Your Questions Answered !
Welcome to our 'Frequently Asked Questions' web page.
Here we will post our most frequently asked questions about the ACF and invite you to ask anything you would like to know. We encourage transparency and will provide clear factual answers.
Please feel free to submit your questions to FAQ@calisthenicsaustralia.org. We will endevour to answer every question as soon as possible.
Topical questions and answers will be regulary updated and posted below as soon as possible.
WHO AND WHAT IS ACF?
ACF is a two tiered structure with an elected President and state delegates forming the ACF Council. The second tier comprises the Committee of Management (also part of Council but no voting rights).- ACF President
- ACF Executive Officer,
- Director of Adjudicating (AAB)
- Director of Coaching (ACFCC)
- Director of Skills (EAB)
- Director of Competitions
- Director of Finance
- Director of Information and Communication Technology
- Director of Planning
In addition to the Council meetings, ACF COM meets in Melbourne in February, May, August and November.
WHO FUNDS THE ACF?
- Capitation Fees- Every participant Australia wide pays a registration fee to their State Association which includes a component (currently $10) to ACF as the National Sporting Organisation for Calisthenics. The State Association acts as a “clearing house” and passes this capitation on to ACF. This fee is set each year and approved at the AGM and structured to align with CPI bi annually.
- Profit from Pan Pacific Masters Games (although new and this has been a break even event last time round)
HOW DO WE UTILISE ACF FUNDS?
- Education/training programs resulting in national accreditation programs for Adjudicating, Coaching and Skills- Accreditation Programs for Coaching, Adjudicating and Examining fall within the auspices of the Australian Calisthenic Federation. These national programs are referred to in the ACF Constitution as Intellectual Property. The Australian Calisthenic Federation has the overarching authority to accredit/recognise who can deliver their training/education programs and determine what individuals are accredited. We then pass on this information to the Australian Sports Commission who manages a database where national sporting organisations can record who is accredited.
- Managing a national database to record participants and officials records (is covered by the ACF Constitution and is a requirement of the ASC in order to maintain NSO recognition).
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF BEING A MEMBER OF YOUR NATIONAL SPORTING ORGANISATIONS (ACF)?
- Access to the national accreditation programs as mentioned above- Consistent application of national policies
- Uniting our states in a National Competition
- Consistent application of National competition rules
- Access to state funding (most State Governments require their State Sporting Associations to be members of a National Sporting Organisation in order to be eligible for funding grants)
- Access and use of a National database
- Input into changes and improvements to the sport
WHATS ON THE HORIZON?
- Review of our National Championships- ACF believes our Nationals are effective, friendly and fun for all who participate, and offer a huge opportunity for all states to unite, socialise, developing friendships and network for new initiatives.
- We do recognise that in certain areas we are experiencing difficulties by competing with other priorities and in meeting our work/education/life balances. ACF Council and COM are working together to engage our stakeholders in a review to determine our future needs – a survey will be coming to you shortly and we strongly urge you to participate.
- The EAB is currently reviewing the medals and certificates currently in use and seeking your views on what is the most appealing and rewarding for our Skills participants – a survey will be coming to you shortly.
- A new app for the technical guide for coaches is well underway and is expected to be available in the very near future.
- When all states are fully operational with the National database we will be able to analyse our data to identify trends in participant numbers. ACF is aware that Masters have increased participant numbers significantly. Our Tinies through to Seniors have fluctuated in recent years and with competing priorities and so much diversity in sport being offered our numbers appear to be decreasing – ACF will be working towards possible solutions.
WHO MAKES THE DECISIONS AT ACF?
- ACF Council make all the decisions for our sport on a national level.- The Council consists of 2 delegates from every member State.
- Every State is represented with equal rights and opinion.
- Each State has a single vote and the voting results determine the outcome.
WHAT DO 'COMPETITIVE' PARTICIPANTS GET FOR THEIR $10 MEMBERSHIP FEE WITH ACF?
