Management Structure

The Orienteering Association of Western Australia (Inc) is made up of members who have paid the membership fee for the year. The Association has a Constitution and is incorporated in Western Australia. Informally, it functions under the name Orienteering Western Australia or simply OAWA (spoken as O-A-W-A).

Council

 OAWA has an Executive comprising the President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer. Most management decisions are made or endorsed by the OAWA Council, which includes the Executive and Convenors of the Standing Committees.

The OAWA Council is supported by a number of standing committees. Each committee has a member from each of the four Perth clubs, plus a Convenor elected -- annually -- by OAWA members. Each Convenor is a member of Council. The committees advise the Council -- through its Convenor -- about particular parts of OAWA's activities, development plans and budget.

Club Convenors are non-voting Council members; all other Council members are elected at the Annual General Meeting. Other members may be invited to attend Council meetings.

Any OAWA member may attend a Council meeting as an observer. The Council meets at least six times each year and deals with all matters to do with orienteering in WA (Western Australia). This includes the year's activities, standing committee reports, and the impact of other sporting and government authorities and policies.

Council Elections

The Annual General Meeting (AGM), held each autumn near the beginning of the bush season, is an opportunity for all members to review OAWA's activities and to elect office bearers for the coming year.

Be Active Development Officer

A salaried position sponsored by  Healthway, the Development Officer  conducts the Be Active Development  Program, promoting the Heart Foundation's Be Active message.  The Program includes the provision of orienteering  sessions to Schools, and opportunities for teachers to develop the skills to introduce orienteering themselves.  See the Schools page for further information.

Standing Committees

OAWA Council is supported by a number of standing committees. Each committee has a member from each of the four Perth clubs, plus a Convenor elected -- annually -- by OAWA members. Each committee advises the Council about particular parts of the OAWA's activities, development plans and budget.

Key committees are listed on the right and described below.

Promotions Committee

This Committee promotes orienteering to the public, sponsors, authorities and other organisations in WA.

Coaching Committee

The Coaching Committee organises training and accreditation of coaches. It also arranges for coaching of groups and individuals through special events, and through camps with invited specialist coaches.

Publications Committee

The Publications Committee -- which includes the Editor of OAWA -- has responsibility for the style and content of all literature and electronic publications of OAWA.

The Publications Convenor liaises with the Editor and ensures the distribution to members of The Australian Orienteer (the national orienteering magazine).

Technical Committee

The "Tech" Committee is responsible for all technical matters: events, their specifications, manuals for these, result statistics, equipment, organising the annual event program.

Mapping Committee

This Committee is responsible for finding sites and arranging mapping of new areas in the bush and metropolitan area. Members also arrange training for new mappers and maintenance of the quality and stocks of maps in use.

Schools Committee

The role of the Schools Committee is to encourage development of orienteering in schools, supported by the Be Active Development Officer.   The Committee represents OAWA in School Sport WA,  and administers the Be Active WA Schools Championship.  It is also responsible for selecting and managing the State Schools team.

Willing Volunteers

As well as the council and committee members, we would like to recognise the work of all of our volunteers: Orienteering in this state is successful, only due to the excellent efforts of a large number of willing volunteers.

Computing Expert, Equipment Caretaker, Librarian, Membership Secretary, Newsletter Editor and O-Shop Manager all provide essential support for us throughout the year.

Other volunteers distribute the newsletter, manage OAWA's web site, keep statistics for the Orienteer of the Year scheme, Interclub Trophy competition and for OA, the national orienteering body.