing support of NDCHS.

Yours sincerely
 

Elaine Carter
Chief Executive Officer

GOVERNOR OF VICTORIA LAUNCHES NEW NORTHERN VICTORIAN PROGRAM TO ASSIST YOUNG PEOPLE 

The Governor of Victoria, Professor David de Kretser AC, launched a new community development and educational/training initiative called “Gateways 4 Sustainable Communities Program” at Pyramid Hill on Tuesday 9 December. 

The new project will target dairying communities and is a collaborative venture between the funding organisation, the Gardiner Foundation of which Professor de Kretser is the Patron, and the Northern District Community Health Service (NDCHS) who will auspice the program through an exciting partnership involving four communities.

The program is chaired by Tricia Currie who is the Service and Program Manager for NDCHS, based in Kerang.

Ms Currie explained that the program will involve an innovative approach to engage with and provide an integrated approach to mental health and wellbeing for all young people and community in Pyramid Hill, East Loddon, Cohuna and Boort.  It will also involve these communities identifying accredited vocational training and education programs for young people which will provide real benefits by meeting the skills requirements of local industries, agriculture and farming.

“The world has changed enormously for young people and their rural communities.  Climate change is impacting on future opportunities for these communities. This is a program designed to develop local solutions, look for new opportunities and innovation. Gateways 4 Sustainable Communities champions participation, leadership and innovation.” Ms Currie said.

Gardiner Foundation Chief Executive, Paul Ford, said that the Foundation’s Community and People Development program is focussed primarily in two areas:  enhancing the skills, capability and leadership potential of people in regional Victoria, and thereby strengthening the capacity of small rural communities to manage change and ensure their sustainability into the future.

“There is an exodus of the 18-49 years age group as farms amalgamate and are not replaced by another sustainable industry.  The result is that communities are left with an aging population and reduced capacity to grow community champions for the future,” Mr Ford said.

“This can only change if positive interventions are made and we are certainly seeing this new program as one example of such an intervention,” he added.

The audience at Pyramid Hill was told that the new program will cater for young people undertaking Years 9-12 as well as others not currently in the education system.  The project is especially concerned with the disadvantage experienced by rural young people.

All speakers agreed that Gateways 4 is an ambitious project that will focus on many issues including engaging and connecting with young people and equipping them with knowledge and skills to be future community leaders.

The program will strengthen resilience of young people and community and create a regional network of community organisations and volunteers who have strong relationships with young people and build strategic partnerships between communities, industry, schools and young people themselves.

Finally, the program will provide a range of vocational training pathways that are relevant to young people, local industry and the potential future skills needs of the dairy industry.