- Participants’ registration each year includes a component (currently $10 per year) which each State then passes on to the ACF which constitutes a capitation fee.- This fee supports/provides the following:
- Coach Education programs on a national level – working with the Australian Sports Commission to maintain accreditation standards and requirements;
- Adjudicator accreditation on a national basis;
- The Pupil Skills program on a national basis;
- Examiner accreditation on a national basis;
- All policies, using the Australian Sports Commission’s templates and adapting them to suit Calisthenic needs nationally;
- National Competitions (Championships and Pan Pacs);
- ACF National Rules (including Banned Movements);
- Development funding (that all States can apply for);
- Administration of the sport at a national level – ACF Council meets twice a year and in addition ACF Committee of Management meets four times a year (ACFCC, the AAB and EAB each meets twice a year to develop programs and policies for Coaches, Adjudicators and Examiners);
- Administration of a National database used for the purpose of registering all participants, including Coaches, Examiners and Adjudicators in Calisthenics (States and Clubs maintain their own information). This was an initiative tabled by Victoria to capture all historical data of past and present participants in our sport. The ACF has worked closely with all States in development of this inititative and are pleased to report we have received postive repsonses and feedback from States and Clubs. Our privacy policy has been tailored to meet potential concerns of individuals regarding their personal information.
WHAT DO 'RECREATIONAL' PARTICIPANTS GET FOR THEIR $4 MEMBERSHIP FEE WITH ACF?
- Participants’ registration each year includes a component (currently $4 per year) which each State then passes on to the ACF which constitutes a capitation fee.- This fee supports/provides the following:
- Coach Education programs on a national level – working with the Australian Sports Commission to maintain accreditation standards and requirements;
- The Pupil Skills program on a national basis;
- Examiner accreditation on a national basis;
- All policies, using the Australian Sports Commission’s templates and adapting them to suit Calisthenic needs nationally;
- ACF National Rules (including Banned Movements);
- Development funding (that all States can apply for);
- Administration of the sport at a national level – ACF Council meets twice a year and in addition ACF Committee of Management meets four times a year (ACFCC, the AAB and EAB each meets twice a year to develop programs and policies for Coaches, Adjudicators and Examiners);
- Administration of a National database used for the purpose of registering all participants, including Coaches, Examiners and Adjudicators in Calisthenics (States and Clubs maintain their own information). This was an initiative tabled by Victoria to capture all historical data of past and present participants in our sport. The ACF has worked closely with all States in development of this inititative and are pleased to report we have received postive repsonses and feedback from States and Clubs. Our privacy policy has been tailored to meet potential concerns of individuals regarding their personal information.
DOES EVERY PARTICIPANT PAY THE SAME MEMBERSHIP FEE TO ACF?
- Yes, every calisthenic participant pays the same fee regardless of what State they are affiliated with.- Every year Council vote on the fees and review increases in accordance with CPI.
WHO DECIDES WHAT ACF DOES WITH OUR PARTICIPANT MEMBERSHIP FEES?
- Council decide and approve the annual budget of ACF.- All income is reported in our financial reports, and expenditure is approved by Council.
- Every year the ACF finances are audited by an independent and registered Auditor.
- These reports are issued in the ACF Annual Report. A copy is provided to every State and is available on our website.
WHAT DOES ACF DO WITH OUR INFORMATION?
- ACF is governed by policies as set by the Australian Sports Commission, and there are some we initiate ourselves.- Your information is protected in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
- All ACF policies are distributed to all States for review and contribution of content.
- Council decide and vote on all policies prepared and issued by the ACF.
- A copy of these are available on the ACF website.
CAN MY CLUB HAVE ACCESS TO THE NATIONAL DATABASE?
- Yes, all Clubs can have 'free' access to the 'calisthenic specific' database.- If you would like more information, please email: database@calisthenicsaustralia.org
HOW CAN I HAVE A VOICE AT ACF LEVEL?
- Your voice is represented by your State Delegates.- At every Council Meeting, each State is represented by their nominated (2) delegates.
- If you would like an issue or topic discussed at ACF, please contact your State Delegates.
- Every time ACF Council or ACF Committee of Management meet, meeting records are distributed to your State Delegates.
- If you would like a copy of these, please request these from your State Delegates.
HOW DO I FIND OUT WHO MY STATE DELEGATES ARE?
- You can contact your local State Association, or- Visit our webpage : http://www.calisthenicsaustralia.org/about/council
SUBMIT YOUR QUESTION HERE ....
We look forward to hearing from you.