Coalition of Celebrant Associations (CoCA)
A peak body for ALL celebrants!
.Update from 16th October 2008.
Update from 4th August 2010.
Welcome news as of October 16, 2008
At an historic meeting in Canberra on October 16, 2008, 12 associations and affiliations joined forces to create a very welcome peak body for celebrants, the Coalition of Celebrant Assocations, to be known colloquially as ‘CoCA’.
Through the encouragement of Robyn Caine, past president of the National Council, the following people met in Canberra with the intention of putting past differences aside and working on the creation of a celebrant association peak body. The Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, joined us for a brief discussion and to provide some background. After a full day of very positive work, an agreement was reached and a Memorandum of Understanding was created.
Here is a copy of the Memorandum of Understanding signed on that day.
There is a lot of work to be done to promote the work of celebrants and to improve standards and quality of ceremonies. The next few years will see major changes take place, if you are an interested celebrant and do not currently belong to an association, please reconsider, as all voices should be heard at the association level to enable our wishes and desires to be heard.
Associations and their delegates are:
ACMCV- Lyn Knorr
AAMCA – Tony Gelme
ACMC NSW & ACT – John O’Carrigan
SE Aus CMC Association – Ian Deegan
ACMCSA – Sybil Sleight
MCA Inc WA – Dorothy Harrison
Humanist Celebrant Network – Charles Foley
Celebrants Australia Incorporated – Robyn Caine (proxy for Judy Brooks)
Civil Celebrants Graduate Association – Nigel Caswell
ICC Alumni and Friends – Yvonne Werner
Professional Celebrants Association – Ashley Bergh.
Civil Celebrants Network - Rona Gould
Give us a call (03) 9484 7443 or email celebrants@netspace.net.au to join in.
August 2010 update.
It has been a challenging two years for the new Coalition, with various groups leaving and new ones entering CoCA, we are still 12 associations in number.
CoCA has had 6 face to face meetings so far, some just CoCA members but 4 with either AG or members of the Marriage Celebrants Section, as well as the Assistant secretary, Marriage and Intercountry Adoption Branch (who is head of the MCS). Within our own meetings we have discussed and agreed on a number of important steps, including our strong belief in the need for review of and change in the Marriage Celebrant program. We have had input to the management of OPD although we agree that a lot more can be done in this area.
We were also privileged to have former Democrat Senator Lyn Allison accept our invitation to become Patron of CoCA. Her background knowledge of the parliamentary system will prove invaluable in our future dealings with whomever happens to be Attorney-General and the various heads of the departments that serve us.
We have had some extremely passionate discussions about the state of affairs in celebrancy, and despite some differences of opinion on process, we all agree on what the future role of CoCA should be, and that is a regulatory body. However, this is a long-term proposition and while we have this as our goal, we are also keeping our focus on OPD and the strengths and weaknesses in the program.
Two very important motions were put forward and agreed upon at our last meeting in May this year. These relate to our Statement of Purpose.
Motion: that CoCA is a unified professional body representing the whole celebrant community to government through the responsible ministers and to the community at large. Moved Glenda, seconded Dorothy, all in favour - unanimous.
We are agreed that we will move forward on the path of becoming an incorporated body, of whatever shape is the most appropriate. Ishara moved and seconded Glenda that we have agreed to incorporate, this was unanimous. Dally moved. Seconded Lyn that Nigel/Robyn/Rona will form a subcommittee to investigate the appropriate options and prepare recommendations for incorporation.
We are moving ahead. Our next meeting with the department is scheduled for 10th August 2010 in Canberra.
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