IRCA Structure

It has been suggested that the Board or Management Committee of IRCA be unique in structure; that it represent the diversity of remote needs; that it have associate strength for future initiatives; that its collective membership receive sound social and industry policy representation.

Besides vesting lone interest in the broad industry related issue areas, IRCA can better represent other key issue areas central to the future of all people living in remote areas of Australia.

IRCA is considering an associate relationship with key social and educational agencies through an Advisory Committee; providing expertise to the Board, the Association and improving mainstream understanding of remote issues.

Four key issue areas have been determined relevant to the bush, to IRCA's lifespan, its existence, its thrust, vision and membership. Those four areas are:

• educational access, equity and representation
• aged care representation
• youth representation, training and employment opportunity, and
• economic growth for local, regional and national sustainability

Currently, each issue is being separately represented by an interest group or association similar to IRCA in purpose:

The Isolated Children's and Parents Association or ICPA is one of the countries most recognised and powerful interest groups. It is a national collective representative of the regional and remote P&Cs existing throughout the public education system, and confronts the challenges facing children and their parents in isolated areas.

Remote Aged Care is one of the fastest growing interest areas for the Federal, State and Territory Government's and each of your remote hub organisations. The National Council for the Elderly is also a well recognised social agency that will have a heavy agenda in the years ahead.

The Inspire Foundation is currently Australia's leading agency representing youth issues, youth markets, youth skill acquisition, development and youth empowerment. Inspire could complement and strengthen youth representation in the bush, in remote areas and has proved an effective voice for Australian youth.

Independent Economic Development groups represent opportunity and viability in exploring new income streams, projects, industry initiatives and so on. Specific interest is to improve low socio-economic regions and the constituents in those regions.

IRCA has strength in alligning itself with, and building an associate relationship to, other groups or agencies that pursue the interests of a similar target group or remote audience. Together, success can come through weight in numbers and in common strategic approach/alliance.

IRCA will be a recognised, powerful and professional social industry group that endeavours to compliment, through its own industry, policy positions and themes relevant to community capacity building, reconciliation, economic sustainability and regional independence.

It is suggested that the Board or Management Committee of IRCA be a total of eight representative positions:

1 x Executive Director (ex officio paid at a nominal fee)
1 x Chairperson
6 x Indigenous Remote Media Organisation Chairpersons or remote individual practioners

Non-Indigenous organisations will be 'associate members' only; bringing their expertise and experience to the Board or Committee level only.

The IRCA agenda will always be driven by its remote area membership and activities of the association will always be for the benefit of remote area media and communications members.

The IRCA Project and its Manager are responsible to the IRCA Director, Board, Executive Committee representing the membership, and to the PY Media Director and Management Committee.

The IRCA Board, constituting the voice of the association's membership, will determine the Managers work and project agenda.

A performance evaluation and appraisal of the IRCA Manager at a probationary stage of three months, with appraisal each six or twelve month period thereafter, including performance indicators will provide the activity, its membership and ATSIC clear reporting and monitoring information.