What is a committee of management?
Most kindergartens in Victoria are managed by a parent-run
incorporated committees of management. Many kindergartens in Victoria are now supported
by kindergarten cluster managers, which include local government, churches or not for profit
organisations like ECMS.
An incorporated committee of management consists of parents and interested
community members who are elected at the Annual General Meeting of the
kindergarten to manage the legal, financial and employment responsibilities.
The committee is made up of volunteers who are prepared to dedicate many
hours to ensure the kindergarten operates in the best interests of the
children and families within the community.
What does the committee do?
Each kindergarten has a constitution (a set of legally-binding rules that
determine how the committee operates). Stand alone committees are responsible
for managing the kindergarten and this includes acting as an employer by
ensuring systems are in place for the service to operate on a daily basis
and from year to year. The committee appoints and supports
staff, develops and applies budgets, promotes the kindergarten, develops
policies and establishes processes for parents to have input into the kindergarten. The committee
needs to keep up-to-date with current legislation and changes in the industry,
and maintain adequate records.
Committees managed by a cluster manager such as ECMS play a slightly
different role, as ECMS takes on the onerous
tasks of employment, legislative requirements and meeting children’s
services regulations.
