5.6.2.3. Paid Admin vs Club Secretary

The presence of a paid administrator varies between clubs across Queensland. In some cases, some aspects of the volunteer secretarial roles may be handled by a paid administrator, however, the role remains valuable and should be filled by a volunteer wherever possible, as per the association’s constitution. Additionally, the responsibility for overall management and ensuring completion of these tasks remains with the Secretary.

If an association has both a paid administrator and a volunteer Secretary, they will need to work together cohesively, and it is usual for the Secretary to be the Committee / Board member who holds management responsibility for the paid administration staff.

The workflow between paid administrators and the Secretary is a collaborative and coordinated process designed to ensure the smooth operation of club activities and compliance with governance and legislative requirements. Paid administrators typically provide operational support and manage day-to-day administrative functions, including membership processing, financial reporting, communications, patrol rostering and requirements, surf sports administration and event coordination while the Secretary focuses on governance responsibilities, maintaining official records, and ensuring club compliance with relevant policies, regulations and legislation. Effective communication between the two roles is essential, with administrators supporting the secretaries by supplying timely documentation and updates, while the Sectary provides the official link between the administrators and the Committee or Board. Together, they enable efficient club management and member engagement.