It’s been a very busy start to 2018 with quite a number of changes happening at Ausdance National!
Firstly, we ended our 40th year with a fabulous acknowledgment of the important work that Ausdance National undertakes, through critical funding support from the Australia Council for the Arts to assist in supporting the advancement of dance sector priorities. We are very grateful for the opportunity to appoint a new Executive Director to lead a refocused Ausdance National as a future enabler for the sector. We are currently in the final stages of the recruitment process, which has drawn strong applicants from across Australia and Internationally. The Board looks forward to completing this process very soon and actively supporting the incumbent in transitioning into the role.
February observed a milestone moment in Ausdance National’s history with the closure of the office in Canberra. After 40 years of having a physical presence in the Nation’s capital, the Board determined that a shift to a new virtual operational model ahead of the appointment of a new Executive Director in either Sydney or Melbourne was required to support the refocused vision for the organisation. We would like to take this opportunity to say a HUGE thank you to Julie Dyson, Sandra Macarthur-Onslow and Rachael Jennings for their significant efforts in sorting through the 40 years’ worth of documents, donating furniture and printers to new homes such as our colleagues in the Ausdance ACT office, and navigating this end of an era so eloquently. Julie and Sandra have still been working tirelessly to archive all of Ausdance National’s records and key memorabilia in the National Library Archives, which is such an important part documenting Ausdance National’s history and contributions over so many years. Board Member Jacqui Simmonds caught up with all three ladies to pass on our personal thanks to each of them for the significant contributions.
Sandra Macarthur-Onslow and Julie Dyson.Ausdance National has been working closely with NAAE and AMPAG since 2016 on advocating for changes to the eligible VET courses and loan changes made by the government. An outline of all this work can be found on the Ausdance National website. Whilst a great outcome was recently achieved in getting the Diploma and Advanced Diploma of Dance (Elite Performance) back on the eligible courses list, the advocacy still continues as not all Registered Training Organisations offering these courses have been reinstated to the eligible providers list. Work with AMPAG on broader performing arts sector priorities continues, including advocacy related to the Review of Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) legislation and Immigration Policy regarding 457 Visas.
Finally, Ausdance National is currently undertaking its 2017 Audit process in preparation for our 2017 Annual Report and Annual General Meeting. We are planning to hold the AGM in Sydney on Sunday 13 May 2017 – further details to follow!