MISSION STATEMENT
1
To develop and administer advocacy, information and support services on a state wide basis to the Deaf community.
2
To develop new programs and expand existing services for the Deaf community and to meet the demands of the Deaf community.
3
To be a role model agency based on self-help principles demonstrating to the Deaf community, through its programs and services, that Deaf people can and are positively participating in community life and taking part in structural and policy changes that affect Deaf people.
4
To work in co-operation with existing service, self-help, community and other organisations, either statutory or voluntary, serving the Deaf community and/or have similar objectives.
5
To foster pride in the Deaf community, its language and culture and to promote a greater interest in and an awareness of Deaf people and their important contributions.
6
To be a state member body of the Australian Association of the Deaf.
7
To consult, collaborate and liaise with Deaf individuals and organisations associated with Deaf people to provide the means whereby ideas affecting deafness and Deaf people can be exchanged.
8
To identify the unique needs and to promote and/or provide means to meet these needs.
9
To promote community involvement with Deaf people by any appropriate means including education at all levels of government and of the public, welfare organisations, other appropriate bodies and Deaf people.
10
To liaise and/or co-operate with, or lobby, any relevant government or other organisations, group or individual on behalf of Deaf people. Solely for the purposes set out above, the Victorian Council of Deaf People Incorporated ("the Council") shall have power:
11
To invest and deal with monies of the Council not immediately required in such manner as is from time to time thought fit.
12
To raise or borrow money upon such terms and in such manner as it thinks fit.
13
To secure the repayment of monies so raised or borrowed or the payment of a debt or liability of the Council by giving mortgages, charges or securities upon or over all or any of the property of the Council.
14
To act as a trustee and accept and hold upon trust real and personal estate provided that the Council shall not have power as trustee of a trust to do any act or thing that, if done by it otherwise than as trustee would contravene the provisions of the Act or the Statement of Purposes or the Rules.
15
To amalgamate the present Victorian Council of Deaf People Incorporated, incorporated under the Act, and the present Deaf Services Network Incorporated, incorporated under the Act.
16
To indemnify any person for any loss or damage incurred as a result of having on behalf of the present Deaf Services Nehrvork Incorporated become liable to pay any amount by way of damages or otherwise.
17
To subscribe to, become a member of and co-operate with any other association, club or organisation, whether incorporated or not, whose objects are altogether or in part similar to those of the Council, provided that the Council shall not subscribe to or support with its funds any club association or organisation which does not prohibit the distribution of its income and property among its members to an extent at least as great as that imposed on the Council under or by virtue of the Rules.
18
To purchase, take on lease or in exchange, hire and otherwise acquire any lands, buildings, easements or property, real and personal, and any rights or privileges which may be requisite for the purposes of, or capable of being conveniently used in connection with, any of the objects of the Council provided that in case the Council shall take or hold any property which may be subject to any trust the Council shall only deal with the same in such manner as is allowed by law having regard to such trust.
19
To enter into any arrangements with any government or authority that are incidental or conducive to the attainment of the purposes and the exercise of the powers of the Council; to obtain from any such government or authority any rights, privileges and concessions which the Council may think it desirable to obtain; and to carry out, exercise and comply with any such arrangements, rights, privileges and concessions.
20
To appoint, employ, remove or suspend such employees as may be necessary or convenient for the purposes of the Council.
21
To construct, improve, maintain, develop, work, manage, carry out, alter or control any houses, buildings, grounds, works or conveniences which may seem calculated directly or indirectly to advance the Council's interests, and, to contribute to, subsidise, or otherwise assist and take part in the construction, improvement, maintenance, development, working, management, carrying out, alteration or control thereof.
22
To take, or otherwise acquire, and hold shares, debentures or other securities of any company or body corporate.
23
To lend or advance money or give credit to any person or body corporate; to guarantee and give guarantees or indemnities for the payment of money or the performance of contracts or obligations by any person or body corporate, and otherwise to assist any person or body corporate.
24
To take any gift of property whether subject to any special trust or not, for any one or more of the purposes of the Council but subject always to the proviso in paragraph h).
25
To take such steps by personal or written appeals, public meetings or otherwise, as may from time to time be deemed expedient for the purpose of procuring contributions to the funds of the Council, in the shape of donations, annual subscriptions or otherwise.
26
To print and publish any newspapers, periodicals, books or leaflets that the Council may think desirable for the promotion of its purposes.
27
To amalgamate with any one or more incorporated associations having objects altogether or in part similar to those of the Council and which shall prohibit the distribution of its or their income and property among its or their members to an extent at least as great as that imposed upon the Council under or by virtue of the Rules.
28
To purchase or otherwise acquire and undertake all or any part of the property, assets, liabilities and engagements of any one or more of the incorporated associations with which the Council is authorised to amalgamate.
29
To transfer all or any part of the property, assets, liabilities and engagements of the Council to any one or more of the incorporated associations with which the Council is authorised to amalgamate.
30
To make donations for patriotic, charitable or community purposes. .
31
To do all such other things as are incidental or conductive to the attainment of the purposes and the exercise of the Council