Information Guide 3: results Of Associate member Survey 2 May 2015

Associate members of the NSW SES Volunteers Association were again invited to have their say about their organisation's structure, this time about recommendations made at a Board, Region representative and staff/contractor workshop held in mid-March.

This workshop considered the outcomes from the first Associate member survey held in late February.

The results of this second Associate survey were tabled at the Board of directors meeting on 15 May 2015.

Results: Overview

Based on a total of 276 submissions:

• Three quarters of question respondents agreed with the proposed organisational structure that features the introduction of a Volunteer council made up of Board directors and Area representatives. This structure sees 50 District coordinators rather than the current 17 Region reps but keeps, in line with the structure of the SES, 250 Unit reps
• There was extremely strong support – 95 per cent of question respondents – for the Volunteer council faithfully representing the views and interests of Associate members. That the Board of directors should effectively manage business operations and ensure all VA members can participate in decision-making was endorsed with equal enthusiasm.
• Nine out of 10 question respondents agreed both the President and Company secretary should have volunteer experience, eight out of 10 agreed that the Board could have up to five additional directors - each looking after a particular business function - while six in 10 agreed these positions could be filled by non-VA personnel if expertise could not be found within membership ranks
• Half of question respondents agreed there should be a limit on the number of times a VA member could be elected to the top levels of management while just over three quarters agreed with each elected rep serving a three year term.

Results:per Questions  

Proposed Structure

Associate members again showed strong support for an organisational structure headed by a council made up of a board and top-level representatives as well as a significant increase in the number of mid-level reps, and the retaining of a VA rep for each SES unit.

75 per cent of respondents agreed with the proposed organisational structure illustrated above; Q3.

There was strong support - 82 per cent - for the introduction of a Volunteer council regardless of the new structure; Q4.

Overwhelmingly 95 per cent of respondents agreed that key responsibilities of the council should be to faithfully represent the views and interests of Associate members as well as ensure all rep positions are suitably filled, while the key responsibilities of the board should be to effectively manage business operations and ensure all VA members can participate in making decisions; Q5 and 6.

There was also strong support – 83 per cent – for the council being authorised to elect the board, consult on finances, and determine unit grants and scholarships. A similar number of respondents – 84 per cent – agreed the board should be authorised to run business operations and appoint paid staff/contractors; Q7 and 8.

Top level VA office bearers serving a three year term was supported by 77 per cent of respondents and a similar number - 78 per cent - supported the turnover of approximately one-third of senior reps every year; Q9 and 10.

Only 50 per cent of respondents agreed there should be no limit to the number of times that members could be elected to the top two levels of VA office bearers; Q11.

Just over 90 per cent of respondents agreed both the President and Company secretary should have volunteer experience. Approximately 80 per cent agreed the board should be made up of up to five additional directors who each look after a particular business function. There was less support – 62 per cent – for these additional roles being filled by non-VA members if relevant expertise could not be found amongst current members; Q12-14.

In relation to comments received, Q15 final comments attracted the most input with 50 individual responses. Q3, about the proposed new structure had 42 comments. Q11 – limit on the number of times people can be elected to top management roles – had 36 comments while Q14, whether the President and Company secretary should have volunteer experience, attracted 35 comments.

For the full report on the results of the second Associate member restructure survey - including comments – please see  http://bit.ly/1LeYmkq or look under the blue Restructure tab on the VA website,  www.nswsesva.org.au.

Please note responses from Q1 and Q2 are not included as both related to the collection of personal data.

A total of 287 online and postal submissions were received during survey period, 25 March – 14 April 2015. Eleven returns were deemed ineligible resulting in the counting of 276 submissions; up from a total of 60 for the first Associate member restructure survey.

Approximately 3200 emailed invitations to participate in the second survey resulted in 249 eligible responses while approximately 550 reply paid post mailed surveys resulted in 27 eligible responses.

Proportionately it was again proven that Associate members of the NSW SES VA prefer to have their say online.

For more about the NSW SES VA restructure consultation please refer to:

• Information guide 1:  /survey-1-results.aspx
• Associate member survey #1 results:  http://bit.ly/1E4im3g
• Video: Four objectives of the restructure:  http://bit.ly/1Bnwx8N | Five stages of the consultation: http://bit.ly/1AHqOqI
• Audio: Four objectives of the restructure:  http://bit.ly/17UmJoY | Five stages of the consultation: http://bit.ly/1ENWWtF

Your questions about the restructure consultation are welcome.