The name of the Association shall be THE CHINESE LANGUAGE TEACHERS' FEDERATION OF AUSTRALIA (INC.), hereafter referred to as “CLTFA” . The Chinese version of the name shall be:

The Objects of the CLTFA shall be:

1. To promote the teaching and study of the Chinese language in Australia;
2. To undertake activities designed to extend the knowledge of members on all aspects of the Chinese language and teaching methodology;
3. To edit and publish or arrange for the editing and publication of materials to assist members and students of Chinese;
4. To raise funds by subscription, affiliation fees, donations and grants from government and private sources to aid the activities of the CLTFA;
5. To represent the interests of Chinese teachers with governments and other bodies.

The income and property of the CLTFA shall be applied solely towards the promotion of the Objects. No portion of the income of the CLTFA shall be paid or transferred or distributed directly or indirectly to individual members of the CLTFA, provided that nothing shall prevent the payment in good faith of remuneration to any officer or employee of the CLTFA or to any other person other than a member in return for services rendered to the CLTFA.

The CLTFA shall have power to do all such things as are necessary, incidental or conducive to the attainment of the Objects.

(a) Members of Affiliated Associations

All persons who are financial members of the State and territory affiliate associations of the CLTFA shall be automatically full members CLTFA, and shall, upon payment by the affiliated Association of the capitation fee as decided from time to time, be considered and have all rights as full members, including the right to vote and to hold office in the CLTFA.

(b) Individual Members

Persons engaged or formerly engaged in the teaching and examination of the Chinese language in the government and private school systems, in ethnic schools and in technical and tertiary education institutions in States and Territories where no local Association of Chinese teachers has been established may become individual members of the CLTFA, and shall, upon payment of the annual subscription fee as decided from time to time and the completion of the appropriate application for membership, be considered and have all rights as members, including the right to vote and to hold office in the CLTFA.

(c) Associate Members

Persons other than the above whose participation in the work of the CLTFA is considered by the Council to have advantages for the CLTFA may be offered Associate Member status on such terms and conditions as the Council may determine, but such persons shall not have the right to vote or to hold office.

(d) Membership Register

The Secretary shall establish and maintain a register containing the names, addresses and other relevant details of affiliates and their Committee members, and all persons admitted as individual or associate members.

(e) Membership and Affiliation Fees

1. The annual individual membership fee shall be determined by an Annual Council Meeting and shall apply until changed by any subsequent Council Meeting. Notice of intention to propose any change in the annual membership fee and details of the proposed change shall be placed on the agenda of the Meeting at which it is proposed to determine the matter.
2. Affiliated Associations shall pay, based on the number of financial members as at December 31, an annual capitation fee per member of the affiliated Association. The fee shall be determined from time to time by the Council.. Notice of intention to propose any change in the annual capitation fee and details of the proposed change shall be placed on the agenda of the Meeting at which it is proposed to determine the matter.
3. An affiliate which has not paid the appropriate affiliation fee by May 30 in any year shall not be entitled to representation on the Council of the CLTFA until such fees have been paid.

(a) Powers

The business of the CLTFA shall be conducted by a Council representative of the affiliated Associations.

1. The Council shall have power to manage, administer, supervise, and direct the work of the CLTFA in accordance with this Constitution and the wishes of members as determined by decisions of appropriate meetings.
2. It shall meet during the annual conference and at other times as required.
3. Meetings may be held by telephone or other means within the financial possibilities of the CLTFA.

(b) Membership

The Council shall consist of:

1. The President;
2. The Vice-presidents;
3. The Secretary; and
4. The Treasurer; who shall constitute the Executive Committee; and
5. One representative of each affiliated association not already represented among the Executive officers, and who shall normally be the president of the affiliate.

(c) Vacancies

Vacancies on the Council shall be filled by co-option. Where the offices of President, Vice- president, Secretary or Treasurer fall vacant, they shall be filled as far as possible from within the Council. Notice of any vacancy shall be notified to the relevant members through the affiliates and nominations to fill the vacancy invited. If more than one nomination is received, the Council shall conduct an election among those members present at the meeting where the matter is to be decided.

(d) Quorum

The quorum for any meeting of the Council shall be not less than the number of financial affiliates at the time of the meeting, with at least one representative of each affiliate present.

