Clarity for the EGMs and reminder to vote

Dear members, 

As you consider your vote for the upcoming EGMs, please remember, you don’t need to vote immediately.

You can download the Explanatory Memorandum on the proposal to separate the President and Chair roles, take time to form a view, discuss it with your peers, and vote online when you’re ready.

And if you change your mind, you can change your vote, right up until Wednesday, 29 October at 10am AEDT and 12pm NZDT

To help you make an informed decision based on facts, we have answers to many of your questions. Let’s be explicit about what we’re recommending.

You are being asked to vote on separation of the President and Chair role. That’s it.

We've heard feedback from members for this EGM. You are not being asked to vote on a nominations committee. You are not being asked to vote on removing Aotearoa New Zealand and trainee Director positions. The Board can’t make any further changes to the Constitution without your approval by vote – you have the final say.

In addition, before deciding, please note that many of the plans being circulated are already approved and well underway: 

• A multi-year financial plan directly tied to membership value: with annual value-for-money reviews is already in place.
• As are Supervisor Recognition Awards and expanding Supervisor support networks, plus ongoing advocacy for protected time for supervision activities with health jurisdictions.
• Ongoing expansion of rural training positions through federal Specialist Training Program (STP) consultations continues.
• the Training Management Platform and new Basic and Advanced Training Curricula are already being implemented,
• Fellow engagement activities that include regional, face-to-face CPD events are planned.
• IT modernisation is already under strict governance, with external assurance and oversight.

These are not new ideas. They are funded, approved, and in progress.

There is one idea that is also not new – in fact it’s been outstanding for six years. Our regulator, the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) advised in 2019 that we separate the roles of President and Board Chair.

Implementing that reform will put us on path to separate governance oversight from politics, to restore stability, and allow all of the above initiatives to continue without disruption. That’s why the Board is recommending you vote YES.

Repeated EGMs impose real cost on members. Under our Constitution, the Board must put any valid member resolution to a vote.

We have now received a further valid resolution from a member to remove Dr Chandran as a Director. This resolution includes a statement providing the reasoning behind the resolution and Dr Chandran is being given the right of reply before it is circulated.

It is not a Board resolution, but legally, must be considered at a separate online EGM. The Constitutional process will be followed with agreed timelines, and a Notice of Meeting will be issued shortly. It is likely that the EGM will be held in late November.

Kind regards

Professor Jennifer Martin
RACP President and Chair of the Board