Natural Family Planning Program
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Policy Statements & Reports

Charter of the Natural Family Planning Board of Management 
of the Australian Catholic Bishops 

1. MISSION STATEMENT

The Natural Family Planning Board of Management ('the Board') aims to advance the interests of natural family planning services in Australia.

 

2. THE BOARD

The Board is appointed by the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference ('the Conference'), in accordance with the terms of the Mandate. The Board shall reports to the Conference through the appropriate Bishops Committee and shall manage funds received by the Conference from the Commonwealth Government for the provision of Natural Family Planning services.  All activity of the Board will be conducted in a manner which is consistent with the teaching of the Catholic Church.

 

3. OBJECTS

The objects of the board are to :

  1. Provide a mechanism to negotiate, receive, distribute, manage and account for funds for the purpose of  natural family planning and related activities in accordance with the requirements of the Commonwealth Government;

  2. Ensure that instruction in natural family planning is available to all couples throughout Australia to:
    (i)   assist those couples who wish to have children;
    (ii)  assist those couples who wish to plan the number and spacing of pregnancies;
    (iii) assist  those people who wish to develop a better understanding and appreciation of 
         reproductive  health;
         by distributing the Commonwealth, or other funds, held by the Bishops' Conference for Natural
         Family Planning ('NFP') to those who, in accordance with this Carter, undertake the competent
         provision of the following natural family planning activities:     
         1)    teaching natural family planning;
         2)    teacher training and accreditation; or
         3)    publicity and promotion of natural family planning; and by retaining and using for the
                Board's own purpose those funds necessary for it to meet the requirements of the Mandate
                and this Charter.

  3. Act as an advisory body to the Conference through the Bishop’s Committee on natural family planning and reproductive health matters.

  4. Make representation, on behalf of the Conference,  to Commonwealth Government with regard to matters associated with the Commonwealth grant.

  5. Liase with Catholic agencies and other voluntary organizations including Australian Council of Natural Family Planning ('ACNFP'), Ovulation Method of Research and Reference Centre of Australia ('OMR&RCA') for the purpose of encouraging and supporting the delivery of natural family planning services at the local level.

 

4. GOVERNING PRINCIPLES

In fulfilling the Mandate from the Bishops' Conference the Board shall abide by the following governing principles:

4.1 Recognition of NFP Methodologies

The natural family planning methods taught by ACNFP and the OMR&RCA are to be recognised as legitimate and valid methodologies and the independence of both organisations in setting of standards and accreditation for the methods they each teach is to be maintained.

4.2 Difference in Organizational Structures

The different organizational structures of ACNFP and OMR&RCA, and the Diocesan Agencies (e.g. Centacare) or other Church structures, and the NFP Centres operating under the auspices of these organisations shall be respected at all times and allowed to co-exist.

4.3 Eligibility for Funding

Eligibility for receiving funds received by the Bishop’s Conference for Natural Family Planning services is to be based upon:

  1. current valid accreditation in accordance with the published policies and standards of either ACNFP or OMR&RCA,

  2. commitment to provide services in a manner which is consistent with the Teachings of the Catholic Church,

  3. agreement to comply with accountability requirements of the Bishops' Conference, the Board and the Commonwealth Government.

4.4 Relationship to Diocesan Bishops

The authority of the Diocesan Bishop, exercising his canonical responsibilities in relation to Christ's faithful forming associations in diocese, and the rights of Christ's faithful to form associations ( Canons 298-329) are to be upheld and respected. The NFP Board shall submit annually to each Diocesan Bishop a list of the accredited teachers and recognised centres, with the diocese, which are eligible to receive funding under the Grant.

4.5 Funding Equity

The distribution of funds is to be equitable on the basis of services delivered.

 

5. MEETING PROCEDURES

5.1 Meetings of the Board of Management

The Board shall meet of its own volition at least once in every year and on such occasions as it may be directed by the Bishops' Committee.

The Board shall also meet within 60 days of a request to do so by both of the representatives of either ACNFP or OMR&RCA.
Meetings may be held by teleconference.

5.2  Notice of Meetings

The Chairman of the Board of Management shall, at least seven (7) days before the date fixed for a meeting of the Board, send to each member of the Board at the address appearing in the Register of Members, a notice stating the place, date and time of the meeting and the nature of the business to be transacted at the meeting.

A member desiring to bring any business before a meeting may give notice of that business in writing to the Chairman of the Board who shall include that business in the next notice of the meeting.

5.3  Secretary to the Board of Management

  • The Board shall appoint a competent person to be Secretary to the Board of Management.

  • The Secretary to the Board of Management shall normally:

  • keep and maintain a Register of Members in which shall be entered the name, address and term of office of each member.

  • give notice to Members, on the instructions of the Chairman, of meetings including copies of associated agenda and business papers.

  • keep minutes of the resolutions and proceedings of each meeting of the Board and record the names of persons in attendance at the meetings.

  • attend promptly to the discharge of any business directed by the Board.

5.4  Circulatory Resolutions

If a majority of quorate members of the Board have signed a document containing a statement that they are in favour of a resolution of the Board, an ordinary resolution in those terms shall be deemed to have been passed at a meeting of the board held on the day on which the document was last signed by a member of the Board. Circulatory resolutions of the Board shall be noted and confirmed in the minutes of the next meeting of the Board at which members are in attendance.

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