APDG Rules

Membership, nomination and voting of members to the National Executive

The National Executive is the elected national governance body of the Guild. The National Executive has the goal of proportional and balanced representation of all sectors of the Guild’s membership – across industry sectors (screen, live performance, events, digital production and associated sectors); regional representation from each state and territory; and representation of design disciplines (costume, makeup and hair, lighting, video, set and production design). A position will be made available for a representative from each of these sectors on the National Executive at all times, as far as is practicable.

There are 12 positions on the National Executive. This number can be varied by vote of the National Executive providing the objectives of balanced representation are met.

Representation in any National Executive will include:

1. President
2. Vice President
3. Treasurer

These positions are regarded as designated positions. Designated positions may be held by National Executive members also serving as industry, operational, or state liaison representatives. The aim is for at least one of these 3 designated positions is to be held by a non-screen representative, and that at least 2 states are represented. Designated officeholders will also automatically serve as Directors.

Up to 9 additional National Executive representative positions will be made available as required for effective national representation:

4. National Screen representative
5. National Screen representative
6. National Screen representative
7. National Screen representative (digital production)
8. National Live Performance representative
9. National Live Performance representative
10. National Emerging Design (Screen) representative
11. National Emerging Design (Live Performance) representative
12. Co-President, if elected under Constitution clause 5.8

In any National Executive each representative in any of the roles 4 – 12 in any industry sector will, when practicable, be from a different state and/or industry role. They may also nominate to act as the State Liaison Officer for the state in which they principally work.

As agreed by the National Executive a member may nominate jointly with another member for a representative position on the National Executive. Only one of the joint representatives need attend a National Executive Meeting. When both joint representatives attend, only one vote will be counted. For the purposes of a quorum of the National Executive both joint representatives may be counted if both are present.

At the discretion of the Chair, a National Executive Meeting that has failed to attain a quorum within the specified time of 30 minutes may proceed, with the passing of the minutes passed over to the next meeting. Subject to clause 17.4 of the Constitution, any resolutions of this non quorate meeting may subsequently be put to the vote by circular resolution.

BALANCED REPRESENTATION OF THE NATIONAL EXECUTIVE

Any member of the National Executive may represent more than one sector, and this is encouraged where it supports balanced representation.

The National Executive membership aims to reflect the membership profile of the Guild, therefore at any time the following objectives will apply as far as is practicable: balanced representation of gender; balanced representation of career path (emerging, proven and established/accredited designers); balanced representation of design roles (production, set, costume, lighting, video, makeup and hair, events and digital production); and at least one third non-screen members.

Subject to the membership voting rights below, a member may nominate themselves for election to the National Executive, or with that member’s agreement nominate another member. Members will be notified of all nominations by email. An agreed period of time will be allocated for the membership to consider the candidates and cast their vote.

Votes by the membership can be made in person at the AGM, electronically in a format notified in advance of the election, or by proxy. All methods of voting are of equivalent value with each member having the opportunity to cast one vote for each resolution on the ballot.

ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF A MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL EXECUTIVE

When a National Executive Member retires, resigns or is removed and that member represented a particular regional, industry or operational sector, the National Executive will endeavor to replace them at the earliest opportunity with a representative from the same region or sector. The National Executive will nominate another person – who is not required to be a current Member of the National Executive – to represent that region or sector until the next opportunity for the position to be filled by a membership-determined ballot.

Membership terms on the National Executive are not time-limited however a term of 5 -7 years is considered optimum, after which time the National Executive will consider succession strategies.

Operational Roles from across states and industry sectors report to and advise the National Executive but do not vote. Operational officeholders may also nominate for any of the National Executive roles 4 – 12 to increase diversity of representation.

1. Diversity Coordinator
2. MentorAPDG (Screen and Live Performance representatives)
3. Online Manager
4. Education Officer (all industry sectors)
5. Advocacy – managing the Guild’s advocacy role and communicating what we are doing to our members
6. Industry liaison (all industry sectors)

APDG membership is an annual subscription and there are no additional joining fees.

FULL

Full members must be Australian or New Zealand residents or citizens who are creative artists in screen, live performance, events and/or digital production.

Member benefits

• Eligibility for entries into the APDG Awards.
• Eligibility for positions as Directors and on the APDG National Executive.
• Eligibility to serve on committees and subcommittees, including on Accreditation Panels
• Eligible to vote in ballots.
• Advertising yourself or your business in our Member Directory.
• Applying for APDG accreditation (after 3 years of continuous membership).
• Access to member-only resources.
• Eligibility for APDG competitions
• Member ticket prices for APDG events.

EMERGING DESIGNER*

Early career designers are eligible to apply for this level of membership*. Applicants must have less than 3 years’ experience working in their chosen industry to be eligible. This membership type is valid for 2 years from application. *Emerging Designers will be requested to provide proof of Emerging status.

Member benefits:

• Eligibility for Emerging Designer categories at the APDG Awards.
• Eligibility for the MENTORAPDG program.
• Eligibility for the Emerging Designer positions on the National Executive.
• Participation in APDG committees, subcommittees and ballots.
• Advertising yourself or your business in our Member Directory.
• Access to member-only resources.
• Eligibility for APDG competitions
• Member ticket prices for APDG events.

CONCESSION – STUDENT*, CASUAL TEACHER OR RETIREE

This CONCESSION membership is for students, casual teachers and retired practitioners of stage and screen design who are Australian or New Zealand residents or citizens. *Students are required to provide proof of study.

