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A Message from The APU PresidentDate:
Category:
General Updates
Developing stronger ‘Collaboration’ in the APU
Dear Members, Please let me start by saying that myself and the entire APU board are extremely proud of how far we have come and especially the efforts of the people who are “behind the scenes” and making it all happen to get us here. I would like you all to know what my intention is in my role and how we communicate amongst the board and committee, and what we strive to achieve. Who rows the boat? We have a number of committees, sub-committees and ad hoc committees around us that are learning how to be more effective. To be effective, they bring their “ideas” to the board for us to consider. Sometimes the committees’ ideas are accepted fully, accepted partially, or rejected fully. Whichever way, they are to accept it and continue to move forward. A very good example is the Technical Committee, who have made some incredible gains to improve the organising of sanctioned comps. Committees are not 100% perfect yet, but we are getting better. Our committee’s role is to “row the boat” for the APU. And if we all row in the same direction, we achieve our goals. They are the “hands on” of the organisation. Who steers the boat? I have a wonderful board around me, who, barring any one with conflict of interest or some other reason, gets an equal say and equal vote. We have some incredibly productive arguments, but we also have a lot of respect and trust for each other. Once we have a majority agreement on something, we accept it and all move forward. We also work with our stakeholders and input from our committees and members when a committee cannot be involved. It is not 100%, but we are slowly but surely getting closer. Our board’s role is “steering the boat” for the APU. And if we all steer in the same direction, we achieve our goals. They are the “hands off” of the organisation. Where are we now in achieving this? At this stage, we see or hear sometimes that the APU Committees should be steering the boat, and the Board is expected to row the boat. I don’t think that will ever entirely end, but my intention is to have the board do less rowing and more hands off. We are indeed making changes to achieve this. When we are seen as responsible to both row and steer, people are extremely confused.
Feedback and Complaints Feedback: At no time do we or would we suggesting that the APU do not respond to important feedback, however we should all be fully aware that the APU has a very important responsibility to provide the fundamentals of the sport to the members. APU will continue to consider feedback however we are limited and can not fulfil everyone’s suggestions. From ombudsman.gov.au 'Feedback is a compliment, criticism, comment or suggestion where a response is not sought, or not reasonable to expect.' The key difference between complaints and critical feedback is the reasonable expectation of a response. Like complaints, it is important to ensure that feedback can be analysed to identify opportunities for improvement. More from ombudsman.gov.au No wrong door is a concept that acknowledges it can be hard for people to know where they should direct their complaint. Agencies should work collaboratively, to help people find the right complaint pathway and avoid people getting stuck, frustrated or lost on a referral roundabout. The most recent discussion came on member jungle where one suggestion was that we centralise feedback and complaints. While this may initially work, from mine and many other experiences it may be dangerous to put all control in one hand. This is why I do not support this. As advised by ombudsman.gov.au, the no wrong door concept supports that the organisations provide the right complaint pathway, which indeed was done (via committees). I understand that this is difficult for some people who may not know which committee to contact so I have a suggestion below which I hope will support our members even further. Please note: A complaint will only be treated through the APU member protection policy. Another issue is one that I experience personally is that I receive dozens of emails daily. Many of these should be addressed to other people, but I do my best to redirect them. But this creates the probability of me either missing an email, not responding to one , or being delayed in response. While I totally respect that my position is important, I want our committees to be useful, by evaluating suggestions, then, if supportive of change, providing the board with the solution, suggestions and feedback from their perspective and from yours (members). This is a role for the committees. Complaints: From the APU member Protection Policy (page 21) regarding “complaints”: Australian Powerlifting Union Ltd is committed to supporting people associated with our sport to make and resolve any complaints they may have in a fair, timely and effective way. We will endeavour to deal with complaints on a confidential basis. We will not provide information about the complaint to another person without the complainant’s consent, except if the law requires us disclose this information or it is necessary to properly deal with the complaint. To ensure fairness for everyone involved, we will provide the full details of the complaint to the person or people against whom the complaint has been made and ask for their response. Microsoft Word - APU_MPP_v003_web (powerlifting.org.au)
Member Protection Information Officer (MPIO) Course Member Protection Information Officers play an important role in sport. They provide information and guidance on complaints procedures - they are the 'go to' person if you want to discuss problems at your club/association, particularly if you are considering making a formal complaint. The Member Protection Information Officer course is aimed at people seeking to become recognised MPIO officers in their State. The course contains 7 core modules. The modules are:
The MPIO is trained to understand how to treat issues. They are still to record and report to the APU President however the workload will be spread over a number of people. It solves the problem of not knowing exactly which committee person to go to, or who to go to. The MPIO can communicate with the State Branch Manager, or directly with the President.
Summary: I will start by saying “we will continue to get better no matter what”. Recently, I suggested and I had a number of enquiries to do the Member Protection Information Officer (MPIO) course. As promised, I will follow up and send a group email to those enquiries. A way to manage “feedback” from people who are not sure who to provide it to may be through a trained Member Protection Officers (MPO’s), or a State Branch manager. To make this work, we need to bolster the amount that are in the role. Ensure that we can have one in each state, and even one in each affiliate. Their role should be broadened to hear issues and provide DIRECTION. Feedback, should be treated differently than an informal complaint, and an informal complaint should be treated differently than a formal complaint. The first point is what the MPIO will need to be further trained in. It is important for all of members to know what” Unreasonable complainant conduct” (UCC) is, and even feedback should be treated the same.
Yours in Strength |
