GOVERNANCE
Committee of management
The Kindergarten is governed by an elected Committee of Management that has key roles amongst its other activities and responsibilities – more on these below:
- Registered Charity
- Approved Provider
- Funded Organisation
- Employer
- Connection to Community
Registered Charity
As an early childhood service which is a registered charity, LFK complies with the requirements of the Australian Charities and Not-for-Profits Commission (ACNC) and the Australian Charities and Not-for-Profits Commission Act 2012 (the ACNC Act)
More information here: https://www.acnc.gov.au
Approved Provider
The Committee of Management of Lady Forster Kindergarten is the ‘Approved Provider’ responsible for the operation and management of the kindergarten.
As a kindergarten providing education and care on a regular basis to children, LFK complies with the Education and Care Services National Law Act 2010 (the Act) and the Education and Care Services National Regulations 2011 (the Regulations).
The Act and the Regulations are key components of the National Quality Framework (NQF) and set out minimum standards and requirements for the operation of early childhood services. In Victoria, the Regulatory Authority responsible for administering the National Quality Framework is the Department of Education and Training (DET). A copy of the NQF is available here: https://www.acecqa.gov.au/nqf/about/guide
DET employs Authorised Officers to grant service and provider approvals, assess and rate education and care services, and monitor and enforce compliance with the National Law and National Regulations, including receiving and investigating serious incidents and complaints.
At its last assessment, Lady Forster Kindergarten was proud to be rated as ‘Exceeding’ the National Quality Standard (NQS) https://www.acecqa.gov.au/resources/national-registers/services/lady-forster-kindergarten
Funded Organisation
Funding is provided by the Victorian State Government to enable eligible children to participate in a kindergarten program in the year before entering formal school. The kindergarten (service provider) has entered into a service agreement with the Department of Education (DET) for this funding and complies through the proper administration and management of the funds and the delivery of the program in accordance with the service agreement. More information here: https://www.education.vic.gov.au/childhood/providers/funding/Pages/kinderfundingcriteria.aspx
Employer
The Committee of Management is the ‘employer’ for Lady Forster Kindergarten and is responsible for the recruitment and management of all LFK employees.
The Committee creates a positive work environment and working relationship with LFK staff and as a result, the kindergarten has a high calibre, dedicated team of employees who are passionate about the kindergarten. The staffing team is stable, with low turnover, which in turn benefits the children who regularly see the same familiar faces throughout their kindergarten year.
To ensure that the Kindergarten meets its objectives, the Committee of Management employs a director to manage the day to day operations of the service. The director is also the nominated supervisor and educational leader of the Kindergarten. The Committee employs all educational staff at the Kindergarten and an office manager.
Community
As a community-based kindergarten, our connection to community is important and enables us to:
- make decisions which reflect the local community and its culture
- be well connected and responsive to our community
- adjust our service delivery quickly
- develop social capital by building connections, relationships and networks for families
- contribute to the development of a capable, healthy community
We are grateful to the vast number of volunteers from our Lady Forster Kindergarten ‘family’, whose contribution and involvement in our kindergarten have developed and shaped LFK since 1924. We are proud to provide a service that exceeds that national quality standard, educating and caring for children across our local community at our unique beach kindergarten.
