Professional Documents
Culture Documents
CONSTITUTION
1. Name
The name of this group shall be Australian Hazara Youth Group Inc.
1.1. Because the group has previously been well known by the community
as SHUUA, we might also include SHUUA in any publications published by this
group.
2. Aims
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2.7. To educate the wider community about Hazaragi culture.
2.8. To educate the wider community about the plight of Hazara people
living around the world, particularly in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
2.9. To encourage Hazara students involvement in the Hazara community.
2.10. To liaise with any organisation which is concerned with promoting the
interests of students in general.
2.11. To steadfastly condemn racism, prejudice and injustice wherever it
may be found.
2.12. To promote the virtues of harmony, tolerance, co-operation and respect
through education and enlightenment.
2.13. To promote and encourage the development of leadership skills and
qualities in Hazara students.
2.14. To provide free of charge tutoring classes to Hazara students in
particular, and Afghans in general to assist students in their studies.
2.15. To provide students insight into tertiary qualifications and clear
understanding of various pathways to get into universities and TAFE courses.
2.16. To promote educational awareness, self motivation and unity amongst
Hazara students in every state of Australia.
2.17. To endeavour to publish a newsletter and make efforts to launch a
radio service for the Hazara community in Melbourne.
3. Membership
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4. Discipline and suspension of members
4.1. Subject to these rules if the committee is of the opinion that a member
has refused to comply with the constitution, or has been found guilty of conduct
unbecoming a member or prejudicial to the interests of the group the committee may
be resolution suspend that member from membership of the group.
4.2. If the member is an office bearer, he/she shall lose the office and become
an ordinary member for a period of three (3) months. He /she shall be eligible to
apply for a position in the Executive Committee at the next AGM only if he/she has
served his/her 3 months suspension period.
4.3. If the member is an ordinary member he/she shall be suspended from
the group for a period of three (3) months.
4.4. A resolution of the committee under subrule 4.1 does not take effect
unless at a meeting held in accordance with subrule 4.3, the committee confirms the
resolution, and if the member exercises a right of appeal to the group, the group
confirms the resolution in accordance with the rules.
4.5. A meeting of the committee to confirm or revoke a resolution passed
under subrule 4.1 must be held not earlier than 14 days, and not later than 28 days,
after a notice has been given to the member.
4.6. For the purpose of giving notice, the Secretary must as soon as
possible, give to the member a written notice stating the resolution of the committee
and the grounds on which it is based, stating that the member or his/her
representative may address the committee at the meeting, stating the date, place
and time of the meeting and informing the member that he/she may either attend the
meeting or give the committee before the date of the meeting a written notice
seeking the revocation of the resolution. The notice must also inform the member
that if at the meeting the committee confirms the resolution, he/she may, no later
than 48 hours after the meeting give the Secretary a notice to the effect that he/she
wishes to appeal to the group in general meeting against the resolution.
4.7. At a meeting of the committee to confirm or revoke a resolution, the
committee must give the member, or his/her representative an opportunity to be
heard, give due consideration to any written statement submitted by the member and
determine by resolution whether to confirm or revoke the resolution.
4.8. If at the meeting the committee confirms the resolution, the member
may, not later than 48 hours after that meeting, give the Secretary a notice to the
effect that he or she wishes to appeal to the group in general meeting against the
resolution.
4.9. If the Secretary receives a notice under subrule 4.6, he/she must notify
the committee and the committee must convene a general meeting of the group to
be held within 21 days after the date on which the Secretary received the notice.
4.10. At a general meeting of the group the member, or his/her
representative, must be given an opportunity to be heard, and the members present
must vote by secret ballot on the question whether the resolution should be
confirmed or revoked.
4.11. A resolution is confirmed if, at the general meeting, not less than two-
thirds of the members vote in person, or by proxy, in favour of the resolution. In any
other case, the resolution is revoked.
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5. Disputes and Mediation
5.1. The grievance procedure set out in this rule applies to disputes
between a member and another member, and a member and the group.
5.2. The parties to the dispute must meet and discuss the matter, and if
possible, resolve the dispute within 14 days after the dispute comes to the attention
of all parties.
