Transcript:

Hello members of Deaf Australia.
My name is Debra Swann, I am the Chairperson of Deaf Australia.

I need to share some information with you all at short notice, regarding the upcoming Special General Meeting (SGM) which is being held on 4th February.

We have received feedback from a number of our members regarding the constitution.

Due to this, we have made the decision to place a hold on the constitution voting and defer this until our Annual General Meeting (AGM) later this year.
We will conduct various community consultations prior to the AGM to make sure the voting will proceed.

However, the SGM will still go ahead as planned to proceed with the adoption of the financial report, and the appointment of the Directors for the Deaf Australia Board so we can move forward at full capacity.

I am looking forward to seeing you at our SGM on 4th February at 2pm Melbourne time.

Goodbye for now.

Transcript:

Deaf Australia is a national organisation. Deaf Australia is currently under the law governing South Australian incorporated associations. Deaf Australia does not just help people who are deaf and hard of hearing in South Australia. Changing to a company will make it easier for Deaf Australia to help people who are deaf or hard of hearing across all of Australia.   

Currently, Deaf Australia is based in Victoria. Deaf Australia should not have the report to South Australian state regulators (Control) if it is not based in South Australia. Deaf Australia has not been based in South Australia for some time.   

Once Deaf Australia changes to a company, it can benefit from the law governing in companies in Australia and recent changes to these laws. The law governing companies in Australia is modern. It helps companies run meetings and pursue their activities / business without increasing burden or difficulty for members or directors.  

Changing to a company will reduce the number of government regulators (control) that Deaf Australia must deal with. Currently Deaf Australia must deal with three regulators:   

Consumer and Business Services, which regulates incorporated association in South Australia;  

• The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), which regulates companies; and  
• The Australian Charities and Not-for-profits commission (ACNC), which regulates charities.   
• Once Deaf Australia changes to a new Company registered as a charity with ACNC, Deaf Australia will only be required to comply with the regulatory obligations with the ACNC (and in some situation, with ASIC).  

This will simplify the obligations of Deaf Australia as a company.   

As mentioned before Deaf Australia is based in Victoria not in South Australia. We hope we have your support.  

Transcript:

Hi I am Debra Swann – chairperson of Deaf Australia  

I hope you all have a safe and happy new year and look forward to 2023 with you all.  

This video is to formally invite you to out special general meeting on Saturday 4 February at 2pm AEDT 

• Melbourne/Sydney/Canberra / Hobart 2pm 
• Adelaide 1.30pm 
• Brisbane 1pm 
• Perth – 11am 

We will cover the following:  

1. Adoption of annual financial report 
2. Appointment of directors 
3. Change of Deaf Australia to company – will have another video about this.  
4. Adoption of proposed constitution of company 

See you at the SGM.