Dear RMPS Parents and Carers,

It’s nearly the end of Term 1 and the school holidays are fast approaching. What a busy term it has been.

But wait, the annual Art Show is finally upon us (Opening Night: Fri 15 March, 7 – 10pm; General Exhibition: Sat 16 March, 10am – 6pm). Please get behind this fabulous event to ensure its success and show our support for all the work the RMPS Art Show Committee have been doing.

To ensure the event runs smoothly, some volunteers are needed to help during the event and for packing up after the event. If you are able to help out, please sign up at: https://signup.com/go/aTpyfzP

What is the PFA?

The Parents & Friends Association (PFA) is a group of volunteer parents and carers who help organise events and fundraising activities for RMPS, welcome families and bring people together from within the community. This helps us all connect more closely with our school and to raise vital funds for school improvements. Without volunteers, there would be no PFA.

Working in cooperation with the Principal and School Council, the PFA’s aims are to:

contribute to the wellbeing of the school community
encourage the participation of all parents and carers in the life of the school and the education of their children
provide opportunities for parents and carers to get to know each other and to be informed about their child’s school
provide opportunities for parents and carers to extend their understanding of school operations, and general education policy
contribute to proposals on school policy and other educational issues (as identified or discussed with the Principal or School Council)
raise funds for the benefit of the school

As a registered association, it is a requirement that the PFA has a minimum of three office bearers (executives) – President, Secretary and Treasurer. The current PFA executives are:

Wen Li Wong (President) – mother of Arthur (2G)
Elizabeth Staunton (Secretary) – mother of Sarah (5B)
Bård Sæter (Treasurer) – father of Madeleine (5G) and Aksel (1R)

PFA Registered Members

AAll RMPS parents and carers of children attending the school, or any other interested individual of the immediate school community, are welcome to become Registered Members of the PFA. Registered Members can:

Receive copies of meeting minutes
Vote on items/actions at meetings
Vote to elect office bearers (executives)
Nominate to be elected to PFA executive roles
Be elected to PFA executive roles.

All members must sign and complete a Member Registration Form annually. After signing and submitting the form, a person becomes a Registered Member until the next AGM. If you would like to register or re-register as a member, please contact us via rmps.pfa@gmail.comfor a copy of the registration form.

Note that you do not have to be a member to help on events or attend meetings.

PFA Annual General Meeting (AGM)

As a registered association it is also a requirement that the PFA hold an AGM to elect the office bearers for the coming year. All office bearer positions are vacated at the AGM and open to any Registered Member to be elected to. It is now time for our AGM. All are welcome to attend!

Date and Time:	Tuesday 19 March at 7pm – 8pm
Location:	RMPS Staff Room

To operate, the PFA must have the minimum roles of President, Secretary and Treasurer. It will not be able to continue after the AGM if all three roles are not filled. These roles work together to meet the PFA’s aims, help each other and volunteers, and ensure overall responsibilities and tasks are met. Broadly the roles involve the following, although duties can be shared as needed:

The President: The main spokesperson for the PFA; directs PFA meetings; seeks member input; collaborates with school community; reports to meetings regarding PFA activities and any matters requiring discussion; liaises with Principal and School Council to report on PFA activities and report back to the PFA regarding their needs; oversees and guides PFA activity coordinators; organises PFA newsletter articles; prepares and presents an annual report of PFA activities for the AGM.
The Secretary: Provides notification of meetings; prepares and distributes meeting agendas and minutes; ensures minutes are approved by the school principal prior to distribution; manages PFA mailboxes; manages member registrations; assists with permits.
The Treasurer: Liaises with RMPS Business Manager and admin staff about collection and handling of monies and to ensure accurate maintenance of the Association’s financial records; prepares and presents written Treasurer report for PFA meetings; guides office bearers and PFA volunteers on budgets and finance related matters; prepares and presents an annual financial statement for the AGM.