The Officers of the CLTFA shall be elected as necessary by the Council for terms of two (2) years. They shall be eligible for re-election.

1. The Executive Officers shall lead, organise and manage the affairs of the CLTFA between meetings of the Council and in accordance with its decisions.
2. The Executive Officers shall maintain contact by telephone or other means within the financial possibilities of the CLTFA as required.
3. At least two of the Officers, including the Treasurer, shall reside in the same city.

The Officers have the following duties:

(a) President

1. Has ultimate authority for carrying out all decisions of the Council and for ensuring compliance with the Constitution;
2. Signs or delegates the signature of all instruments, documents and correspondence on behalf of the CLTFA;
3. Presides at Council and other official meetings of the CLTFA;
4. Represents or delegates representation of the CLTFA before other bodies;
5. Acts as chief spokesperson for the CLTFA;
6. Carries out other duties as determined by the Council.

(b) Vice-Presidents

There shall be no more than two (2) vice-presidents. Persons elected as vice-president:

1. Assist the President in the above duties;
2. Substitute for the President as required;
3. Carry out other duties as determined by the Council.

(c) Secretary

1. Establishes and maintains the register of affiliates and individual members;
2. Keeps full and correct minutes of meetings of the Council and other meetings;
3. Complies with all statutory requirements on behalf of the CLTFA;
4. Carries out other duties as determined by the Council.

(d) Treasurer

1. Establishes and maintains the financial records of the CLTFA;
2. Presents itemised income and expenditure statements to the Council;
3. Establishes and maintains such accounts as are determined by the Council;
4. Carries out other duties as determined by the Council.

1. A Council member may resign by giving two months notice in writing.
2. A Council member who fails to attend meetings of the Council without apology or reasonable excuse shall be deemed to have resigned and shall be notified accordingly that it is intended to declare that position vacant unless an explanation is provided.
3. A Council member may otherwise only be removed from office by a unanimous decision of all affiliates on the recommendation of a majority of the Officers.

(a) Annual Conference

An annual national conference of Chinese teachers shall be held at a time and place determined from year to year.

(b) Council Meetings

The annual Council Meeting shall be held each year during the national conference. The date shall be determined and published not later than March 15 in the year in which it is to be held and affiliates invited to submit items for the agenda in time for circulation prior to the Conference. A minimum of two months notification shall be given of the date, time, place and agenda of the meeting

(a) Accounts

1. Income and expenditure shall be fully tabulated according to accepted bookkeeping standards.
2. The CLTFA's fiscal year shall be from May 1 in any year to April 30 in the following year.
3. All cheques and withdrawal vouchers shall be signed by two (2) Executive Committee members.
4. Maximum provisions may be made by the Executive Committee for petty cash and automatically replenished.
5. All other payments shall be authorised by the Executive Committee, either under general terms of written instructions to the Treasurer specifying the types of routine payments which shall be made, or by a specific resolution of the Committee;
6. An audited financial statement shall be presented to each annual Council meeting.

(b) Limitations

The CLTFA shall undertake no major financial obligations for which it does not provide or has not obtained adequate financial cover beforehand.

Any financial member may propose to the Executive Committee in writing an amendment to the Constitution. If approved by the Executive Committee, the proposed amendment shall be submitted to a Council meeting for ratification after which it shall, if approved by seventy-five percent (75%) of members voting at the meeting, take immediate effect. Amendments toc the Constitution submitted for ratification shall not be amended in substance by the Council meeting.

1. The Common Seal of the CLTFA engraved with the name of the CLTFA shall be kept in the care of the President or of such other person as the Council from time to time decides.
2. The Seal shall not be used or affixed to any deed or document except pursuant to a resolution of the Council or of the Executive Committee between meetings of the Council.
3. The affixing of the Seal shall be witnessed by any two of the President, the Vice- presidents, the Secretary and the Treasurer.

Any member may at any reasonable time inspect without charge the books, documents, records and securities of the CLTFA.

The CLTFA may affiliate with any other organisation of language teachers on such terms and conditions as may be mutually agreed. Any such affiliation shall be approved by a two-thirds majority of the Council.

The CLTFA may be dissolved or wound up by a resolution passed by seventy-five per-cent (75%) of members voting at a special Council meeting called for the purpose. Any funds or other property remaining after the satisfaction of all debts and liabilities shall be distributed to another association incorporated under the Act.