Nationalisation / Restructure

Nationalisation – Answers to common questions

This document has been prepared to provide information and answer some common questions about the proposed Nationalisation of AWMA through the establishment of and transition to Wounds Australia.

Questions covered:

1. Why is AWMA undergoing Nationalisation and becoming Wounds Australia?
2. How do I join Wounds Australia?
3. What will be the membership of the Wounds Australia board?
4. Will the local wound groups in each State and Territories continue?
5. What will this mean for me as a member?
6. How will Wounds Australia afford to employ a CEO and administrative team?
7. When will a CEO be employed?
8. Will my membership fee increase?
9. How will my annual membership fee be spent in the future?
10. Will the States and Territories keep their current funds?
11. How will funds be accessed by the States and Territories to conduct education events?

Download

Constitution

This is the finalised version of the inaugural Wounds Australia Constitution.

Constitution

Members are not required to vote on the Constitution – If/when a State/Territory Association votes to wind up and move all assets (including current members) to Wounds Australia this includes acceptance of the Constitution.

Wounds Australia is the new national company entity that members voted for to enhance the ability to act as Australia’s peak body for Wound Management representation and consultation.

We wish to express our thanks to the outgoing AWMA Committee, especially Margo Asimus, for her unrelenting focus and drive to create Wounds Australia.

The new Wounds Australia Board met for the first time in December 2015. The new Board spent our first meeting establishing a working structure and drafting a strategic plan for Wounds Australia to drive our actions for 2016 and beyond. We have identified that there is work on internal structural development that will initially take some time to complete and ask for a little patience while we get these structures functioning.

We are very aware that our members are looking for information on what is happening and are anxious to know how Wounds Australia will continue to support them.

Look out for board communiques to all members following board meetings. There will also be briefs provided in consultation with state branch Presidents on actions needed to keep the branches running smoothly and helping to support their member’s needs. Over time our website will change with the new logo and renewed vision statement.

With the help of members the board of Wounds Australia is looking forward to creating an organisation that is outstanding in its representation as the peak body and in supporting its members.

Wounds Australia Board

Nationalisation update
May 2015

Introduction
Over the past few years there has been a significant amount of work undertaken to restructure the eight current wound management Associations in Australia into a single, national body, which will be known as Wounds Australia. Members have been kept informed of the reasons for this and the progress made via newsletters, e-blasts and through their local Associations. This update will provide an overview of the progress made to date and the steps necessary to complete the move to Nationalisation.

Benefits of Nationalisation
It is a very exciting time for wound management in Australia, as a single body will bring with it many benefits including:

• One professional organisation representing wound management in Australia, rather than seven state and territory Associations and one national Association.
• One Constitution, rather than eight.
• Members will truly be members of a national Association (at present members are only a member of the state or territory in which they hold membership, except for members of AWMA(NT) who are members of AWMA national).
• Ability to pool and utilise accumulated funds to better achieve the organisation’s objectives.
• Implement a broader, national Board of Directors structure that will include key wound management health professionals and persons with expertise in other areas (this might include: health policy; higher education curriculums; politics, business administration; and promotion, profile and marketing).
• Ability to employ staff to support and grow the organisation (to reduce the reliance on volunteer members working in their own time and with limited skills in areas such as political lobbying).
• Have increased influence and respect in political, policy and jurisdictional areas.
• Explore new opportunities for increased revenue.
• Have consistent privileges and benefits for members.
• Have an easily recognisable name.

How we become Nationalised
All state and territory wound management Associations are very supportive of Nationalisation. The following points outline what is currently happening and the processes required to achieve Nationalisation.

• A Constitution for Wounds Australia has been developed by a legal firm with constitutional expertise, in conjunction with AWMA.
• Wounds Australia will be registered as a Company Limited by Guarantee.
• In 2015 each state and territory Association will hold an AGM or Special Meeting at which members will be asked to vote on winding up their current Association. It is necessary for each Association to wind up as an independent Association if they want to join Wounds Australia.
• If the vote to wind up is passed, current members will automatically become members of Wounds Australia from the date of the local association wind up. This will be a seamless process that will be managed by the current AWMA Membership Secretariat. There is no additional fee.
• As part of the wind up process local Association funds will be donated to Wounds Australia, where local groups will be allocated a Cost Centre to allow for continued support of local events and member privileges and benefits.
• Membership fees, conditions, benefits and privileges will remain unchanged on joining Wounds Australia. In the future there might be different and increased benefits and privileges to members of Wounds Australia.

Initially the Board of Directors of Wounds Australia will be the current AWMA committee, so changes to leadership and governance will not occur immediately. It is planned to hold the first AGM of Wounds Australia within the first 12 months of operation. At this time the configuration of the Board of Directors will change, but will still include key health professionals in wound management in Australia.

Conclusion
The journey to Nationalisation has been long and sometimes challenging. But the changes are being made to benefit wound management, members and patients. We want to continue to build strong networks, useful resources and provide local and national initiatives in wound management.