Handbook Section 1 – Constitution
Amended 2022
The Association shall be called the New South Wales Combined High Schools Sports Association. For the purposes of the Handbook, the New South Wales Combined High Schools Sports Association will be known as either - the Association, New South Wales Combined High Schools Sports Association (or NSWCHSSA), New South Wales Combined High Schools (or NSWCHS) or Combined High Schools (or CHS).
1.2.1 To promote and organise sporting championships and competitions at interstate level which have been approved by the New South Wales Department of Education
1.2.2 To organise and conduct such interstate competitions and interstate / international tours as have been approved by the New South Wales Department of Education.
1.2.3 Approvals by the New South Wales Department of Education will begin through the School Sport Unit and progress upwards for approval at the appropriate level.
The Association shall be responsible to the Secretary, Department of Education.
Students attending public secondary schools within New South Wales are eligible to participate in Association competitions provided -
1.4.1 In open competition, students must be below 20 years of age in the year of competition. Students who attain the age of 20 years in the year of competition are ineligible.
1.4.2 They are affiliated through their schools with their schools sports associations and through it to the New South Wales Combined High Schools Sports Association.
1.5 Association Executive Personnel (the Executive)
1.5.1 The Executive personnel of the Association shall consist of
(a) President
(b) Four Vice-Presidents
(c) Secondary Sport NSWCHSSA Officer (NSWCHSSA Executive Officer)
(d) Honorary Treasurer
1.5.2 These officers, with the exception of the Secondary Sport NSWCHSSA Officer (NSWCHSSA Executive Officer), will be permanent and/or temporary of the teaching service, employed by the New South Wales Department of Education. Applications must be signed by the applicant's Principal/Director (as appropriate) and sighted by the respective Sports Coordination Officer. The Secondary Sport NSWCHSSA Officer will be a teacher appointed via the Department of Education recruitment processes.
1.5.3 All Association Executive Personnel except the Secondary Sport NSWCHSSA Officer will hold office for the year, commencing 1 January, following the Annual General Meeting at which they are elected.
The management and control of the affairs of the Association shall be vested in a Council composed of:
1.6.1 Association Executive Personnel
1.6.2 The Councillors comprising
(a) Two teaching service delegates from schools sports associations. Both will have voting rights.
(b) The elected state conveners of each approved sport.
(c) Assistant Honorary Treasurer
1.7.1 The Council shall meet each school term and preferably in March, May, August and November each year unless exceptional circumstances.
1.7.2 A special meeting of the Council shall be called at the written request of five Councillors, or by the President. Seven days’ notice shall be given on such a meeting.
1.7.3 Fixtures for the following year shall be programmed at an appropriate meeting attended and approved by the School Sport Unit manager (or delegate).
1.7.4 An Annual General Meeting shall be held in November each year on the same day and immediately following the scheduled November Council meeting. This meeting is open to all interested persons. The Annual General Meeting shall be conducted according to the following agenda-
Apologies
Minutes of the previous Annual General Meeting
Correspondence (pertaining to Annual General Meeting)
Financial report
Determination of the levy
President's report
Annual reports
Election(s)
Executive/Conveners/Life Members
General business (pertaining to Annual General Meeting)
1.7.5 Voting rights at the Annual General Meeting shall be as for an ordinary Council meeting.
1.8.1 Each Executive member and councillor present shall be entitled to vote on all matters before the Council. The Chairman shall have a casting vote.
1.8.2 Councillors representing schools sports associations may record a postal vote on any Notice of Motion.
1.8.3 If, in the case of a face to face/in person/electronic platform council meeting, and only one delegate from any one school sport association is present, that councillor may record two votes on any issue before the Council. Council is to be informed of such intention prior to the commencement of the meeting.
1.9.1 The Conveners/assistant conveners of each approved sports shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting for the ensuring calendar year. Conveners/assistant conveners will be members of the teaching service employed by the New South Wales Department of Education. Applications must be signed by the applicant's Principal / Director, as appropriate, and sighted by the respective Sports Coordination Officer.
1.9.2 Conveners may attend or be required to attend any meeting of the Council and may speak and vote on all motions.
1.9.3 Assistant conveners may attend any meeting of the Council and where needed in lieu of the convener, speak and vote on all motions.
1.9.4 Conveners/assistant conveners will hold office for the year commencing 1 January following the Annual General Meeting at which they are elected.
1.10.1 The financial year of the Association shall end on 31 December.
1.10.2 All funds derived from the activities of the Association shall be lodged to the Association banking accounts without delay.
1.10.3 All funds received from sources outside of the Association shall be lodged to the Association banking accounts.
1.10.4 The NSWCHSSA Executive Officer and NSWCHSSA Administrative Officer shall ensure all monies are banked appropriately and pay all claims against the Association approved by the Council.
1.10.5 The NSWCHSSA Executive Officer and NSWCHSSA Administrative Officer shall maintain accounts of all money received and disbursed and submit financial statements at meetings of the Council for approval and at such other times as the Executive may direct.
1.10.6 The Association's cheque account will have at least two signatories.
1.10.7 The financial processes of the Association will meet the processes of the NSW Finance and Audit Act.
The Council may appoint delegates to those bodies which officially control sports which have been approved by the Secretary, Department of Education for inclusion in the secondary curriculum.
The Council shall be empowered to frame by-laws in order to implement any constitutional project. Such proposed by-laws will be submitted through the School Sport Unit for the Secretary's consideration and approval, as necessary.
The Council may appoint sub-committees as and when required. The Executive shall be formally represented on all sub-committees with the exception of sub-committees formed by state conveners to organise approved sports.
The Association shall determine regulations and conditions for the organisation and control of its competitions and prepare such by-laws as are necessary for this purpose.
Life members will be elected at the Annual General Meeting held in November and be known as ‘Gold Life Membership’.
Life members may attend Council and sub-committee meetings, speak for or against any motion, but not vote.
Sport specific life membership is also available and covered in by-law 2.4.2
1.16 Amendments to Constitution / By-Laws
Any article of this Constitution or any by-law may be repealed or amended or any further articles added by a two-thirds majority at any Council meeting, provided notice of motion has been given to all councillors and the Executive at least one calendar month prior to such meeting.
Any amendment or addition will be advised to the Secretary, Department of Education.