SLAQ Funding for Professional Development

Funding for Professional Development

Under the SLAQ Professional Development Policy, funds are available to current financial SLAQ members and subcommittees for professional development activities. The fund is being maintained through the return of profits from subsidised activities, from publication sales and from subcommittee funds.

Policy

As a professional association, SLAQ operates as an active network of professionals through the state association and its subcommittees.
The subcommittees provide a source of expertise, support and development on a local level. They are able to fulfil the specific needs of its members in ways that the larger body cannot do.
The role of the state council is to initiate and support projects and/or activities which will enable the subcommittees to enhance and develop professional knowledge and skills.
State Council is responsible for fostering professional development that is deliverable to all sectors of the teacher-librarian community, with emphasis on providing funds for the benefit of the membership state wide.

Within this professional development policy, SLAQ Council will subsidise proposals that address the current priorities:

1. Subsidisation

Subcommittees or, where there is no subcommittee, groups of members may apply for funds to subsidise a significant local professional development activity. The support through subsidisation would be reimbursed to SLAQ council if the activity makes a profit for the subcommittee or group.

2. Extension

Subcommittees or groups may apply for funds to develop and implement programs/activities that extend skills and expertise to educators working in areas of the state not immediately supported by a SLAQ subcommittee. Individual members are invited to approach subcommittees or council with suggestions of professional development activities to meet their specific needs.

3. Publications

Subcommittees, groups or individuals may submit proposals for publications or projects that meet the policy and guidelines. The resulting publication will be sold by the School Library Association of Queensland Inc.

Procedures

All proposals should be presented to council according to the Proposal guidelines as outlined in Appendix 1. Forward proposals to the executive officer.
On completion, a financial statement relating to the proposal must be submitted to council through the executive. Please refer to the examples in Appendix 2.
In addition, a report must be submitted for publication in the Newsletter or in Access. Please refer to the outline in Appendix 3.
Applications must be made before the event. A lead time of at least two months is preferable.
At any professional development activity for which SLAQ has provided funding, the organising committee should acknowledge the contribution of the association in the welcome to participants, the concluding remarks, and any printed handouts and in subsequent reports.

Appendix 1: Proposal guidelines

1. BACKGROUND – provide a brief description of how this activity/project came to be, and the reason for its initiation (ie. needs assessment).
2. DESCRIPTION OF ACTIVITY/PROJECT – briefly describe the activity/project, including who will benefit, and how.
3. OUTCOMES – identify outcomes and explain how they meet SLAQ professional development policy and current priorities.
4. DESIGN - describe the steps necessary to design, implement and maintain or extend the activity/project. Identify necessary actions to establish the activity/project, who is responsible and the planning timeline (this could be presented clearly and easily as a table).
5. FINANCIAL PLAN – provide a detailed costing of the activity/project, including monies need to be outlaid (staged if necessary) and potential income from participation or sales. The plan should also indicate the anticipated refund to SLAQ. If travel costs are involved, provision should be made for travel insurance cover for prepaid fares. Participants who are not financial members of SLAQ should be charged at least 50% more than members.
6. CONTACTS – include contact details for the person able to answer questions that executive or council members may have during the approval process.

Contact the Executive Officer for further help.

Examples for funding accountability (PDF)

Last updated 15 April 2008