Administration

Bowls Victoria – Regulations Update

Updated Regulations

 

Dear Member Club, Regions and Divisions,

In November 2018, the Bowls Victoria Constitution was updated necessitating a review of the Bowls Victoria Regulations.

The Board has now approved a number of changes to the Regulations.At first view, these changes may seem significant but what has happened in the main is the removal of clauses that are no longer relevant or required.

For example, Part II – Regions and Divisions. Much of the detail has been removed because as an Incorporated Association in their own right, Regions and Divisions may determine how they adopt the requirements of the Associations Incorporations Reform Act 2012 (Vic).There is the preclusion that a Region or Division is not able to have their own disciplinary procedures but generally, the Bowls Victoria Constitution and Regulations recognises Regions and Divisions as entities who can act on their own behalf within the powers delegated to them by Bowls Victoria.

Additionally, in Part VI now called Positions Statements and previously called Code of Conduct, Prohibited Conduct and Discipline, the Board has determined where appropriate to adopt Bowls Australia’s policies and position statements as Bowls Victoria policies and positions statements.Where a matter is subject to Victorian legislation or requirements then Bowls Victoria policies and positions will be developed.Copies of these policies be they Bowls Australia or Bowls Victoria will be available on each organisations’ websites.It should also be noted that the Discipline procedures requirements now sit within the Bowls Victoria Constitution and no longer in the Regulations.

The remaining changes are predominantly cosmetic to remove unnecessary and duplicated clauses and to align with the new rephrasing of the adopted Constitution.

A summary of changes are tabled below and a copy of the new Regulations can be downloaded here

As part of our pursuit of best practice governance, the pro forma Club, Region & Division Constitutions will now undertake a similar review.

Kind regards

Barb Gilbert
President

Regulations Section Explanation
Definitions Redundant or unnecessary definitions removed, and new definitions added as required.
Regions & Divisions Much of the detail removed with general statements and wording modified to recognise that Regions and Divisions as their own legal entities can act on their own behalf within the powers given to them by the Associations Incorporations Reform Act 2012 (Vic) and the powers delegated to them by Bowls Victoria.
Committees Bowls Victoria’s Constitution generally allows the Board to establish Committees. Wording duplicated in the Constitution removed and wording revised. Listing each Committee is no longer required.
Membership Wording updated and obsolete categories removed. Statement added to ensure Region, Division or Club’s Constitutions are consistent with Bowls Victoria’s Constitution.  Statement added that Region, Division and Club financial accounts to be available to Bowls Victoria on request.
Honours & Awards Wording has been updated to reflect changes approved by the Board in 2018.
Position Statements Previously this section was called Code of Conduct, Prohibited Conduct and Discipline. Specific policy wording removed as Bowls Victoria will adopt Bowls Australia’s policies and position statements where appropriate. These policies and position statements are available on the Bowls Australia website.Eligibility of Players removed and included in State Selection Policy.
Disciplinary procedures Bowls Victoria’s disciplinary procedures removed as they are now included in the Constitution and will be supported by a Disciplinary Guidelines document being drafted currently.
Clearances Removed and included on Bowls Victoria website entitled Clearances Procedures.
Pennant Permits Removed and included on Bowls Victoria website entitled Pennant Permit Procedures.
Committees – Region/Division Removed and included on Bowls Victoria website as a resource for committee structures.
Election Procedure Updated to reflect current procedure for the election of Directors.
Fee for Appeal or Review to Bowls Victoria Board Appeal fee added where the Regulations or Bowls Victoria’s Constitution or policies allow an appeal or review by the Board.
Region & Division Register Full list of Clubs removed as Bowls Victoria’s Constitution obliges a separate Register of its Members including Clubs/Regions/Divisions to be kept.