Why VMC?
The VMC Capability Program aims to build the capability of volunteers who are the Approved Providers of regulated Outside School Hours Care services. We want to give volunteers clear and easy to access guidance so that they can be effective in their roles for the benefit of the children, families and staff they support.
Why was the VMC Capability Program Created?
There are significant business and compliance risks associated with operating a regulated Outside School Hours Care service in Queensland. Individuals elected to executive positions on committees, particularly as volunteers, rarely understand the ECEC sector or have knowledge of the significant responsibilities associated with operating a regulated OSHC service.
Volunteer Management Committees (VMCs) are collectively one of the largest providers across Queensland and Australia, though they are more likely to operate services within the Outside School Hours Care sector due to the unique positioning between parents (on Governing Councils and Parents and Citizens Associations) and schools. While VMCs are more likely to operate services at the ‘exceeding’ or top ending of the quality ratings scale, they are also over-represented in the ‘working towards’ or lower end of the quality ratings scale. Without the right systems and processes in place, compliance and quality can quickly decline.
A recent focus on child safety and changes to Child Care Subsidy which directly link subsidies with compliance, mean that going forward, providers may lose subsidies if they fail to comply with child safety requirements included in and beyond the National Quality Framework. These practices are not just about complying with the national law and regulations, they impact practices such as industrial relations and human resources, including how staff are recruited, onboarded and how their performance is supported in the workplace. These can be complex matters for volunteers to navigate with significant legal ramifications.
Target Audience
The target audience for this project is both the executive members of Volunteer Management Committees that act as Approved Providers of regulated OSHC services, as well as the Nominated Supervisors working for Volunteer Management Committees. These persons not only share some of the key responsibilities and liabilities under the law, but they are also responsible for the day-to-day operations and compliance of the service. Volunteer Management Committees and nominated supervisors need to work in a collaborative partnership to govern, manage and lead the service with shared understanding. Nominated Supervisors often have to ‘mange up’ or ‘upskill’ their volunteers and help onboard them into their roles as the provider – so these training modules were designed to be of benefit to both roles.
The Training Modules
Each module has been designed based on feedback from the sector. The training is presented in 4 one-hour modules including:
- Strategic Governance
- The National Quality Framework
- Financial Management
- Employment Relations