ANZASW is a membership based organisation and as such the members ultimately control the direction of the organisation. They do this through attendance and voting on an annual basis at the Annual General Meeting. In addition to this all members belong to either a local branch or a roopu. At this level members can run events on behalf of members, debate issues of local or national concern and ask the national Governance Board members to provide a national response to these issues if necessary. The members of the local branch or roopu also send a delegate to a national congress meeting on an annual basis to provide advice and guidance to the Governance Board on the future direction of the Association. In addition the Tangata Whenua Takawaenga o Aotearoa – the Maori Caucus of ANZASW, represents the concerns of Tangata Whenua members of the Association.

 

Governance Structure

Governance Functions

The Board responsibility is the governance of ANZASW ie:

The exercise of corporate  leadership through the  establishment and monitoring of  necessary controls and strategic direction setting so that the organisation is equipped to respond to the changing circumstances and situations in the external and internal environments in order to meet the expectations and demands of owners (Members) and other key stakeholders.

In brief, governance involves the Board in the process of ensuring that Aotearoa New Zealand Association of Social Workers is well managed without the Board itself becoming involved in the operations except as required by its legislation or as a consequence of exceptional circumstances.

(Board Charter adopted May 2010).

The governance of ANZASW is invested in a nine member Governance Board. At the Annual General Meeting, members of the Association elect seven members of the Governance Board and a further two can be co-opted by the Board to ensure an appropriate mix of skills and experience. The current members of the Governance Board are:

1. Four members elected by the membership.
2. Two members elected by the Tangata Whenua Takawaenga o Aotearoa.
3. One member elected by branches. Each branch shall be entitled to one vote.
4. Up to two people, not necessarily members, who are co-opted by the Governance Board to provide specialised skills that the Board considers are needed to enable it to more effectively govern the Association.

2012 ANZASW Board

• Tauha Te Kani – Tangata Whenua Takawaenga o Aotearoa elected  President
• Andrew Lynch – Co-opted member
• Bella Wikaira – membership elected
• James Makowharemahihi – membership elected
• Janine Joyce – membership elected
• John Dunlop – cop-opted member, standing down 31 March 2012
• John White – Tangata Whenua Takawaenga o Aotearoa elected
• Merrill Simmons Hanson – Branch elected
• Paula Grooby – membership elected

Kaumatua

• Witariana Mida

Board Committees

A number of committees have responsibility for specific areas of work on behalf of the Governance Board. All of these consist of members of the Association who volunteer their time.

Financial Management

The Whole Board

CE Employment Committee

• Tauha Te Kani
• James Makowharemahihi
• Andrew Lynch
• Paula Grooby

Social Justice Committee

• Hanny Naus
• Merrill Simmons Hansen
• Tauha Te Kani
• Janine Joyce
• Fiona Robertson
• Mike O’Brien

Complaints Advisory Group 1 July 2010 – 30 June 2012

• Robyn Corrigan
• Annette Twyman
• Kate van Heugten
• Dominic Chilvers

50 Years Celebration Working Party 2012 – 2014

Yet to be appointed

Board Portfolios

International Liaison               Tauha Te Kani

Tangata Whenua Liaison        Bella Wikaira

Board Terms of Office and Elections

Board members will serve a two year term of office (they may be re-elected) and elections will be held in the following cycle:

 

Even years	Odd years
Branches elect one member of the Board on a one vote per branch basis	The Tangata Whenua Takawaenga o Aotearoa process provides a mechanism for input from all members through their Roopu and for a final appointment to be made based on a consensus from a National Tangata Whenua Hui.
A general member postal ballot is held for two members of the Board	A general member postal ballot is held for two members of the Board
One member of the Board is co-opted by the elected Board members	One member of the Board is co-opted by the elected Board members

 

The Election Process

Branch Election

The ANZASW Governance Board includes one position that is selected by the Branches, for a two-year term.  Members are invited to forward to their local chair, their name, a brief bio,  CV and an explanation of the skills that they would bring to the Board.  Following a series of meetings, Branches are then invited to forward one supported nomination to National Office for the nationwide ballot.

After putting together a summary of nominations from all Branches, a ballot is circulated.  Each Branch then votes for their top three candidates, in preferred order.  There is one ballot per branch.  After tallying the votes, National Office will confirm the winner of the ballot in time for ratification at the AGM in November.

General Membership Election

The ANZASW Governance Board also includes two General Membership positions, for a two-year term.  Nominations are open to Full members, so long as all membership obligations have been met.  Members are invited to send their Expression of Interest to National Office, along with their CV, a brief bio and an explanation of the skills that they would bring to the Board (Election Statement).  A letter of support from another Full member must also accompany the Expression of Interest.

The elections may be held as either a postal or electronic ballot to enable members to cast their vote. Candidate biographies and election statements will be supplied with voting forms in October.  National Office keeps a tally of the votes, with the winners announced in time for ratification at the Annual General Meeting, to be held in November.

Tangata Whenua Takawaenga o Aotearoa Election

Two (2) members are nominated and endorsed by Tangata Whenua Takawaenga o Aotearoa, ratified by a General Meeting.

The Tangata Whenua Takawaenga o Aotearoa process provides a mechanism for input into the election of Tangata Whenua Board Members from all members through their Roopu and for a final nomination and endorsement to be made based on a consensus from a National Tangata Whenua Hui. The nominated and endorsed candidate/s are endorsed at a General Meeting of the Association.

Co-option

Up to two people, not necessarily members, who are co-opted by the Governance Board to provide specialised skills that the Board considers are needed to enable it to more effectively govern the Association.

Interest Groups

Individual members may also belong to an Interest Group. There are currently eleven ANZASW Interest Groups:

1. Private Practitioners Interest Group
2. Social Workers in Schools Interest Group
3. Supervisors Interest Group
4. Pasifika Social Workers Interest Group
5. Chinese Social Workers Interest Group
6. Social Workers Out There Interest Group
7. African Social Workers Interest Group
8. Filipino Interest Group
9. Managers and Leaders Interest Group
10. Indian interest Group
11. Christian Fellowship Interest Group

These forums are a national network of professionals who share a similar area of interest or professional practice. They provide an opportunity for debate of issues of concern and for collegial support. Interest Groups may also send a delegate to the national congress meeting and in this way influence the future direction of the national organisation.

Operational Info

The operational work of ANZASW is managed by a small paid team, most of whom are based in the National Office in Christchurch. The team currently consists of:

• Lucy Sandford-Reed- Executive Officer
• Colin Elliott – Competency Manager
• Jacqui Christian – Office Manager
• Margaret Langley – Administration Officer
• Fiona Scott – Administration Officer
• Cinnamon Kouka – Administration Assistant

In addition, ANZASW has contracts with a number of members who undertake key areas of operational work on behalf of the Association. The areas of work include:

• Competency Assessment
• Recertification Assessment
• Editing Publications
• Continuing Professional Development