Resource Reviews
The Secretary's Handbook - For Queensland Incorporated Associations
This handbook is a very practical and easy to read publication, written by Professor Myles McGregor-Lowndes from the Centre of Philanthropy & Non-profit Studies at the QUT. This handbook was developed using, as a basis, enquiries received over many years from Secretaries of both small and more complex organisations. It contains everything you need to know about the position of Secretary including:
- The election or appointment of a Secretary;
- Legal duties and powers;
- Notice of meetings;
- Meeting format and procedures;
- Preparation of minutes;
- A range of sample templates.
This resource can be downloaded (free of charge) in part or whole, or ordered in booklet form on-line at
www.bus.qut.edu.au/research/cpns/publications or
www.caxton.org.au/publications.html
The Incorporated Associations Manual
This manual is another Queensland specific and comprehensive resource written by a recognised expert in this area, Professor Myles McGregor-Lowndes.
This publication is presented in a loose-leaf format to support the inclusion of amendments (usually published annually) to incorporate legislative changes. This manual presents a myriad of information relating to Associations in clear, simple language and is both practical and user friendly.
Contents include an explanation of the Associations Incorporation Act 1981, plus information on insurance, taxation, fundraising and meeting procedures. A range of forms and examples are also incorporated to further enhance understanding in these important areas.
You can sample this resource by accessing a free download of the first 3 chapters from
www.bus.qut.edu.au/research/cpns/publications with the full publication and any subsequent up-dates available from
www.caxton.org.au/publications.html
If you already have a copy of this valuable resource please check that it has been kept up-to-date with relevant amendments - Number 11 is the latest update published.
Changing your Constitution Resource Kit - For Incorporated Children's Service Associations in Queensland
Designed as a step-by-step approach to assist in making what can be a daunting process more manageable for members of voluntary management committees. The incorporated activities have been designed to allow the process to be undertaken on a 'self paced basis'. All accompanying examples, information and official forms have been included to support the process of constitutional change from commencement to completion. The steps involved include:
- Extracting key information from the current constitution;
- Assessing current constitution;
- Identifying issues (compliance & practice);
- Identifying required changes;
- Discuss & consider options for change;
- Amend/re-write new draft constitution;
- Compliance checklist;
- Developing special resolutions;
- The process of presenting resolutions for approval;
- The process of registering changes to your constitution
This resource is available on a cost recovery basis ($11.00 + postage GST inclusive) by completing the Enquiry Page of this website
Outside School Hours Care Financial Manager (OSHC-FM)
A NEW user friendly budgeting tool specifically developed for OSHC and Vacation Care Services in Queensland.
Presented in a multi-paged spreadsheet format, colour coding is used to indicate areas requiring data entry with automatic formulae's incorporated (and protected from inadvertent deletion), to save you significant time in the budget development and fee setting process.
Once the budget is prepared data is automatically entered into other relevant linked spreadsheets that support effective financial management practices.
These include relief staff calculations; cash-flow forecast; detailed income & expenditure statement-per month & year to-date actual vs budget estimate; financial report summary; utilisation calculation, staff accrued leave provision; and depreciation & upgrading schedule for provision allocation.
This resource consists of a CD licensed to your service accompanied by a simple to follow instruction booklet to guide you through each spreadsheet.
CLICK HERE TO ORDER YOUR COPY TODAY
Also available from the resource link at www.qcan.org.au or by phoning 3352 3499.
NOW AVAILABLE BY POPULAR DEMAND...... Family Day Care Providers Financial Manager (FDC-FM)
This NEW user friendly budgeting & fee setting tool was specifically developed for family day care providers, in response to need identified during 'Budgeting and Fee Setting' and 'Business Planning' in-service sessions for family day care (delivered by Frances Snedden).
Presented in a multi-paged spreadsheet format, colour coding is used to indicate areas requiring data entry with automatic formulae's incorporated (and protected from inadvertent deletion), to save you significant time in the budget development and fee setting process.
Once the budget is prepared and decisions made regarding fee options, data is automatically entered into other relevant linked spreadsheets.
These include:
- Cash-flow outflows worksheet;
- Cash-flow forecast;
- Monthly & year-to-date income & expenditure comparison - actual vs budget estimate;
- Financial summary by nominated month; and
- Utilisation calculation/monitoring;
FDC - FM supports effective financial management practices and viability for family day care providers as a small business.
