Update from our Liaison Officer - Nicole Beresford

We've had a very busy start to the term here in the CSPWA office. As we mentioned earlier in the newsletter, most schools will be holding their Annual Community Meetings in November, so we have been receiving calls from Parent Groups with lots of questions about how to plan for the ACM. With the new Terms of Reference being adopted by most schools at their last ACM, committee members will now have been appointed to their roles for a period of two years, so will not need to re-elect at this ACM. There has also been significant changes to the Treasurer role for some schools, so members are looking for support on how to explain the role to anyone wanting to nominate for the position in 2024. I've had the opportunity to visit several schools in the last 2 weeks to present to the parent groups and help them to navigate the changes.

Staff have also put together an ACM guide with accompanying resources, and a handover pack as long standing committee members step down and prepare to pass on their knowledge to new parents. Please get in touch if you would like us to email or send out these resources.

We have also been assisting committees to prepare for their planning meetings, to look at which events in 2024 will be friendraisers, and which will be fundraisers, and how P&F's can support their school with bigger projects and initiate those donations to the school before the end of the year. Although the Terms of Reference states that the P&F should aim to spend funds collected in the same year in which they are received, the committee can still carry over enough funds to ensure invoices due early in the year can be paid, and P&F welcome back to school events can be funded. 

Please get in touch with me if you would like support at your last P&F meeting for the year, or to brainstorm ideas for your planning meeting. You may also like to contact us for advice or resources once your new P&F Committee has been elected, and you want to start planning for 2024.  I can be contacted on 9338 9987 or via email support@csp.wa.edu.au.