Member benefits:

• Participation in APDG committees, subcommittees and ballots.
• Advertising yourself or your business in our Member Directory.
• Access to member-only resources.
• Eligibility for APDG competitions
• Member ticket prices for APDG events.

AFFILIATE

Affiliate membership is for those that work in associated fields, have an interest in design and/or are not Australian or New Zealand residents or citizens.

Member benefits:

• Advertising yourself or your business in our Member Directory.
• Access to member-only resources.
• Eligibility for APDG competitions
• Member ticket prices for APDG events.

1. A member will not allow any other person to use their login details.
2. Use of the Company website and services is at a member’s sole risk.
3. Members accept responsibility for gaining permission to upload copyrighted images and information to the APDG website.
4. By nominating other websites (such as Facebook and Vimeo) in their member profile, members give the APDG permission to source the nominated material from the nominated websites.
5. The Company will remove any images or information from the APDG website or social media that are found to infringe copyright or are deemed to be defamatory, inappropriate or irrelevant to the aims of the Company.
6. Membership of the Company does not include any kind of insurance or liability protection for work done by members for third parties.
7. APDG accreditation recognises artistic merit only and is not an accreditation of anything else involved with production or design.
8. Accredited members must remain financial members to be able to use the APDG letters in their title.
9. The National Executive may revise and change the terms of membership from time to time.

The National Executive may form Committees and Subcommittees to represent the members of a state or territory, the interests of an industry sector, or an area of Company operation (such as APDG Awards, MentorAPDG, Special Projects, Sponsorship or Web management). New operational, industry sector or regional committees may be created by the National Executive as an identified need for them arises.

Regional committees operate predominantly within their geographic region and as far as is practicable will represent all industry sectors within that region.

Industry sector committees may represent specific industry sectors nationwide, or across multiple regions.

Committees report to the Vice President or Secretary.

Sub-Committees may be formed within a Committee to focus on a particular sector issue or event.

Sub-Committees will report to their Committee Chair or directly to the National Executive, as directed by the National Executive.

Committees and Sub Committees will maintain a register of names of members who wish to take part in that committee. This will also be used for determining a number of votes required to achieve a majority in any voting.

A quorum is not strictly required for the purposes of holding a Committee or Subcommittee meeting, so long as all the members on the list have been advised of the meeting and have been able to take part in any vote.

Meetings of Committees and Sub Committee may be informal and held without the passing of resolutions, decisions or actions.

Formal minuting is not required, however a written summary or report of the meeting will be submitted to the National Executive Secretary prior to the next National Executive Meeting, or as a verbal report given at that meeting.

Members of the Australian Production Design Guild are governed by the APDG Constitution, and are expected to comply with the following code of conduct:

1. Treat everyone with respect, fairness and courtesy and without harassment of any kind.
2. Behave in an ethical and responsible manner.
3. Support the Aims, Goals and values of the APDG.
4. Act with care, honesty, diligence and responsibility when conducting APDG business.
5. Be aware of potential conflicts of interests and make declaration of any such conflict, or perceived conflict.
6. Maintain appropriate confidentiality in relation to APDG business.
7. Use APDG resources in a proper manner.
8. Behave in a way that at all times upholds the integrity and reputation of the APDG.

Arrangements for the National Executive dealing with a member’s conduct

In the case of a formal review of a member’s conduct requiring a hearing by the National Executive under clause 5.6 of the Constitution, at least one week before the hearing the Company shall provide the member with:

1. Notice of the meeting
2. The allegations against them
3. The intended resolution; and
4. Advice that the member shall, at the meeting and before the passing of the resolution, have an opportunity to give, orally or in writing, any explanation or defence they may think fit.

A formal determination of the National Executive in relation to the member’s conduct will be regarded as final.

APDG members in disagreement with other members regarding matters unrelated to APDG are expected to seek advice from independent arbitrators.

Members are also encouraged to:

1. Share knowledge and skills so as to continually improve standards in the profession.
2. Advocate for the retention of copyright by the designer in their original artworks and/or a fair stake in the profits of the original designs.
3. Advocate for the designer’s right to obtain a record of their design work for the purpose of career development and promotion.
4. Promote fair pay and conditions for designers and their associates.
5. Uphold and dignify the status of designers and their associates within the industry.
6. Communicate in clear language all the terms and conditions of commissions and contracts.
7. Refuse to participate in any practice that violates federal, state or local laws in Australia, and to aspire to best possible professional practice both in Australia and overseas.

The APDG are committed to respecting your privacy. The Australian Production Design Guild (APDG) compiles with the Australian Commonwealth Privacy Act (Privacy Act 1998). The APDG Privacy Policy outlines how the APDG handles and stores your personal information.

The full terms of the APDG Privacy Policy can be found here.

1. Consent is granted to the APDG to publish other information and images on the APDG website by the uploading of such information to the APDG website.
2. The APDG reserves the right to publish or not publish all or part of the information and images uploaded by members to the APDG website.
3. Information and images supplied to the APDG must be supplied with the copyright holder or holders’ permission granted for display on the APDG website.
4. The APDG will remove information and images from the APDG website that has been uploaded by members who do not hold the relevant copyright holder or holders’ permission.
5. The APDG will not make any information or images available to 3rd parties except as it appears on the APDG website.