How the Association of Women Educators Works

Girls and ICTs role models kit

Forming a Local Action Committee
Why form a local action committee?
It is desirable to bring together people interested in the issue of introducing girls to the range of opportunities in the field of Information and Communication Technologies. A committee that consists of people from a range of workplace backgrounds brings together a variety of expertise that makes this task easier.

What representatives make a good local action committee?
It is desirable to have representatives from any of the following sectors:

Representatives from State, Catholic and Independent schools
Primary and Secondary teachers
TAFE representative
University representative
Guidance Officer
School Administrator
Representatives from associations such as the Association of Women Educators (AWE), Queensland Society for Information Technology in Education (QSITE) (or local branch of Australian Council for Computers in Education (ACCE)), eWomen, and Women in Technology (WIT).
Representatives from local businesses.

Tip
In rural and remote areas, the pool of people for committee members may be limited. It is not necessary to have a representative from every sector listed above.

What roles are required in a local action committee?
The following roles are necessary:

Chairperson/Coordinator
Secretary
Treasurer
Promotions and marketing
Sponsorship
Executive Members
Technical Person.

Tip
Some of these roles may be combined.

Where do you look to fill these roles?
As well as the representative list given above, the following list might prove helpful:

Marketing and media sections of TAFE and universities
Local computer clubs or associations
Local network meetings such as the local Principals’ group and local heads of department meetings
Email discussion lists
Local education offices
Local council

Tip
The marketing and media sections of tertiary institutions can be very helpful in promoting your events.

What is the best method of contacting people to recruit?

It is important to send a written invitation via email, fax or post outlining the project and the purpose of forming the committee. Include details of the first meeting time, date and venue and the proposed agenda.
Follow up with phone call and face-to-face contact where possible.
Invitations from spontaneous face-to-face contact are often very successful.

Tip
Getting a response from a potential committee member may prove difficult. Ensure you send out the initial invitation well in advance to allow time for follow-up.

Additional Resources
These resources may help you plan your initial committee meetings.

What characteristics should you look for in prospective committee members?

Commitment
Leadership
Prior experience in a specific area eg. Treasurer
Having the infrastructure/resources available to support the role. For example, it is useful to have a committee secretary who works daily with a computer.
Someone with good networks and contacts, for example, education department district office and local ICT industry.

previous | back to kit contents | next