The PFA office bearer roles are a great way to get to know your school and community better and help shape events and fundraisers held throughout the year. It is also a good way to utilise and develop your capabilities, knowledge and experience while helping Robbie Mac. New officer bearers will be given a handover and help from the previous office bearers and school – you will not be on your own.

Office bearers are elected to office by Registered Members attending the meeting as only they are eligible to vote. So, if you want to vote, make sure you are registered and that you attend the AGM. Note: If you are a current member, your membership will cease at the AGM unless you re-register prior to or at the AGM.

Any Registered Member can put their hand up or nominate for an office bearer role. Nominees must attend the AGM at which the election of office bearers occurs or have indicated their intention to nominate in writing to the current President prior to the meeting. So, if you want to take on an office bearer role, make sure you are registered and let us know your intention.

The election will be independently overseen by Peter Watson, RMPS Principal.

The AGM is being held with the goal to fill the office bearer roles and to get the next PFA year underway; however, the current office bearers are providing notice that if the three mandatory roles are not filled at the AGM, we propose to voluntarily dissolve the PFA as we will consider it no longer sustainable. If this occurs, the proposed dissolution of the PFA will be discussed at the AGM and voted on by any attending members. If the PFA ends, the school will take up responsibility for any events and/or fundraisers to be held for RMPS while still seeking volunteer assistance.

If you're passionate about your school and would like to see the Robbie Mac PFA continue and to make the most of 2024, then please support our PFA and school and get involved!

Please let us know (1) if you would like to be a Registered Member for this coming year, (2) would like to talk to us about the roles, and/or (3) if you would like to nominate for the role of President, Secretary or Treasurer. Contact us via rmps.pfa@gmail.com for a copy of the registration form and/or nomination form.

2024 PFA Events and Fundraisers

Stay tuned for the following events coming up in the next few terms:

Bunnings BBQ Fundraiser (Term 2, Sunday 5 May)
Family Event (Tentatively Term 2, Date TBC)
Student Disco (Tentatively Term 3, Date TBC)
World Teachers Day Morning Tea (Term 4, Friday 25 October – event TBC)
School Colour Fun Run (Term 4, Friday 15 November)

Other events and fundraisers may also be run throughout the 2024 school year.

We hope to see you at the AGM and the Art Show!

Wen Li (President), Elizabeth (Secretary) and Bård (Treasurer)

PFA Committee

FREE Working with Children Check (WWCC)

Ever thought about volunteering at a school (e.g., excursion, swimming, classroom) or PFA (e.g., disco, colour run) activity or event, or even at your child’s sports or dance club, but haven’t been able to because you don’t have a Working with Children Check (WWCC)? Well, you can get a volunteer WWCC for FREE! Applying for one takes about 15-20 minutes and you can do it online via Working with Children Check (service.vic.gov.au). Once you have completed the online application you will receive an application receipt, followed by a card after the check is completed. (Note: We recommend you do this using your mobile phone because of the photo process etc.)

What you'll need to do

Prove your identity with documents using your phone. The online application shows you which ones.
Fill out the online application form
Consent to Service Victoria passing your info on to the Working with Children Check (WWCC) Unit Victoria (Department of Justice and Community Safety) to process your WWCC application. (Services Victoria does not keep your information, they just pass it on.)

Your Working with Children check

The Working with Children Check Victoria screening process looks at:
Your criminal record in all Australian states and territories, including any charges, regardless of the outcome
Your professional conduct as determined by these groups, and

Whether you're required to report under sex offender legislation

If you have applied for a WWCC but are unsure whether your card will arrive before you want to volunteer at an event, please speak to the school office about possible options. A check may take between 3-12 weeks to be processed.

Copies of WWCC cards are kept on file by the school for compliance and a Working with Children Check is required for doing child-related work which includes volunteering. Please provide the school office with a copy of your card.

If you would like to get a WWCC card but are not confident doing this yourself, please contact the school office for assistance by calling 9890 2372.

For RMPS related volunteering, please also read the school’s:

Visitors Policy
https://robmacps.vic.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Visitors-policy.docx
Volunteers Policy
https://robmacps.vic.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Volunteers-policy.docx