If your P&C is a registered charity, you have considered registering, or you just want to make sure you understand the recent changes to reporting for P&Cs, come along to our information and Q&A session on this Thursday (August 17) from 7pm. Representatives from both the Australian Charities and Not-for-profit Commission (ACNC) and Access Canberra will explain your P&C's reporting obligations and address your questions. Everyone is welcome. Check out the details and register here.

Yes, we know you do, so we have teamed up with APFACTs (Council's private school counterpart), Canberra Preschool Society, and Volunteering and Contact ACT with the aim of creating a set of resources to help you attract the people you need, specifically designed for the school environment.

First, we need to better understand the problem, why people do and don't volunteer in schools and what the positives are. So we have put together this survey. It would be terrific if you could please complete it and, most importantly, forward the link (https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/VolunteeringinSchools)  to as many volunteers - past present and potential - as you possibly can. If we can hear from a good cross-section of people, we are more likely to be able to develop resources which truly help encourage volunteering in schools. Thanks!

Ok, so the title isn't catchy, but this one IS important!

Each year our Policy Conference is a chance to keep Council policy up to date as a true reflection of the views of our members so that it can guide our activities in representing you to Government and in the media.

This year's Policy Conference will be on Tuesday August 22, as part of our usual General Meeting. Two new policies are up for discussion -  a Social media policy, and Managing RSI in schools policy. Contact Council's Policy Officer, Veronica Elliott, for more information or with any input.

Do you have some bright ideas for improving our schools? Come along to our Forum to have your say about education in the ACT. We will hear from the Future of Education team about this Government consultation and then have plenty of time to thoroughly air your views.  Join us on September 7 at 7pm, 51 Fremantle Drive Stirling. Everyone welcome and no RSVP required.

Please help us spread the word about this important event by displaying the event poster at your school. It is available here for you to print, or find a hard copy in this term's ParentACTion magazine (arriving at your school this week). The Directorate has also distributed the poster to schools.

Those involved in school canteens are not going to want to miss this event, so do save the date! It's on Tuesday September 19 from 3:30-5:45pm.  Don't miss the chance to:

• Celebrate the success of canteens in moving towards - and meeting - the National guidelines
• Be inspired with ideas, displays and resources from a range of organisations and a targetted workshop on promoting your canteen, menu and healthy items. Free snacks available from a pop-up canteen!
• Connect with other canteen staff and volunteers in both facilitated sessions and informal opportunities.

The new Go For Green! guide will also be on display for the first time. This long awaited tool will step you through classifying any food or recipe according to ACT guidelines. Details on registering for the event will follow soon.

Federal member for Fenner, Andrew Leigh, is now calling for expressions of interest in the Stronger Communities Grant Program. Grants of $2,500 to 20,000 are available for small capital works projects which will strengthen the local community and where you can show that the money granted will be matched in cash or in kind by your association. Expressions of interest need first to be directed to Andrew Leigh's office. Contact Eleanor Robson for a form and details of what is required. Sorry to those on the Southside - Gai Brodtmann's office is no longer taking expressions of interest. We will try let you know in time for the next round of grants.

Charles Conder Primary School P&C Association is looking for a Canteen Manager (15 hours per week, Wed-Fri during school terms). Applications are due Friday August 25 and must address the selection criteria which can be obtained by contacting ccpspandc@yahoo.com.au.