5.3. If the parties are unable to resolve the dispute at the meeting, or if a
party fails to attend that meeting, then the parties must, within 10 days, hold a
meeting in the presence of a mediator.
5.4. If the dispute is between two members, the mediator must be a person
from the Executive committee chosen by agreement between the parties.
5.5. If the dispute is between a member and the group, the mediator shall
be a committee of 3 members of the Executive committee, any of whom is not a
party to the dispute.
5.6. The mediator must in good faith try to resolve the dispute by giving the
parties every opportunity to be heard.
5.7. If the mediation process fails, the parties may seek to resolve the
dispute in accordance with the Act or otherwise at law.
7. General Meetings
7.1. The Annual General Meeting shall be held each calendar year, at a
location determined by the Executive committee.
7.2. The business of the Annual General Meeting shall include: the election
of all Executive members in accordance with section 8, reports from current
Executive members, any other businesses as deemed necessary at the discretion of
the Executive and general businesses.
7.3. The notice convening the annual general meeting given by the
Secretary must specify that the meeting is an annual general meeting.
7.4. The President of the group shall preside over the Annual General
Meeting and any other meetings.
7.5. In addition to the annual general meeting, any other general meeting
may be held in the same year as deemed necessary by the Executive committee or
upon request by a member.
7.6. The Secretary of the group, at least 14 days, or if a special resolution
has been proposed at least 21 days, before the date fixed for holding a general
meeting of the group must cause to be sent to each member of the group both
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Executive and ordinary members - a notice stating the place, date and time of the
meeting and the nature of the business to be conducted at the meeting.
7.7. Notices may be sent by either prepaid post to the address appearing in
the register of the members, or by electronic transmission.
7.8. No item of business may be conducted at a general meeting unless a
quorum of six (6) members entitled under this constitution to vote is present at the
time when the meeting is considering that item.
7.9. Each member is entitled to appoint another member as a proxy by
notice given to the Secretary no later than 24 hours before the time of the meeting in
respect of which the proxy is appointed.
7.10. If within half an hour after the appointed time for the commencement of
a general meeting a quorum is not present, the Executive Committee members
present shall consult and confirm another date to which the meeting shall be
postponed to. A notice to this effect shall be circulated to the members by the
Secretary.
7.11. If at the subsequent meeting the quorum is still not present within half
an hour after the proposed time for the commencement of the meeting, the members
personally present being not less than 3 shall be a quorum.
7.12. Any motion passed by a general meeting shall be rescinded by a
simple majority vote at a subsequent general meeting.
7.13. No business other than set out in the notice convening the meeting
may be conducted at the meeting.
7.14. All meetings must be minuted and the minutes made available to any
interested party.
8. Elections
9. Executive Committee
10. Finance
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12. Seal
12.1. The common seal of the group must be kept in the custody of the
Secretary.
12.2. The common seal must not be affixed to any instrument except by the
authority of the committee and the affixing of the common seal must be attested by
the signatures either of the President and the Secretary, or in the absence of either
of them, by any two members of the Executive Committee.
15. Dissolution
15.1. In the event of the organisation being dissolved, the amount that
remains after such dissolution and the satisfaction of all debts and liabilities shall be
transferred to any organisation with similar purposes which is not carried on for the
profit or gain of its individual members.
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17. Adoption of the Constitution
This constitution was adopted by the members present at the AGM held on:
2010
Signed:
...............................................................................................
(President)
...............................................................................................
(Vice President)
...............................................................................................
(Secretary)
...............................................................................................
(Treasurer)
...............................................................................................
(Assistant Treasurer)
...............................................................................................
(Public Affairs Convenor)
...............................................................................................
(Quality Control Manger)
...............................................................................................
(Member)
...............................................................................................
(Member)
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Appendix A
Roles and Responsibilities of the Executive
1. President
2. Vice President
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3. Secretary
4. Treasurer
5. Assistant Treasurer
7.1 To make ascertain that any publication produced by the group is of the
highest standard and quality possible.
7.2. To Assist the Public Affairs Convenor in writing materials for
advertisements.
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