OUR MISSION: to lead, promote, grow and champion Cheerleading in Australia

OUR VISION: to advance the sport of Cheerleading through focusing on healthy and inclusive competition, supporting the growth and development of our participants and exercising best practice governance and administration.

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OUR OPERATIONAL CONTEXT:

In 2008 Gymnastics Australia (GA) established Australian Cheerleading Union (ACU) as a wholly owned subsidiary of that National Sporting Organisation under the brand ‘AUS Cheer’. However, as a consequence of “Cheerleading [becoming] one of Australia’s fastest growing sports, which in turn has developed new requirements and attention to keep up with the growing demand”* GA divested itself of its leadership and management role as a result of its inability to meet this demand.

Following the separation of the cheerleading discipline from Gymnastics Australia’s National Sporting Organisation administrative umbrella in 2018, in May 2019 the International Cheer Union established the Australian Cheer Union (ACU) through creation of an Interim Board and appointment of Interim State Members to drive establishment of a National Federation.

Subsequent to that arrangement, the Interim Board and State Members initiated a range of corporate and policy development processes as well as working groups to lead development of a governance framework within and across the Australian Cheerleading community. Key outputs of this process as at 25 March 2020 include:

• acquisition of ASIC registration (Australian Cheer Union Ltd) and an ATO tax file number;

• ratification of a national constitution;

• conduct of an Annual General Meeting on 19 December 2019 and formal election of four (4) Directors to replace the Interim Board;

• establishment of an organisational bank account and attendant operating protocols for authorised officers;

• ratification of a national 2020-2023 Strategic Plan and subordinate 2020 Operational Plan;

• ratification of Membership Protection, Anti-doping, Financial Management and Reporting, Code of Conduct and Conflict of Interest policies;

• establishment of working group(s) to advance development of organisational governance, membership structure, communication and marketing, a calendar of sanctioned events, Team Australia selection processes and

  special abilities programs; and,

• products and processes to support the establishment of Interim State Boards.

  It is the ACU Board’s desire that the 2020-2023 Strategic Plan provides a clear description of our developmental agenda and enabling strategies to help grow and shape the future of our sport into the future and across all Cheerleading disciplines.

  * Gymnastics Australia, ACU Handover Notes, 2018, p3

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KEY STRATEGIC IMPERATIVES

Archieve recognition as a National Sporting Organisation

• Develop and activate State Boards and all required operational policies

• Confirm and market membership benefits and activate membership recruitment

• Recruit a Chief Executive Officer to lead and manage day to day ACU administrative operations

• Establish partnerships with commercial entities to secure sponsorship to supplement membership revenue, support financial sustainability and growth of an active, safe and inclusive Cheerleading community

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OUR VALUES:

Inclusion: We celebrate difference by supporting inclusive participation

Integrity: We strive to be ethical, trustworthy, transparent and respectful

Excellence: We seek to inspire a culture of excellence in everything that we do

Collaboration: We encourage harmonious participation through consultation and teamwork

Pride: We celebrate our accomplishments with respect, dignity and professionalism

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OUR GOALS AND ENABLING STRATEGIES: