About CWA

CO-OPERATIVES WA

STATEMENT OF CORPORATE INTENT

Vision -

To be viewed as the centre of excellence and leading authority on co-operatives in Australia

Purpose -

· Represent the interest of members at state and national level

· Promote co-operative vision and values and the co-operative business model

· Promote the co-operative sector’s significant contribution to the economy and the community

· Support the formation and development of co-operatives

· Make a positive contribution to the advancement of co-operative enterprises within Australia’s emerging 4^th economic sector^{^[1]}

OBJECTIVES & STRATEGIES

MEMBERSHIP

To encourage, promote and develop membership by -

proactively marketing co-operative structures to the broader community

· providing value added member services

STATE CO-OPERATIVE LEADERSHIP

Provide strong and informed leadership through -

sound policy formulation and a professional approach to policy implementation
representation of WA interests at the national level

KNOWLEDGE

To develop, maintain and share a definitive co-operative knowledge base by -

collaborating with education institutions on professional development and applied research to promote co-operative education

· facilitating multi-discipline avenues of communication amongst stakeholders

FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE

Ensure the Federation’s financial sustainability by -

maintaining an appropriate membership fee structure
prudent allocation of financial and human capital

GOVERNMENT RELATIONSHIP

Positively influence all levels of state and local government on co-operative matters by -

· providing respected professional advice in a timely manner

· being the government’s preferred service provider to the WA co-operative sector

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Advance the standing of Australia’s emerging 4^th economic sector by -

aligning WA’s co-operatives with the 4^th sector

· building co-operative brand recognition and value

NATIONAL RECOGNITION

Ensure government and community recognition of the role of co-operatives in the 4^th sector is achieved through -

collaboration with sector participants Australia-wide

· participation in a professional and respected national peak body for co-operatives.

Note: [1] Co-operative enterprises embrace the recognised 7 principles of co-operation and are typically formed by people with a common need and a shared vision to carrying out activities that deliver benefits directly to members as well as delivering a strong economic multiplier effect on local, state and federal market based economies. As such most co-operatives are likely to sit outside the traditionally recognised 3 sectors of a marketed based economy and be more aligned with enterprises moving towards a recognisable 4th sector.

June 2011