Home | Divisions | Community Development Division | Multicultural Tasmania | TACMA | Terms of reference

Terms of reference

Updated January 2009

Role

The role of the Tasmanian Advisory Council on Multicultural Affair (TACMA) is to provide advice to the Tasmanian Government on multicultural issues relevant to Tasmania.

Functions

TACMA will:

  1. Provide advice on the issues and current experiences of Tasmanians from culturally diverse backgrounds.  It is expected that TACMA members will consult the culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) community to source this advice.
  2. Provide advice on other issues referred to it.
  3. Contribute to a body of knowledge about national and international multicultural issues by providing to Multicultural Tasmania reports, media clippings, conference material and academic papers.
  4. On request, update the Tasmanian CALD community about Government initiatives, projects and programs.

Characteristics of members

  • As far as possible, membership will reflect the cultural, social, economic, gender and regional diversity of Tasmania.
  • Members must be able to demonstrate their commitment to issues relevant to the CALD community in Tasmania.
  • Members must be permanent residents or citizens of Australia.

Appointment of members

  • Membership of TACMA will be sought through a public notice placed in the Tasmanian daily newspapers and through Multicultural Tasmania’s networks.
  • The Premier will be responsible for appointing 12 members, including the Chairperson.  Appointments will be based on applicants meeting the selection criteria set out in the public notice.
  • Members will be appointed as individual members, and not as representative members of a particular interest group or organisation.
  • The Manager of Multicultural Tasmania (Community Development Division, Department of Premier and Cabinet) will be a member of TACMA on an ex-officio basis.

Term of appointment

  • A term of appointment will be two years.
  • A member may serve a maximum of two terms (that is, a maximum of four years).
  • Interested members will be required to re-apply for their second term of appointment.
  • The Premier has the discretion to extend a member’s maximum term of appointment.

Annual program

  • Multicultural Tasmania will set the annual program for TACMA.  The annual program establishes the key discussion topics for the year.
  • The Chair may establish working groups to address specific issues arising from the annual program; in this case, the Chair will appoint leaders to manage the working groups.
  • The working groups will comprise only TACMA members and will be responsible for their own work plans and administration.
  • Multicultural Tasmania will not provide secretariat support for working groups but will reimburse members for their out-of-pocket expenses.

Meetings

  • TACMA will meet when and as required.  It is anticipated that TACMA will meet quarterly per year.  There may be times when less or more frequent meetings may be required.
  • The meetings usually will be no longer than three hours (two-hour meeting plus 45-minute lunch).
  • Six members (excluding government officials) will constitute a quorum.
  • The Chair will be responsible for conducting the meetings.
  • Decisions are made on a majority vote, with the Chair abstaining from voting.
  • Members are expected to forward their apologies to the Chair.
  • Guests, including officers from other State Government agencies, can be invited to discuss a specific issue of relevance to TACMA’s functions and annual program.
  • Multicultural Tasmania will provide secretariat support and catering for the quarterly meetings.

Meeting agenda

  • Members may add items to agenda if they forward it to Multicultural Tasmania 10 working days prior to the meeting.
  • The agenda will be sent to members one week prior to the meeting.

Reporting

  • The Chair, with assistance from Multicultural Tasmania, will be responsible for preparing a bi-annual report to the Premier.

Confidentiality

  • Meeting discussions are confidential.
  • Meeting minutes are confidential and must not be circulated for public dissemination.
  • No member may make statements on behalf of TACMA without prior approval of the Premier.
  • Any report or papers produced by TACMA are confidential and not for public dissemination, unless approved by the Premier.

Expenses

  • Membership of TACMA is on a voluntary basis.
  • No sitting fees will be payable, but subject to approval members will be reimbursed for travel and other out-of-pocket expenses incurred in relation to TACMA work.
  • It is the responsibility of the member to submit an application to Multicultural Tasmania for reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses.

Advanced search