Each one of us has, or will be, affected by proposed changes to the Marriage Celebrant Program.

The peak body of celebrants, Coalition of Celebrant Associations, is continuing to dedicate time and energy to the problems associated with the planned changes.

Strategies decided by delegates from member associations have been presented to the Attorney-General’s Department eight times in 2012, including one delegation to the Attorney-General, Nicola Roxon, herself.

Our advice has been presented with clear, concise argument, aiming to:

1. Establish a Senate Inquiry into Australia’s marriage law and marriage celebrant services, including its impact on different categories of marriage celebrants and setting a equitable fee for marriage registration by all marrying couples.
2. Limiting the numbers of new celebrant appointments by selection processes that ensure Commonwealth celebrants have access to sufficient work to maintain and improve their professional skills.
3. Ensure a “professional” model of celebrancy applies to both Commonwealth and State registered celebrants so that there is parity between civil and religious marriage celebrants.
4. Strengthen the pre-appointment criteria for Commonwealth marriage celebrants.
5. Improve methods and content of Ongoing Professional Development.

The Department representatives indicated it is possible to amend the Marriage Act to re-introduce a Capping System and strengthen the terminology related to the Registrar’s role in relation to Conflict of Interest, provided these changes meet with the Attorney’s approval.

As volunteers, the CoCA delegates continue to devote considerable time and money to travel to Canberra regularly to represent you, whether or not you belong to one of our member associations.   Our website www.coalitionofcelebrantassociations.org.au has detailed information of meetings with the Attorney-General and her Department heads, as well as related information.

We urge you to support our member associations by joining us in the fight for parity with State registered mainstream religious celebrants and registry staff, better training programs and a reformed OPD system.

Latest News: http://www.coalitionofcelebrantassociations.org.au/news/

Regards,

Robyn L. Caine
Chairperson – CoCA

# Please Note:

Recently a non-CoCA celebrant association erroneously advised its membership that OPD credit for attendance at association conferences, “the ‘reform’ as originally announced, did not have the support of CoCA member associations and was resisted by them”.

The Coalition of Celebrant Associations – CoCA – not only supported the change of three hours OPD credit for a day’s attendance at a celebrant association conference, this option was in fact one of CoCA’s recommendations for improving OPD for celebrants.  See: 7.0 Review approaches to Ongoing Professional Development (OPD) 

CoCA made it very clear to the Department that reducing the OPD credit value of approximately 6 hours attendance at an association conference  to 1 hour from the originally agreed 3 hours was totally inadequate and greatly devalued the learning experience gained from attending a well run conference.

Our unity in presenting celebrants’ needs and concerns to Government is the primary concern for this Coalition.  Thirteen of the fourteen main celebrant associations have put aside individual association differences to fight for a better deal for celebrants and the marrying public.

The Coalition of Celebrant Associations – CoCA – is committed to transparency in its actions, as indicated by the comprehensive publication of its work in the Issues and Progress sections of our website.

CoCA’s website also provides opportunities for any celebrant to comment on any aspect of our work, and contact information for anyone to clarify any assumption they may make about our work.   In this way misinformation can be corrected before it is spread as rumour.

If you are not a member of a celebrant association then you are encouraged to join a CoCA member association now!

If you are a member of a celebrant association that is not a member of CoCA, then please recommend your association join CoCA so that the celebrant community can speak with one voice.

Coalition of Celebrant Associations (CoCA) Incorporated
ABN 60306885313
PO Box 400 Seven Hills NSW 1730

CoCA Chair 2012: Robyn Caine – 0412 294 537
Vice Chair: Dorothy Harrison – 08 9495 4092
Treasurer: Kerrie Hayes – 0431 896 525
Public Officer: Charles Foley – 041 216 1357
Secretary: Rona Goold – 02 4885 2393 or 0419 498 768