The Committee will perform the following key duties:

1. To identify open and transparent processes in order to increase awareness of and engagement with officiating in Australia.
2. To assist in the development of the National Officiating Accreditation program in order to increase the quality of officiating in Australia.
3. To assist the states and regional associations to recruit, educate, train and accredit referees at local, state and national levels.
4. To work with regions in developing the Officiating Development Model/Plan to the volleyball community in Australia and Oceania.
5. To provide oversight for the reporting documentation of all officials, in the nomination, assessment and recommendation processes, are effective, reliable, transparent and fair.
6. To ensure that the Rules of the Game, Refereeing Guidelines and associated by-laws/regulations, for activities conducted within Australia, are consistent with those developed by the FIVB and World ParaVolley.
7. To assist the development pathway for international referee appointments   
8. Collaboration – creating links with international bodies, other volleyball commissions and other refereeing bodies (both internal and external to volleyball)
9. Perform such additional tasks as may be assigned to the Committee by the VA Board or Volleyball Australia staff.

The Referee Committee is a management committee approved by the Volleyball Australia Board consisting of three focal areas:

1. Pathways
2. Technical
3. Education

The Committee’s plans (e.g. annual plan, calendars, etc.) must be approved by the National Education manager. An annual operational budget will be negotiated and approved by VA.  The committee’s outputs will be reviewed yearly against their action plan in accordance with VA policies.

It is expected that sub-committees will be formed to facilitate the committee’s work.

The VARC Executive is made up of

1. Chair;
2. three elected members; and
3. the VA National Education Manager (Secretary)

A Volleyball Australia Board member will also be appointed as an ex-officio member to:

1. provide strategic advice regarding alignment with broader VA strategies
2. be able to represent strategic interests of the VARC within VA Board decision making

The VA Board Member ex-officio will not vote in selections or specific operational matters.

NOTE: Australian members of the AVC Referee Committee and Oceania Referee Committee (ex-officio) may act as advisors to the committee when required.

Under the operating instructions of Volleyball Australia, the Chair appointed by the VA Board, will serve a term of four years and such term may be renewed to a maximum of two consecutive terms.

The chairperson shall manage the governance, process for overseas appointments and annual referee ranking.

In addition to the VARC focal areas the following activities will be the responsibility of the Chair to co-ordinate:

1. Assigning duties to the appointed VARC members
2. Annual Referee Rankings
3. Quality Control and Assurance
4. Overseas appointments and reports
5. Governance
6. FIVB Annual Register
7. Stakeholder engagement and relationships, including quarterly reporting to VA.

A member of the Volleyball Australia staff, currently the National Education Manager, will hold this position. The holder of this position will be responsible for all communications regarding officiating between VARC, VA, Australian officials, and stakeholders. The Secretary will be responsible for all administration for VARC, maintaining of the database, VARC meetings minutes, and first point of contact on all VA officiating matters.

Nominated members will be responsible for delivering the outcomes as presented in the Annual Plan and to assist VA with the administration and communication of all officiating matters.

In the first year of operation of VARC all Executive positions will be nominated to VA. Those representatives will then identify one position which shall be up for consideration at the end of the odd years, followed by the other two positions on even years.

Thereafter, members shall be endorsed for a term lasting up to two years; where an individual may serve a maximum of four consecutive terms.

1. PATHWAYS

• Career Development – helping individuals plan their pathways based on their preferences
• Events – Working, via the VARC Secretary, with the VA Event Managers to ensure a quality event from an officiating perspective. This includes open and transparent processes associated with referee selection and appointment
• Officiating for Women – working with state referee committees to identify and promote women into refereeing and identifying and applying for grants that target this group

2. TECHNICAL

• Rules of the Game updates and reviews – providing advice on rule changes and interpretations and ensuring dissemination to relevant stakeholders
• Technical Investigations – engaging relevant officials to undertake investigations arising from stakeholder enquiries, e.g. suitability of venues, applicability of rules for particular events, and providing recommendations
• Technical Papers – engaging relevant officials to develop papers that discuss particular skills and/or other aspects of game from an officiating perspective
• National Officiating Academy – developing the framework/content for the Academy and providing operational oversight to ensure it achieves its objectives

3. EDUCATION

• Level 1 to 4 Course Development – developing and reviewing courses for officials and providing relevant communication to ensure all officials and prospective officials are aware of what is required
• Prepare officiating education national workshops and seminars
• Development of a review committee to establish consistency with education courses
• Assist Volleyball Australia in the structure of the education framework and ensuring it provides quality education
• Accreditation Activities – identifying what is required for accreditation and how we manage

The VARC will meet face to face a minimum of twice a year to review the previous year’s activity and develop and agree on the Annual activity plan, including outcomes for the year ahead.

The VARC executive in consultation with VA shall set the date and location of the meeting.  The executive is to distribute a notice of meeting to all participants no less than six weeks prior to the meeting date.

Each VARC Executive member present at the meeting, will be entitled to one vote each.  Motions will be decided by a simple majority.