The Canberra Preschool Society Incorporated is a volunteer organisation, and peak body in education advocacy, in the Australian Capital Territory. The Society was formed in 1943 as the Canberra Nursery Kindergarten Association and was incorporated in its present form in 1975. Through the membership of over 70 affiliated community-based organisations the Society provides services and a focal group for more than 8000 people connected with preschool education.
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Organisation
The Society is an incorporated association, a form of corporation under Australian law where the association is owned by non-shareholding members and the assets may not be distributed as dividends. As presently constituted
Membership
The membership of the Society is of four classes: Group Members, Corporate Members, Individual Members and Life Members.
Group Membership
Group Membership is the most numerous class of membership, and the historical basis of the Society. Group Members are community-based organisations most commonly with a direct connection to a local preschool. The type of organisation known as Preschool Parents Association makes up more than 90% of the Society's membership. A Preschool Parents Association, in the Australian Capital Territory, is an organisation founded as a partner with the government for the establishment and material support of a particular preschool. Its members are the parents of the children enrolled in that preschool in any given year. Since 2006 the Territory Government has adopted a changed strategy for the foundation and management of preschools, now administering them as an integral part of a primary school; however the Preschool Parents Associations which previously existed have an independent corporate character and remain operational with their partnership arrangement now being conducted directly with a school instead of with the Department of Education.
Corporate Membership
Organisations with a stake or interest in early childhood education, but which do not exhibit the characteristics of community-based volunteer bodies, may affiliate with the Society as Corporate Members. This class of membership was added to the Society's structure in February 2009 after expressions of interest from commercial childcare providers.
Individual Membership
Individual Membership is the class of membership for a person, not an organisation. Most people make their connection with the Society as a member of their local community body, which itself is affiliated with the Society, but this connection is lost when their child moves beyond preschool. Individual Membership allows a person to maintain involvement in the Society over several years.
Life Membership
Life Membership is an honour extended by the Society for "any person having a record of outstanding service and contribution in the field of preschool education". The honour is rare; at the end of 2008 there were only three Life Members.
Management
The Society is managed by its elected Council, consisting of executive office-holders and non-executive representatives. Council members hold their office for one year. The President of the Society is responsible for policy leadership and external liaison of the Society with other organisations and the government.
Administration
The Society maintains an office, open during partial business hours in school terms. There is one part-time staff member, the Executive Officer, who executes most of the services of the Society to its members under the supervision of the Council.