The resource consists of a CD individually licensed to each care provider, accompanied by a simple to follow instruction booklet to guide you through completion of each spreadsheet.
NOW AVAILABLE ........ Long Day Care Financial Manager (LDC-FM)
The key to service viability is the development and implementation of sound financial management - planning, recording, monitoring and reporting.
This user friendly budgeting, fee setting, financial monitoring and reporting tool for Long Day Care Centres has been re-developed based on an earlier version known as CCFM (developed by the QCOSS Child Care Management Training & Support Unit in 2000). The re-development is being undertaken in response to need identified during 'Budgeting and Fee Setting' and 'Business Planning' in-service sessions (delivered by Frances Snedden).
Presented in a multi-paged spreadsheet format, colour coding is used to indicate areas requiring data entry with automatic formulae's incorporated (and protected from inadvertent deletion), to save you significant time in the budget development and fee setting process. Once the budget is prepared and decisions made regarding fee options, data is automatically entered into other relevant linked spreadsheets. These include:
- Relief staff calculations;
- Cash-flow outflows worksheet;
- Cash-flow forecast;
- Monthly & year-to-date income & expenditure comparison - actual vs budget estimate;
- Financial report summary by nominated month;
- Utilisation calculation/monitoring;
- Staff accrued leave to check against accrued provisions; and
- Depreciation and Upgrading Schedule for provision allocation.
LDC-FM supports sound financial management practices and viability for long day care centres and consists of a CD individually licensed to your service, accompanied by a simple to follow instruction booklet to guide you through completion of each spreadsheet.
CLICK HERE TO ORDER YOUR COPY TODAY at the low cost of $55.00
(includes postage, handling and GST)
NEW RELEASE !!
Growing Children...Growing Business - The Basics of Business Planning for Children's Services
With the continual changes in the child care sector, it is more important than ever for children's services to develop a sound business plan.
This publication is presented with a 'hands-on' approach to planning and developing a viable, well managed service.
It was developed as a collaborative project by the National Management Alliance (NATMA), a national network of members providing specialist Management Support to Children's Services.
In a manual format, 'Growing Children...Growing Business - The Basics of Business Planning for Children's Services', is available from the resources link at
www.qcan.org.au or by phoning 3352 3499.
EYTG Incident/Illness Register
This comprehensive resource developed by the Early Years Training Group (EYTG) provides management personnel in children's services with the ability to record and monitor incidents and illnesses of both children in care and staff working within your service.
This computer program presented on CD, is a user friendly package which supports essential workplace health and safety risk management practices within the children's services environment.
Charts can be selected to highlight the area of the building/grounds where incidents have occurred, the time of day, age group, type of illness or injury type by occurrence and body part.
The incident register is of particular value to licensees of multiple services as charts can be used to monitor the occurrence of injuries & illnesses within different their services, thus enabling strategies to be implemented to minimise or eliminate identified risks.
More information and purchase of this valuable resource is available from www.eytg.com.au
It's time for you ! Me Time
Due to the popularity of Stress Management in-service sessions over the past few years, it is only fitting to include a review of a guide written by Margaret Carter on how to learn to put yourself first.
Where stress management is concerned, frequently there is a gap between what we know we should do and what we actually do !
In children's services staff are often too busy looking after others, the children in their care, colleagues, family members etc to remember to also take time to care for themselves.
This easy to read booklet provides a diverse range of themes to consider and select from 'to take better care of yourself'.
The ideas presented are practical, uncomplicated and do not require large financial , time or energy commitments. An innovative and motivational book written in a positive coversational style.
Available from the author on www.macarterconsultancy.com.au or from the Bookgarden.
AND FOR ALL THE PROCRASTINATORS OUT THERE !!
'EAT THAT FROG' 21 Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get More Done in Less Time
This intriguing title and it's use as a metaphor for tackling the most challenging task of your day - the one you are most likely to procrastinate on, is based on an old saying:
'if the first thing you do each morning is to eat a live frog, you'll have the satisfaction of knowing that it's probably the worst thing you'll do all day !! '
The authors approach encourages people to not try to do everything but learn to focus on the most important tasks, do more faster and get the RIGHT things done. Well worth a read if procrastination is a habit you personally are trying to break to improve your time management skills.
Available from major book-retailers, details as follows:
Eat that Frog by Brian Tracy, published by Berrett-Koehler Publishers Inc. San Francisco 2002
The following web-sites also provide relevant management related resources for Children's Services:
